Continue reading »]]> We have never felt safe in our community with the presence of NYPD and ICE and their joint programs.  I personally never felt safe around cops ever since witnessing my friends being stopped and frisked for no apparent reason.  We are all victims of the institutionalized racism and the prison industrial complex.  This week alone NYPD has shot and killed 3 black men. Ridiculous right?  The  Physical abuse and the causalities by NYPD has been detrimental to our communities; makes you question “Whose next? Me?”

Watching the news made me think of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)‘s  Know Your Rights  resources.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE STOPPED BY THE POLICE

•  Stay calm and in control of your words, body language and emotions.
• If asked about your immigration status?  You do not have to answer.
• Provide them with any ID you have on you. If they do not accept your ID, stay calm if they take you to the precinct.
• Don’t get into an argument with the police.
• [1] Never bad-mouth a police officer.
• [1] Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you.
•  Keep your hands where the police can see them.
•  Don’t run.
•  Don’t touch any police officer.
•  Don’t resist even if you believe you are innocent.
• [1] If you complain at the scene, or tell the police they’re wrong, do so in a non-confrontational way that will not intensify the scene.
•  Do not make any statements regarding the incident.
• [1] If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately.
• Have an emergency contact ( family member; friend, organization)on you.
• Remember officers’ badge numbers, patrol car numbers and physical descriptions.
•  Write down everything you remember ASAP.
• Try to find witnesses and their names and phone numbers.
• If you are injured, take photos of the injuries as soon as possible, but make sure you get medical attention first. Ask for copies of your medical treatment files.

To continue reading….  — >KNOW YOUR RIGHT’s If You Are Stopped by the Police

They are also available in:

•  What to Do If You’re Stopped by the Police (English) (text version)
• Que Hacer Si Te Para La Policia (Espanol) (versión texto)

For more Resources   —>Other Know Your Right’s material

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Hello Angy,
I am part of the Dream Act group on facebook. I will be graduating soon from Community College and I was wondering about four year colleges in New York City (I saw you are attending CUNY) anyway money is an issue. Do you have any suggestions?

Hey,

It’s nice to e-meet you! Congratulations on your upcoming graduation. I am very proud of you and I really hope you are able to further your education in a four year institution of your choice!

Yes, I do attend a City University of New York (CUNY) school named John Jay College of Criminal Justice. CUNY’s are somewhat divided into what you want to study. Some colleges focus more on education and becoming teachers others focus on nursing and so on. There’s a more detailed list here.

Money is an issue for me as well so I totally understand your concerns. I am assuming you are not from New York, correct me if I’m wrong, and so you wouldn’t qualify for in-state tuition unless you meet these requirements.

Since a CUNY college is public they do not offer financial assistance to undocumented students. In the past they had the Peter Vallone scholarship but that has been cut from the budget. There is also the Macauly Honors program I’m not really sure if a transfer student can apply but you should definitely ask them, if accepted they will cover all if not most of your college expenses. You can also apply for private scholarships, but again these are very limited.

Currently within the CUNY system our tuition is going up and so every semester gets more difficult to pay off. CUNY schools offer payment plans through Sallie Mae. This program splits up your tuition payment depending on what the school allows. For example, under Sallie Mae John Jay splits up my tuition into 6 equal payments. This makes it easier because you don’t have to pay the whole bill at once, but finance it. However, you must pay a registration fee and late fees for late payments as well.

As an undocumented youth you cannot legally work on campus so work study is a no no. There are some private universities that accept undocumented students and will even pay off a large majority or sometimes the whole tuition. There isn’t a specific list but there are some colleges that accept undocumented students overall and just categorize them as international students, some only accept students with visa stamped passports even if it’s expired. If private universities are in your radar, I suggest you call ahead of time and ask about their undocumented student policies. You can call and pretend to be someone else so you don’t have to tell them it’s for you. If they say that undocumented youth are not allowed at their school, don’t be discouraged there are plenty of colleges to choose from.

I hope this helpped and let me know if you end up coming to school here so we can meet =)

Love,
Angy

Email or fill out this form with any questions, concerns or comments.

This is a space to let it all out! You don’t have to bottle it up inside.

Whatever you write is up to you and you will not be judged.

Your stories and worries matter! You are not alone.

Remember, the insecurities and fears you have, someone else is them having too.

Don’t be afraid to speak out.

If you are a fan of the Ask Angy posts..

Continue reading »]]> I am undocumented, unafraid & survived depression and suicide.I came to this country at the age of 5. Every day and night I saw how my parents struggled as undocumented immigrants ; I saw how they were exploited and at points dehumanized not only at their place of work but in a country they considered home. I grew up learning and experiencing that I was not welcomed here. In media , in books , in laws I was consider an “illegal alien”, my humanity was constantly challenged. I was always dealing with depression but after graduating from High School I became suicidal; I went to sleep crying and began to cut myself. I am very thankful for the community that has shown me support. Resources for undocumented youth in forms of mental health, therapy, access to clinics and counseling are limited. When Joaquin Luna, an 18 year old Dreamer from Texas, who thought he too had no future took his own life their was an outcry from everyone and the question remained “How could we have helped? How could we have prevented it?” Yanelli is also suffering. Here we have a case where YOU can HELP and PREVENT!! You have the choice to help someone like me.PLEASE TAKE ACTION & make a call, sign the petition, spread this amongst friends so that Yanelli can recuperate. We have until Tuesday to stop this deportation and possibly save Yanelli’s life. So the question remains: Are you with us? Please Take Action!!! 

Suicidal and Undocumented

Family bonds cut with sharp window glass
Household drenched in his red liquid despair
I could not understand why he would do that to himself
I made him cards shaped in hearts
Read to him my poems
Maybe I could remind him of his value
“ Daddy you are beautiful”

I could see his pain in his eyes
He water marked my pages with his tears
Exploitation
Being called “illegal”
Suffering
Depression
Daddy was not the same anymore

Hieroglyphics appeared on my wrist
Household drenched in my red liquid despair
I overflowed my journal pages with tears
There was no bed time stories

Instead of counting sheep, I counted scars
My white sheets covered in red
I wondered if this was as close I could get to an American flag
Family bonds cut with sharp window glass
Household drenched in his and mine red liquid despair
I now understand why he would do that to himself.

Crossing into what was suppose to be freedom
Razors kept crossing my wrist into what was suppose to be death
Broken windows into undocumented pain
Childhood was lost , my humanity challenged
I tried to color but everything was coming out in black and white

Exploitation.
Being called “illegal”
Suffering
Depression.
Deportation.
I was not the same anymore

Family bonds cut with sharp window glass
Household drenched in red liquid despair
Our surroundings tells us that we were not meant to survive
Lack of resources.
Denied access.
No health care.
No status.

Our community tells us that we are People
Recuperation.
Calling myself “undocumented”!
Empowerment.
Unafraid.
I was not the same anymore.

But…It continues.

On undocumented wrists

No numbers but scars

Hoping razors stop crossing back on forth!
Family bonds cut with sharp window glass
Household drenched in red liquid despair
Community drenched in red liquid despair

-Sonia Guinansaca

*Poem discussed my growing up in a household where depression and being suicidal was common. It eludes to my personal experience and show urgency in matters of depression, suicide, and mental health for undocumented community specially as the numbers of undocumented youth and suicide rises.

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Feelings of depression and worthlessness clouded up Joaquin Luna’s mind, an undocumented youth from Texas who committed suicide last year. In a country where undocumented youth are treated like less than equals but still strive to prove their self-worth everyday, many of them fall prey to depression and suicidal thoughts after feeling trapped and alone. One of these youth is Yanelli Hernandez Serrano.

Yanelli came to the United States at the age of 13. At the age of 13 I had to worry about finishing my homework and the cute boy in my class; however, these were not Yanelli’s worries. She made the journey to the U.S. alone and without family. She became independent at a young age and worked hard to provide a life for herself, doing whatever she had to do to survive. Imagine having to fend for yourself at the tneder age of 13 years old. Imagine working in a factory for over 7 years while your dreams of continuing your education continue to elude you. Imagine carrying such a heavy weight of responsibility on your shoulders. While most of us can only imagine, these are the facts of ….continue reading here!

Continue reading »]]> Our Community First Scholarship, is a program created to reward community participation before attending college. This scholarship is provided every year for individuals who will attend college for first time in 2012. This program has two components: a 300-500 word essay and a community service verification form. There is no cost to apply for this scholarship and it is sponsored by Union Settlement FCU.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be:

• college-bound high-school seniors attending college for the first time in Spring or Fall 2012.
• Applicants will be judged based upon their academic achievements, extracurricular and community activities and the quality of their written essays.
• Credit Union membership is not required to apply.

The amount of our scholarships are two of $500.00 sponsored by Union Settlement FCU.

Please take time to review the application before you submit it and if you have any questions regarding the
scholarship, email: aportada@unionsett.org

2012 Scholarship Application Here

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Dear Angy,
I am an 18 year old living in New Jersey. With Christie as our governor, there is no way the Dream Act is going to pass. I go off to college in less than a year, and I am really worried as to the limitations on my opportunities. For one, what do I label myself when filling out an application? I have an expired visa but I don’t have a social security number. And my family and I do file for taxes each year, and I have a job at Staples. That confuses me even more. Does having a social security number secure me?
Thank you! -Jen

Jen,
Thank you for your email, being brave and open about such a confusing issue.
I don’t know if the way things are in New York is the same in New Jersey, here, if you have an expired visa there are more chances of getting into private universities. When applying I believe you are labeled as the visa which you came into the country with even if it’s expired.

Don’t forget to be open with the administrators and staff in school about your situation. Many times they’ll offer more help and find ways of getting you into the school of your choice at a smaller or no cost. Don’t be shy to say you’re undocumented. As confusing as it may be for you it is hard for them too, staff many times are not properly prepared when it comes to having undocumented students. I know being undocumented and stating it is scary but if you don’t ask for help it is difficult to know that you need it in the first place.

Start creating a folder or file with all those important documents like your parents taxes, your IDs, passport etc so when you meet with school staff or any other administrators it’s not a hassle and you’re forced to make two or three trips. These school visits can be pretty annoying. It’ll be less stressful if you have everything at hand.

Having a job or an expired visa doesn’t take away from the fact that you are still undocumented. Being undocumented, regardless of how you came into the United States or what you’re doing now, still puts you at risk. I know many folks talk about being privileged or advantaged because some youth have jobs or came with visas but at the end of the day we are still undocumented, we can still be deported, we are still limited, confused and excluded.

Finally, I don’t really believe a social security number makes anyone ‘safe’. Many documented people are still being discriminated against and harassed even though they have papers. There are records of citizens being wrongly detained under secure communities and other similar programs. Having a social may secure you a job; however, documented people can still be fired or denied from jobs, be rejected from schools and even be homeless. Many United States citizens can be wrongly deported as well. Having a social security number doesn’t take deportation away especially in a mixed status household. For example, my siblings are citizens and they fear that our family can be separated because of deportation; even though they are documented, deportation is still an issue. Finally, many documented youth are being denied opportunities because their parents are undocumented. As you can see our immigration system is so flawed and administrators are racist and stereotypical that everyone is getting screwed over regardless of immigration status. These are things we want to highlight as proof that we need real change, and we need it now.

Jen, I understand that navigating this system can be stressful, annoying and confusing but it can be done. We just need to be patient and resourceful. When one door shuts another one opens, and if it doesn’t then we create the exit. Don’t stress out too much and take it one day at a time. Putting all your hope and resources into the Dream Act, federal or state level, can have an emotional toll on anyone. Don’t sit around waiting for it to pass because honestly we don’t know if it ever will pass. Yes, we can advocate and push for it but we also need to live our lives and not stay stuck in one place waiting for one bill. I know this may sound harsh but the Dream Act isn’t the only way out and we have seen this in 2011 with the rise of many state bills. Hang in there! and feel free to email me if anything.

Best,
Angy

Email or fill out this form with any questions, concerns or comments.

This is a space to let it all out! You don’t have to bottle it up inside.

Whatever you write is up to you and you will not be judged.

Your stories and worries matter! You are not alone.

Remember, the insecurities and fears you have, someone else is them having too.

Don’t be afraid to speak out.

If you are a fan of the Ask Angy posts..

Continue reading »]]> The journalist called him to ask about my life through his point of view. She asked if he was scared about our family being separated because of deportation; she listened as he said, “yes, they’re my only family”. The journalist asked about us growing up and if we get along now, he replied, “we’re just like everyone else. We argue and then we are alright again”. She finally asked, “have you ever felt embarrassed to have an undocumented sister?” to which my 16 year old brother replied, “no, never. On the other hand I am proud of her. I wish she was the one with papers, not me. I feel like I take mine for granted”.

I sat there stunned as I realized what an amazing ally he was becoming and I never noticed it before. In the back of my head I always thought he was still too naive. Never before had my brother said something like this and here came the watery eyes.

I saw my younger brother in a different light after he had completed his first phone interview. I’ve never thought about the differences in immigration status within my siblings. My brother has simply been my brother, not a social security number.

When discussing immigration at home, conversations about the Dream Act are summarized and simplified in the hopes of avoiding a major Dream Headache. However, I recently discovered that my brother then shares his findings to his history class. His teacher applauds him for being the only kid in class that is so in-tune to these kinds of issues. It’s not about being worldly or reading the newspaper, it’s about living it everyday.

I never realized how aware he has been about the immigration inequality that surrounds us. At 16 I was worried about surviving high school and hoping I didn’t meet someone like Regina George. My brother at 16 worries that one day, when he gets home, his sister and his mother may not be there anymore. At 16 my brother worries about rubbing his birthright privilege in my face instead of using it to its fullest potential in the name of equality. At 16, he doesn’t feel worthy of holding a social security card because his older sister is undocumented. At 16 he battles with the oppression that is directed at two members of the family. At 16 he should be worrying about homework, tests, grades, dating, puberty and friends.

To my citizen siblings….
You are loved, valued and appreciated regardless of immigration status even though I may not show it enough. I’m sorry if in the future I ever become jealous of your success. I promise to put myself last and help you study for your road test. I promise to sit by you when applying for college and pushing you to aim higher. I promise to figure out how to apply for financial aid together. I promise to pass along any scholarship or job application you may qualify for. I promise to attend every award ceremony and special occasion. When you are able to drive legally, I will try my best not to feel worthless or useless as I sit in the passenger seat. If I am still undocumented by the time you all get married, please hold your ceremony in the states so I can attend. I’m sorry for not being able to drive you wherever you want to go and for not being able to teach you how, for I myself don’t know. I’m sorry for not being able to help you pay your expenses or your tuition in the future; I can barely afford my own. I promise to go with you when you vote for the first time. If you decide to join the army, even though I may not agree, I promise to go with you to the recruitment office.

I promise to stand by you and be there any way that I can. I will never wish for your unhappiness or for you to fail in life because I love each and everyone of you .