This past Thursday, the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC) held a series of coordinated actions, which targeted Senator Charles Schumer (D – NY) for his inaction on the passage of the DREAM Act. The request of the group was simple: respond to the voices of immigrant youth who would highlight the benefits of the DREAM Act and most importantly, move forward immediately with the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill.

We have been working on behalf of the passage of the DREAM Act for many years; we have written letters, made phone calls, met with staff, built coalitions, walked over 250 miles to Washington, DC, and, over the last 10 days, starved. This struggle began when most of us were in high school and learned a truth that would jeopardize our future. Through no fault of our own, we found ourselves in a country we’ve come to know as our own but doesn’t recognize our presence. As college graduates, we’ve accomplished many of our dreams and those of our parents, but still not considered worthy enough to contribute to our adopted country. We believed in the American dream that if one works and studies hard, and contributes positively to society, that society would come to not only accept us, but would embrace us.

We understand that the trauma and struggles endured by our immigrant communities goes far beyond what the DREAM Act would fix. We understand this because we live it. We live separated from loved ones, watch our parents work hard in poor, unsafe conditions for low wages, and fear the apprehension and deportation of our families daily. So if and when there is a proposal for reform of the immigration system that would address all of the issues that we, our families and our communities face, the New York State Youth Leadership Council would fully be in support and let it be known that we would be present then as we are now. Yet absent this real possibility, immigrant communities are united on this point: We all want the DREAM Act and we want it now! Parents came to this country to provide for their families and to offer their children opportunities. Therefore, the priority of every immigrant family is the future of their children. We do not personally know of any parent that wants the DREAM Act, and the dreams of their children, to be held back for the slim chance of a comprehensive immigration reform package sometime in the future. Our parents and our communities value their children and young people and want us now more than ever to have a chance to pursue our dreams. Our legislators and leaders of national organizations would do well to do the same.

This is the year for the DREAM Act. Enough immigrant youth have been denied their dreams. Many of us have been separated from our families and are at risk for deportation. Some of our peers have returned to lands they no longer remember. Some of us risk possible death or torture due to our religious and political beliefs, sexual orientation, or civil strife in our countries of birth. All of us seek the opportunity to contribute to this country and the people we have come to love. Failure is inconceivable. Waiting is unjust. No more youth should suffer while politicians and special interest groups play with our futures for another ten years. The members of the NYSYLC know full well what it takes to pass the DREAM Act now. We are escalating our actions of peaceful resistance to show that our lives in their current state are unbearable and to force this reality upon those who represent us and have the power to reform the systems that affect our lives and our futures.

Ten members of the NYSYLC held a hunger strike outside of Senator Schumer’s office from June 1st to June 10th of 2010. During this time, Senator Schumer did not acknowledge the immigrant youth starving at his doorstep nor did Senator Schumer’s staff formally meet with the youth, not even once. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer, his top aides, and leaders of the Reform Immigration for America (RI4A) campaign, did find time to conduct a meeting regarding the DREAM Act and other immigration reform proposals on June 9th. While students were starving to have their voices heard, the meeting attendees did not consider to include even a single youth voice at the table. This is unacceptable and reprehensible. Immigration advocates should know better than use the struggle of immigrant youth to move forward their own agenda, and should assure that young voices are always included in this ongoing conversation. The job of our advocates is not to speak for us, but to bring our voices into the conversation.

On June 10th, we held simultaneous actions, which consisted of sit-ins at Senator Schumer’s offices in Washington, DC and Melville, Long Island, and a rally and press conference at the New York City office. In Long Island, the students were arrested for refusing to leave without any concrete agreements from Senator Schumer. In New York City, the youth were not allowed to enter the building in order to meet with staff, as they had requested, and therefore held a die-in on the sidewalk, surrounded by New York police officers and anti-terrorism squad. In Washington, DC, the students sat in for five hours, during which time they were informed by Senator Schumer and his top immigration aide, Leon Fresco, that the Senator would not publicly support the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill until the students themselves secure all 60 votes needed for passage, without any assistance from the Senator. In perhaps the most controversial part of the conversation, the students were personally told by Senator Schumer, that he would not work to gain support for the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill because the leaders of RI4A had asked him not to, and that the students were not included in the meeting that had taken place the previous day because RI4A refused to have them at the table. We cannot be certain whether Senator Schumer is accurately portraying the sentiment of the leaders of RI4A or if it was dishonest attempt to divide our movement. In the interest of transparency, we have made public the information we had received to hold Senator Schumer and the RI4A leadership accountable to the immigrant communities they represent. We are also aware of statements that have been made after the fact by all the parties involved. However, we find it unacceptable that anger has been directed at us simply for disclosing the information we received, and we encourage those organizations who have made statements in this vein to reconsider their position and speak strongly in support of the Dream Act as a standalone bill, as well as ask Senator Schumer to be honest and forthright with immigrant communities.

The following are our asks moving forward:
RI4A, if Senator Schumer had misunderstood or misstated your position, please clarify publicly. If no specific request was made to include youth regarding the DREAM Act and this was simply an oversight, please arrange for us to be included in meetings involving Senator Schumer, Senator Durbin, and Senator Reid. We do not believe that this is an unreasonable request given that this matter affects our lives.

Senator Schumer, if what you share with us is not accurate, or if we misunderstood, please explain to your constituents why you are holding the DREAM Act hostage, or, preferably when and how you will move the DREAM Act forward. And as a point of respect to the young activists that were starving on your doorstep, please explain why you turned a blind eye and deaf ear rather than meet with them even for a minute to hear what they wanted to share with you and why they were willing to put their well-being on the line for that opportunity.

Sincerely,

The New York State Youth Leadership Council