"Coming Out" Undocumented: A DREAM Act Strategy Becomes a Rite of Passage
Last week in Orange County, a line of about two dozen young people snaked around the side of a meeting hall. Mostly college students, they awaited their turn at the podium in the front of the room. Some looked confident, others a little shaky. A girl with long brown hair stepped up to the microphone. “Hello, my name is Estefania,” she began, “and I’m undocumented and unafraid.”
Several of the teenagers profiled in this film, including high school AP scholars and valedictorians, did not know they were undocumented immigrants until they applied to college and the door was slammed in their faces. Rather than give up, many of them became activists, promoting the DREAM Act, which would offer undocumented students a path to citizenship through higher education or the military. .
Student Alliance Project (previously the "Papers" Youth Crew)
The Student Alliance Project emerged out of the “Papers” Youth Crew, students who helped produce and distribute the documentary film, “Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth,” which has screened in all 50 states and at the U.S. Capitol. Over 350 youth in the Portland-Vancouver area and 750 youth nationwide participated in the film’s production and distribution and through this the demand for more leadership opportunities became clear.
Portland State University students Enrique Farrera, 29, a graduate student studying post-secondary education, Cindy Reyes, 18, an undergraduate, and Diego Hernandez, 23, a social work major, watched an emotional Senate committee hearing on a television in the Capitol lobby Thursday. The hearing was on a bill that would allow some students brought to Oregon illegally to attend Oregon universities and pay in-state tuition rates. They now must pay out-of-state tuition, which is three times as high.
That's why we're glad to see a swarm of Oregon legislators -- 11 Democrats and five Republicans -- sounding a kind of bipartisan brain alarm. They're pushing for Senate Bill 742, which would offer a narrow remedy: in-state college tuition for some high school students brought to Oregon illegally.
"Papers" explores what it means to be queer and undocumented.
Last week, I met up with queer undocumented activist Jorge Gutierrez in Santa Ana, Calif. to interview him for an article I'm writing for Briarpatch Magazine. Jorge was nice enough to bring along a DVD copy of the documentary "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth."
DURHAM -- There are an estimated 2 million undocumented immigrant children in the United States. Of those, 65,000 will graduate high school this year. In the documentary, "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth," young people come out of the shadows and tell their own stories of what passage of the DREAM Act would have meant to them.
DREAMer Hector Lopez Finally Comes Home, Still Faces Deportation
The first meal 21-year-old Hector Lopez had with his family after arriving back in the Portland, Oregon, suburb of Milwaukie was a Christmas eve dinner at home on December 24. A honey baked ham, mashed potatoes and all the fixings.
Think youth activism in the U.S. is dead? Think again. Many Americans who are committed to issues of social and economic justice bemoan the current state of activism among young adults. They are often portrayed as apathetic and uninformed young people who would rather spend hours on Facebook than lobby a legislator or attend a political rally.
Every year, it's estimated that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school. At that point, the young adults without social security numbers aren't able to work and most aren't able to pursue college. In her documentary film "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth," ANNE GALISKY chronicles the lives of these young people and their struggle to get authorized to live in the country they call home.
Undocumented Immigrant and DREAM Act-ivist Isabel Castillo
ISABEL CASTILLO graduated high school with a perfect GPA, but her prospects for a career in social work have come to a halt. Castillo doesn't have a social security number because her parents crossed the border and brought her to Harrisonburg, Virginia from Mexico when she was six years old. Bob visited the community to talk with Castillo, her friends, and teachers to discuss why they support the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act, which would help place such young students on a path to citizenship.
University Presidents Calls for Stand-Alone Passage of DREAM Act
A small group of university presidents today called for immediate passage of legislation that would provide an easier path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have spent two years in college or in the military.
The Mile High Makeout: Soulaju’s positive hip-hop is good for the soul
"Papers" Music Supervisor Molina Soleil and SoulAju offer up hip-hop that's good for the soul. You can hear SoulAju's original music in "Papers" and in the upcoming "Papers" soundtrack.
“Durbin’s Dream Act could run afoul of Schumer’s bill”
Sen. Dick Durbin is soft-pedaling his Dream Act immigration bill for fear of undercutting the comprehensive reform pushed by his Democratic leadership rival, Sen. Charles Schumer.
In an escalation of protest tactics, five immigrants dressed in caps and gowns held a sit-in on Monday at the Tucson offices of Senator John McCain, calling on him to sponsor legislation to open a path to legal status for young illegal immigrants.
Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration into law on Friday. Its aim is to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. The move unleashed immediate protests and reignited the divisive battle over immigration reform nationally.
The Arizona Legislature has just stepped off the deep end of the immigration debate, passing a harsh and mean-spirited bill that would do little to stop illegal immigration. What it would do is lead to more racial profiling, hobble local law enforcement, and open government agencies to frivolous, politically driven lawsuits.
The film's genesis was in Portland, Ore., as a partnership between youth-activist group El Grupo Juvenil and film company Graham Street Productions, and the film is coming to Arizona with a national perspective on the issue.
Their hopes of immigration reform repeatedly unfulfilled, undocumented students endure an effectively unforeseeable future. "Silence means that I do not exist. I walked for four years in and out of classrooms; I do not exist. I finished my expository writing papers; I do not exist. I received my Harvard diploma this past June; I do not exist.”
Documental saca de las sombras las vidas truncadas de jóvenes indocumentados
Washington, 15 mar (EFE).- El documental "Papeles", de la directora Anne Galisky, retrata las vidas de jóvenes indocumentados, la mayoría de ellos hispanos, que han crecido en Estados Unidos y ven su futuro truncado al cumplir 18 años.
Papers is a documentary film that focuses on the compelling stories of undocumented youths and the challenges they face when they realize that they have no career in the United States due to...
Rebecca Shine is the Producer of the documentary “Papers.” She joins Mario to discuss the screening of “Papers” at CU Boulder and “Coming Out Of The Shadows” protests.
Four undocumented students aim to raise awareness...
On January 1st, four immigrant students left Miami, Florida for a four month-long journey to Washington, DC – on foot. These brave students are walking the “Trail of Dreams” in order to unite support for just and humane immigration reform and highlight the urgent need for change.
In advance of the March 21 Immigration Reform March on Washington, young immigrants in cities across the country are holding “coming out parties” where they disclose publicly that they do not have legal immigration status. In downtown Chicago on Wednesday, eight immigrants made such declarations. Among them was Tania, a 26-year-old student from Mexico, who stood by a sign that read “Undocumented and Unafraid.”
Undocumented and Unafraid: Participants march in Union Park in Chicago Wednesday as part of the Immigrant Youth Justice League’s national immigration rights mobilization. The group proceeded to the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago, where they continued the demonstration.
“Papers” follows a number of our nation’s top high school graduates as they deal with the reality of being undocumented and discarded by a political system that seems to respond only when the rich and powerful need welfare, compassion, and government action.
“Papers” Music Director on Mario Solis Marich Show
Molina Soleil is the Music Director for the documentary “Papers” and a member of hip-hop group Soulaju. He joins Mario to discuss his original music in the film “Papers.”
National Coming Out of the Shadows Week – March 15 to 21st
March 10th is National Coming Out Day. In Chicago, the Immigrant Youth Justice League will be holding a rally and a march to launch a week-long “coming out” of undocumented youth across the country. In other cities and towns, students are coming out to their friends on a much smaller scale. Whether big or small, consider participating in the National Coming Out Day and weeks by coming out!
Papers the Movie: Stories of Undocumented Youth delivers the poignant stories of five undocumented students whose life in the United States is colored daily by their lack “papers.” Without proof of their immigrant status, it is against the law for them to drive or work, and it is difficult or impossible for them to get into college....
Lacing up new pairs of walking shoes with a flourish, four immigrant students set out on foot from downtown Miami on Friday, starting a four-month walk to Washington to protest what they called the Obama administration’s lack of action on legislation granting legal status to illegal immigrants...
The on-again, off-again drive to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws moved back to Congress on Tuesday with the introduction of legislation that would open a path to legal status for millions of illegal immigrants. The bill, introduced by Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois, was seen as the opening volley in what Democrats and Republicans expect to...
Exhortan generar más apoyo público para el Dream Act
Los estudiantes indocumentados deben trabajar más duro para que se apruebe una ley federal que les concedería residencia legal, ya que sus detractores han sabido ser más eficientes ante los medios de comunicación y miembros del Congreso.
HOUSTON - More than 200 people attended a screening of a 'Papers The Movie' at the Ripley Houston.
The documentary looks at the struggles facing undocumented immigrants studying in the U.S. Many Texas students may never become U.S. citizens...
Consejo de la Ciudad de Portland
da apoyo al Acto DREAM
Portland, OR — El Consejo de la
Ciudad de Portland pasó una resolución
el miércoles pasado declarando su
apoyo para el Acto de Desarrollo,
Apoyo y Educación
para Menores (DREAM)...
Imagine if you did not have the right to live in the country where you grew up. Imagine that you couldn’t work or drive. Imagine you couldn’t apply for a state ID or get on an airplane...
Portland council endorses federal proposal to offer legal status to immigrant students
Inspired by watching a film about undocumented youth, the Portland City Council passed a resolution Wednesday supporting a federal proposal to grant legal status to undocumented youth...
A new documentary that depicts the struggles of undocumented immigrant youths and the effort to help them become citizens will be screened on Tuesday in Gardena...
On Sept. 26, the documentary “Papers” launched its national tour at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon. That’s because the filmmakers, both youth and adults, wanted to showcase their extraordinary adventure in their hometown.
Local film ‘Papers’ gives undocumented students a national platform
Portland, OR ? “Papers,” a locally-produced documentary about the barriers facing undocumented students, already has people across the nation clamoring for screenings. But this is a homegrown project with major hometown support, and Portland gets first dibs, with the first official “Papers” premiere this Saturday followed by a few more local screenings before the film hits the road...
Película local ‘Papers’ consigue una plataforma nacional
Portland, OR ? “Papers,” un documental producido localmente sobre las barreras que enfrentan los estudiantes indocumentados, ya tiene a gente en todo el país pidiendo a gritos para proyectarla.
Documentary film gives voice to undocumented youths
"OK, roll it! You're on!" - Director Anne Galisky called out, and a young man with headphones focused the camera on the suit-clad older man with the yarmulke. The crew of Graham Street Productions, a Portland-based production company, hushed.
"Papers": La película que habla de la frustración de miles de jóvenes
La realidad de los jóvenes que por no tener papeles no pueden entrar a la universidad es el tema de la película "Papers" que será exhibida nuevamente el lunes 5 de octubre en el Hollywood Theater de Portland.
In New Jersey, Bills Offering In-State Tuition to Illegal Immigrants Face a Fight
Champions of a proposal to allow illegal immigrants in New Jersey to pay in-state college tuition could be forgiven for believing, after years of frustration and defeat, that their cause may finally have momentum.
A big victory for all students and groups in Wisconsin who have been pushing for in-state tuition.
We just got word this morning that the final budget, which will be signed this morning by Governor Jim Doyle, will include an in-state tuition provision. This will allow for students who graduate from a WI high-school to be eligible receive in-state tuition within the UW System and Wisconsin technical college schools.
Reuniting Families Act Helps Immigrants Who Play By the Rules
Although many people associate comprehensive immigration reform solely with issues of legalization and deportation of undocumented immigrants, the truth is that millions of legal immigrants are also victims of our broken immigration system—a system that has been floundering for the last 20 years.
While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult, President Obama plans to begin addressing the country’s immigration system this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.
House and Senate Introduce DREAM Act, a Measure to Address the Plight of Immigrant Students
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the DREAM Act ... This bipartisan legislation addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented immigrant children, and who have since grown up here but are being denied the ability to fully contribute to society.
