El Semanario
Posted on 05-10-2012

CAD student: ‘This is not right, it’s not fair’

By Rocio Argüello

“We are willing to walk the nearly 3,000 mile trek from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Are you willing to support us? Will you stand in solidarity with us? Let’s walk and talk.” This is the mission of students who are gathering national support as they walk a 3,000 mile trek across the country to bring awareness to the struggle of undocumented students in the US. The Campaign for an American DREAM (CAD) began its journey across the nation on March 10th at the Golden Gate Bridge and will culminate in Washington, DC.
The students are creating dialogue around the passage of the DREAM Act and immigration reform with the values of equality, unity, and diversity. Their mission states, “We believe all people are equal, all those who are oppressed should be united, and our daily lives and the Campaign itself highlight diversity.”
The message is simple, yet difficult to maneuver through the barriers of anti-immigrant phobias. Their plan is to educate communities and discussing the need for all students to have access to higher education.
Below is an excerpt from student Raymi Gutiérrez’ blog, a student pursuing a BS in Sociology at the University of Utah,
sharing her experience on this historic journey. The Weekly Issue/El Semanario will continue to update readers on the students during their country-wide expedition.
“Leaving home is the biggest sacrifice I have made since joining this walk. I have missed my family over the past two months. I have often cried because I was not home to help pay the bills, watch my younger siblings’ softball and baseball games, or spend time with my brother, who I am very close to, on Tuesday nights.
“Since my arrival, it’s been hard to balance organizing for the campaign, meeting up with friends, and spending time with my family. One day I visited my parents’ house and noticed that several things were still the same — not that I expected things to change drastically within the two months I’ve been gone. I went home to relax but instead, became the family driver and shuttled between picking up and dropping off siblings.
One of the things that has stayed the same, and has significantly bothered me, was dropping my well-educated brother off at work, where he is a janitor. It irks me that despite his two BS Business degrees, the only job he is qualified for is to clean buildings…all because he lacks a social security number. This is not right. It’s not fair.
“I know firsthand how passionate and dedicated he is in his endeavors and that he wants nothing more than to apply his skills, talent, and education in the marketing industry. It pains me to see him suffer like that. So, instead of sitting back and hoping for change, I have gotten involved to make the change that I want to see.
“As much as I want to stay home to help my family with bill payments and errands, I have regained motivation to continue the work I signed up for. There is a lot of work to be done in Utah. The communities here have been dormant on this issue for too long.
“Immigration comes with sacrifices, and sacrifices come out of love. I have gained the confidence to bring up this topic and challenge others to see the human side of it. To hear about DREAMers who are over qualified for their current job(s) is a common story. It has been more than a decade since the DREAM Act was introduced, we cannot wait any longer. I will continue in this movement for the sake of the countless lives affected by what politicians decide, and push for positive change. People have the power, they just don’t exercise it much. I realize that people power goes beyond voting.”
Donations are welcome and can be deposited at any Chase Bank to account # 465781370. Donations will help the walkers survive the trip by funding their meals, shelter, and basic day to day necessities, and also helps pay for gas for the Campaign RV.