Top Arizona DREAM Moments of 2012

The end of 2012 is a great time for reflection on the events that changed the lives of approximately 80,000 to 100,000 immigrant youth in the state.  There will be other lists for top moments at national level but these are our Arizona’s best.

1.-DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).  It wasn’t because one day President Obama decided to be nice with the embattled DREAMers.  It was a calculated political move plus the result of DREAMers across the nation pressuring POTUS. The ADAC participated in the Right to DREAM Campaign, protesting in front of ICE’s offices and engaging the White House through social media. Efforts came on different fronts, using different tactics. 96 Law professors across the nation signed a letter to President Obama stating “Yes, You Can” give reprieve from deportation to DREAMers in response to President Obama's  reluctance to use his executive powers to alleviate the  DREAMers' situation . More on the letter to President Obama  here.  Arizona State University Professor Evelyn Cruz was one of the signatories to the letter. This “DREAM Act light” was the most significant victory in the immigrant rights movement in a generation.

2.-In State Tuition at Maricopa County Community Colleges.  One of our biggest victories. Legal Department and authorities at Maricopa County Community Colleges District (MCCCD), one of the largest colleges systems in the nation, were quick to find legal justification to offer In-Sate-Tuition to DACA grantees.  This move was in spite of Jan Brewer’s executive order denying Arizona IDs and Driver’s licenses to DACA grantees.   MCCCD kept the list of documents for in-state-tuition that was in place since the times of Prop. 300 implementation.  Governor Brewer, in an authoritarian move, changed the list of documents for granting Arizona State IDs and Driver’s Licenses eliminating the working authorization (I-766).

The quick and resolved response from MCCCD authorities came thanks to the intense protesting and scrutiny  the previous implementation of out of state tuition policies got since April 2011.  Long story short, we DREAM advocates put pressure on MCCCD in public and many, MANY, private meetings to show our displeasure on the disappearance of all reasonable tuition fees for immigrant youth. Here is an article on the series of protests by journalist Gregory Pratt.
The tuition hike came with subsequent collapse of the enrollment of undocumented students and the near collapse of some programs.

MCCCD was able to turn around the situation, find common sense, courage and offer a hopeful alternative for higher education that will benefit Arizona's future work force.

3.-The Arizona DREAM Act Coalition v Janice Brewer.  In an effort to pander to the GOP mostly white, old extremist base Gevernor Jan Brewer eliminated the work permit given to DACA beneficiaries from MVD’s list of valid documents for Driver’s Licenses and IDs.   Jan did it not for electoral benefits but for future personal economic gains (the afterlife of wagging-finger-at-the-tarmac Governor signing books and juicy speaking engagements). Even more distasteful, she issued her executive order the same day DREAMers celebrated USCIS launching of the DACA process on August the 15^th, 2012.   ACLU Arizona came to the rescue and slapped a lawsuit along with ACLU National, MALDEF and NILC with the Arizona DREAM Act Coalition et al as plaintiffs.  Members of ADAC, among them CADENA, SUFFRAGE, I DREAM, QUIP and others participated defining the lawsuit. The move was highly anticipated. The authoritative action (we call it bullying) against young people found complete silence from GOP figures at local and national level. Here is an article from Terry Greene Sterling on the issue. Now Michigan DREAMers are following our footsteps filing a lawsuit in their state.

4.- No DREAM Deferred-NDD.  With more than 1000 DACA applications submitted through the workshops and countless orientation for DACA applicants, NDD Coalition deserves a spot on the greatest Arizona DREAM moments of 2012. NDD is an all volunteer and free service to young people coordinated  by DREAMers from ADAC with the invaluable professional help of AILA Lawyers plus other partnering community organizations.  Great collaboration and team work in spite of the monetary  limitations.

 5.- Dulce Matuz, One of the 100 More Influential Persons in the World by TIME Magazine.

It was a great recognition of Dulce Matuz’s leadership (an ASU electrical engineer graduate and Carl Hayden Falcon Robotics alumna) but also national recognition of the DREAM Act movement en Arizona.  She is the first to point out the volunteer work and many sacrifices of all the active members of the movement who contribute to her effective leadership. 

Bonus top moments!

GED enrollment for DACA applicants. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals came, for DREAMers who had not completed High School, with an opportunity to engage in education though enrollment on GED programs.  In spite of the many challenges this subgroup confronts it represents hope to young people to attain legal presence, work permit and a platform where they may construct personal educational improvement.  It would benefit individuals, families and the overall community.

Civil Rights Center-Department of Education Federal Complaint Against MCCCD. The tuition hike mentioned on top moment number 2 brought scrutiny from community members and specially Silverio Garcia of the Civil Rights Center.  MCCCD was treating Undocumented Charter High School students like community college students and submitting them to  harsh immigration-education policies. K-12 students are protected from legal status inquiries. CRC opened the door for the Department of Education to intervene.  Ruling is still pending but it was a great experience in advocacy, tools we can use in the future and returning some power to the community. Here is an Arizona Republic article on the issue.

Undocumented Youth on Time Magazine.

 American Citizens in waiting article featured amazing Arizona advocates Erika Andiola and Christian Lira among the national stars line up.  Another signal the DREAM Act movement have reached the notoriety from a little known legislation back in the day I started to advocate. Click for the TIME magazine cover and article here.

Don't Let Them Behind.  465 dollars can be a lot of money for immigrant youth, limiting for some the opportunity to apply for DACA.  Fortunately an anonymous donor contacted Chicanos por la Causa to start a fund  providing the USCIS- DACA application fees for DREAMers in need.  CPLC is reaching out to the community to grow the fund. I have been privileged to participate in the creation of the effort and witnessed DREAMers getting their checks to USCIS for their application. However, there is a lot of need for more funds like this to be created around the country. Start one !  Click here to donate !

Happy New Year 2013!