In the United States, 65,000 students graduate high school as “illegal” immigrants, according to The DREAM Act Portal. They attend elementary and middle school, make friends, volunteer in their communities and participate in extracurricular activities. However, these individuals are sometimes deported. They sometimes are unaware of their immigration status until that melancholy e-mail or, in senior Veronica Alvino-Roca’s situation, letter.
“I found out in the beginning of January 2011,” Alvino-Roca said. “We received a letter from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services stating that we officially have ‘no status.’”
After living in the U.S. for over 13 years, Alvino-Roca’s visa expired. Initially, she felt very shocked and confused.
“My mom was completely stunned, as much as I was. I started crying,” Alvino-Roca said. “I just thought to myself ‘how can this happen to me? I’ve been living here since I was three years old.’ I was extremely upset.”
To fight this controversial issue of sudden and forceful repatriation, members of the House of Representatives have attempted passing the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act. The proposition, more commonly known as the “DREAM” Act, aims to give illegal immigrants an opportunity to gain full citizenship.
As the Act currently stands, individuals must have entered the U.S. before the age of 16, must remain in the U.S. for five consecutive years prior to the bill’s ratification, must have a high school diploma or have been accepted to a university, must be between age 12 and 35, and must demonstrate “good moral character.”
Under these released conditions, Alvino- Roca would qualify.
“It makes me angry that they won’t pass the act,” Alvino-Roca said. “It’s something that makes sense and can help so many people.”
Since the DREAM Act’s “birth” over a decade ago, the act has remained a prominently debated topic. On December 8, the bill passed through the House of Representatives with a 216-198 margin. A month later, the act failed to reach a two-thirds Senate-wide majority vote.
In becoming a law, the DREAM Act would impact over two million illegal immigrants in the U.S. According to R & A Publications, the law would transform illegal residents to “legal taxpayers” who could confidently integrate themselves into American society.
“This is our future. The United States is being self-destructive by deporting younger generations of intellectual students who could potentially create economic and social productivity,” government teacher Angie Gonzalez said. “Veronica, an awesome student enrolled here at Palmetto and active in the community, does not deserve to be basically sent away. It’s not right.”
Alvino-Roca’s friends have remained supportive throughout the entire ordeal. At first they were “heartbroken” and torn apart, but best friends like senior Rania Kassem, a student who has known Veronica for over ten years, had much to say.
“It is extremely unfair that someone who’s been in the United States her entire life and worked so hard to accomplish everything she has is not allowed to stay,” Kassem said. “She has two scholarships, hopefully a third, and I hope it works out; she’s my best friend.”
No matter what happens, Alvino-Roca will stand up for what she believes is right until the situation is out of her control.
“I wasn’t going to leave the country just like that,” Alvino-Roca said. “I worked just as hard as any other student in this country. I got accepted to a university just like everyone else. I’m still in the process of getting through this but I am getting through it with all the help from my teachers, family and friends.”