Dream Activists, Students Arrested in DC Protest
Today, children of undocumented workers massed upon Washington D.C. to ask Congress to pass the Dream Act. The law has been proposed to make it possible for disadvantaged youth to go to college and break the chain of poverty.
Students of undocumented immigrants face a mountain of challenges at the steps of higher education. Even though most came to the U.S. as children, hence have no hand in crossing the border, most colleges won’t accept them. The few colleges that admit them charge out-of-state tuition. That makes it nearly impossible for migrant parents in low paying jobs to help their children. Scholarships are not available.
In an attempt to bring their plight to the attention of mainstream America, the students participated in an act of peaceful civil disobedience, including a charismatic youth named Laura Lopez.
“I know it is very difficult just to go to high school because there are many difficulties sometimes within our families and sometimes outside” said Lopez in an exclusive interview when the LA Dreamcaravan stopped at a Padres y Jovenes Unidos event in Denver, Colorado, on it’s way to Washington.
“(Our parents) hope we go to college and support these opportunities but at times it is not easy. . The (students) must work with the parents…that (going to school) will come to pass. These are our opportunities, please help me”
Laura continued with moist eyes, “(We the students) have to look for help from you because God does not help unless we ask him!”
Laura arrived in the U.S. on the 4th of July as a one year-old. Despite odds, she graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
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