#3 Dreamers Dream on During Nightmare
In Vermont, we’ve been very sheltered from many large news stories. However, just because we think we’re a safe community unaffected by many “outside forces” doesn’t mean we truly are sheltered. Many people don’t think that Trump rescinding the DACA program will have much of an impact here in Vermont. This is not true. Although it’s unclear how many illegal immigrants are living in Vermont, the Department of Motor Vehicles worked with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials last year to identify at least 300 illegal immigrants through undocumented driver’s papers. And that’s only in Southern Vermont. DACA will have devastating effects on Vermont communities as hundreds of people are deported. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” said Trump about Mexican immigrants last year during a presidential speech. But DACA won’t be deporting the criminals, the drug dealers, or the rapists; he’s deporting the good people. And these “good people” are young, hardworking dreamers who are pursuing educations, starting businesses, bringing in new ideas, and overall supporting the economy.
KYMELYA SARI, Seven Days – Juan Conde (in red tie), flanked by UVM president Tom Sullivan (left), Congressman Peter Welch (right) and fellow medical students
One of these many dreamers is Juan Conde, a young DACA recipient fighting to keep his dream of finding a cure for cancer alive. He is just one of the 800,000 young people whose futures are unknown after Trump’s plan to end the DACA program. Trump is giving congress only six months to decide the fate of these dreamers.
But Conde refused to be silent as he recently spoke up about his experience in America as an undocumented immigrant. He recently spoke in a press conference in front of University of Vermont president, Tom Sullivan, Congressman Peter Welch and his peers from the UVM Larner College of Medicine. Conde came to America from Mexico when he was just nine with his mother and brother. Even from a young age he was a dreamer. He said his mother believed in the American dream and his grandfather told him stories about the “great nation.” This dreamer’s story grew even more inspiring and emotional as he talked about how his mother died of cancer while only in her 40s. Conde says his mother’s death motivated him to try to find a cure for the disease. Even though he wanted to be a doctor, he had to study science research instead because being an undocumented student made it impossible for him to attend medical school.
But when president Barack Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012 a miracle happened for Conde; he would be able to get paid for his research as well as get a driver’s license and even apply to medical school. He is currently 31 years old and his dream is coming true as he is finally attending medical school. However, his dream is being threatened yet again as Trump rips the rug out from under his feet. However, this time he decided to speak up “because he was tired of being afraid.” (Seven Days, Sari Kymelya’s article.) “This is my home. The American people are my people,” Conde said during his press conference.
And deporting these people won’t be doing America any favors. “[America will lose] $400 billion over the next 10 years should DACA employees lose their work permits and jobs.” (Seven Days, Sari Kymelya’s article.)
“Why should America shoot itself in the foot? These folks are fantastic,” Congressman Welch said.
After the press conference, Conde’s peers, University president, and even the Vermont Congressman gave him a loud applause for his brave words. The students of the Larner College of Medicine may come from many different backgrounds but in that moment, their diversities united them as they supported their fellow student. They were all united by Conde’s brave words and dream of pursing the cure for cancer.
Sari, Kymelya. “UVM Medical Student Says DACA Gave Him a Chance to Chase Dream.”Seven Days, 19 Sept. 2017, www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2017/09/11/uvm-medical-student-says-daca-gave-him-a-chance-to-chase-dream.
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As you research, are you finding yourself taking a side? Your previous post it seemed you felt divided on the issue, but this post reveals a lot of empathy for stories like Juan’s.
Have you read “Return to Sender” by Julia Alvarez? It’s a story of an Addison Country farm, and the lives two families: the white American farm owners, and the migrant Mexican family who helps keep their farm running. There are many children here in VT who have been brought here so their parents can work on farms. Julia Alvarez, who teaches at Middlebury College and spends part of the year in the DR where she was raised (but born in NYC), might be an interesting contact for your research. You should also check out that book- written for middle grades readers, it’s a great story!
As I researched and began writing I noticed that I was starting to take sides. Although before I had started researching, I was leaning towards one side, I wanted to get different perspectives on both sides of the story.
As for the contact, that sounds really cool! I’m going to look into that, thank you! 🙂
This is a very thoughtful post, Lizzy, and as a college counselor, and one who has worked both in college admissions and in a high school, helping students find their way to higher educational study, I am inspired by what you’ve written. In my mind, every single student is deserving of further study past high school, be it training in technical program, enrollment at a community college, or pursuing a degree at a four year college, students such as the one you write about here is just as worthy as any of his peers who were born in the United States. The perspectives he shares needs to be heard, loud and clear, and I appreciate your writing this. Keep sharing!
Reading this, while they are only words on my computer screen, I noticed a real passion in the way you spoke (or wrote.) Already, there is a meaningful story that you have shared, bringing the issue to life. I wonder what other stories will come to light, and how they can propel this issue.
I find it pretty easy to understand everything that you’re trying to communicate by then way you write. Your focus on Conde makes empathizing with him and others like him much easier. Your use of quotes rather than statistics is appealing since it makes people care more about the situation immediately.