Erin Staley - Im an Undocumented Immigrant. Now What?

Immigrants from all over the world come to the United States. Some with adventurous spirits, seeking opportunity. Others who are fleeing political upheavel, religious oppression, or environmental disasters.

Being an undocumented American can be very lonely. You live in the shadows of being identified and deported, separated from everyone you love and everything you know. This fear could prevent you from getting involved and connecting with others. You may avoid playing sports, joining the debate team, going to the big dance, or meeting up with friends at a popular hangout. Mistrust, stress, anxiety, depression, and anger could result, further complicating your mental and physical well-being. But you are not alone. There is help within your community and on a national scale.

Advocacy groups, faith-based programs, educational institutes, and nonprofit organizations work to support, advise, and finance undocumented immigrants in their efforts to pursue an education, understand their rights, get a job, and seek legal status. Government policies and programs are in place to help you stay in the country, provided qualifications are met and maintained. And immigration attorneys are available to help navigate the nations complicated and lengthy immigration process. Many of these resources are detailed in this book, helping youor those you knowhave the peace of mind and the knowledge needed to create your American Dream.

CHAPTER 1

W HO A RE U NDOCUMENTED I MMIGRANTS ?

U ndocumented immigrants are those who have either entered or remained in the United States without legal documentation. Some are aware of their illegal status, and others are not. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that there are 4.5 million US citizen children with unauthorized parents. Then there are another 1.5 million who are undocumented youths. No matter their circumstances, these youngsters live in fear. They live in the shadows, afraid of being discovered by government officials who could forcibly take them from loved ones, only to be dropped into the child welfare system, sent to detention centers, and deported to their country of origin. These fears bring on feelings of isolation, mistrust, stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.

G ROWING U P AS U NDOCUMENTED A MERICANS

The APAs video, Undocumented Americans, features the real-life stories of three undocumented youths: Jong-Min, Silvia, and Pedro. Each came to the United States at a young age, and has unique stories to share.

I always thought I was legal in a sense, says Korean-born Jong-Min, recalling how shocked he was to learn of his illegal status. He had felt American in every sort of way. His parents warned him not to reveal the familys status. They were afraid of deportation. Jong-Min soon recognized the limitations he faced. He wasnt able to do what his peers did. Being undocumented is like living in this invisible prison, he says. Im American, and this is my home. This is my country.

Pedro came to the United States as a four-year-old. He was heartbroken when he learned of his familys illegal status. I had to learn to be below the radar in everything I did, staying out of trouble, doing well in school, he says. And I was never outside of my home unless I had a good reason for it. Pedro credits his siblings for being good role models. He worked hard in school, and was later accepted to Cornell University. Pedro even received scholarships. However, the threat of deportation lingered. In 2008, while traveling from Chicago to Cornell University, his bus was stopped by a Border Patrol agent. The agent questioned each passenger. Pedro admitted that he wasnt a US citizen. The college student was arrested. He was fingerprinted, made to strip and wear an orange jumpsuit, and held in a federal marshals prison in New York. There was no one there that I felt was on my side. It was me versus everything, he says. I was fighting for my freedom to be in this country. Pedro was released after twentyfour hours.

Many immigrants arrive in the United States at a time in their lives when they are considering starting a family. This can lead to separationand heartacheif proper documentation is not attained.