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In honor of Latino Heritage Month, the Diversity Alliance held an event to bring awareness to immigration reform, stories from undocumented children and the struggles the Latino community faces in society today.

The event shared a Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors documentary that showcased the restrictions youth in the Latino community face as they pursuit their educational dreams and hopes for a future. The DREAM Act is an American legislative proposal for a multi-phase process for undocumented immigrants in the United States that would first grant conditional residency and upon meeting further qualifications, permanent residency.

The event hosted two guest speakers, Monica Reyes and Hector Salamanca, who shared their stories and how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is helping undocumented immigrants. DACA is an American immigration policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. This program offers the opportunity for immigrants to obtain a social security card in order to apply for student loans, work permit, job opportunities to advance in career as well as further educational opportunities of immigrant youth.

Monica Reyes is one of the first DACA recipients and attended the University of Northern Iowa. Reyes and her sister also started “Iowa Dreamers” which provides information for Latino immigrants to know their rights and what documentation is needed to apply for the DACA program. She is also an advocate for immigration reform and speaks against Trumps views on immigration. Reyes fears that one person’s opinion and political power will influence thousands of people and affect millions.   Focusing on immigration reform is Reyes’ goal in order to “provide a better way for immigrants to enter the country” and to provide a “legal pathway to citizenship.”

Hector Salamanca is also a DACA recipient who graduated from Drake with honors studying Law Politics. Salamanca was also awarded Obama’s DACA Champions of Change Award in 2013. He attends political events and asks political figures about immigration reform while bringing awareness to the lack of opportunities offered to undocumented children born in America. Salamanca urges people in the Latino community to go and vote, ask questions, and stand up for their rights in order to make the world listen while advocating the problem with Latino parents becoming “criminalized for coming to America for a better life”.

During the event the Diversity Alliance showed the “Dream Iowa” video, which showcased undocumented children in Iowa. These children don’t consider Mexico home due to being raised, cultured and educated in United States. This video is meant to bring attention to immigration reform, show younger generations they can change the future, and to educate people on the struggles their parents faced outside the United States and the restrictions undocumented children face within the United States.

These “Dream Iowa” children spoke out against the influences that contribute to immigration such as domestic violence, gang violence rising, sex slavery in children, initiation into gangs and no futures for children in their native countries. Their parents came to the United States to seek a better life for their children and with children being undocumented, there are no papers, Social Security cards, no option for a driver’s license and they can only receive high school education. With these restrictions, there are only low quality jobs available and no opportunities for credit or loans to continue their education into college.

After this presentation, the Diversity Alliance held a DREAMer student panel consisting of ethnically diverse students who spoke out about their experiences, even with the threat of being targeted. This panel consisted of:

Arnaldo Rivera, biology sophomore and multicultural ambassador, was born in Puerto Rico but is considered a United States citizen.

Lizeth Ornelas Salazar, biology sophomore and president of the multicultural ambassadors, as well as member of the Viking council. She is a DACA student who wants to “make sure everyone is safe” and that “hard working people who want to contribute to society” have the opportunity to do so.

David Calderon Ceron, secondary education freshman, is also a DACA student at Grand View who says, “The reason people come here illegally is because the legal system is broken.” Ceron also wants immigrants of gang violence countries to be referred to as “refugees” due to negative environments within Latino countries.

Monica Reyes, who spoke out against her experience with DACA when it was first available and provided information to the Latino community about what information and documentation are required for the DACA application.

Giselle Sancen Valero, business administration – marketing concentration and multicultural ambassador, and Karina Reyes-Zuniga, biochemistry sophomore and multicultural ambassador, are both DACA students at Grand View.

These students shared that people in the undocumented community as well as themselves feel scared, frustrated, concerned about being targeted due to society stigma and stereotypes, and disappointed by the ignorance people show towards immigrants today. The feelings of being dehumanized divides people and with the upcoming political election are making these feelings grow stronger. They also want to advocate that there is no correlation to crime uprising due to immigration.

After the program, attendees were asked about their feelings over the program and what they took away from the stories.

“I feel like people who are trying to send away immigrants are making a bad view on America. Now all of us are mean and unwelcoming” Kendra Cardines, nursing sophomore, said after hearing some of the struggles undocumented students suffered through.

“Strong individuals to open up to us (the audience) about themselves. I am inspired of how they try and their effort to help others in their community who are undergoing the same obstacles. Hector brings inspiration and determination with everything he has accomplished,” said Stephanie Salazar, community member.

Jennifer Ramirez Garcia,psychology freshman. said the message she took away from their stories was “that it was very hard for them to continue their education without the help of financial aid”.

This program was held to bring awareness to immigration reform issues and DACA students sharing their stories in order to help make a difference in this ongoing issue in today’s society. To learn more about the DACA and DREAM Act as well as immigration advocates around the Des Moines area, click on the links below and to watch the “Dream Iowa” video showcased at the program click here.

Additional Information:

Immigration Advocates in the Des Moines Area