A speech entitled ‘When We Fail’ made by Uriel Sanchez at a Press Conference for the Immigrant Youth Justice League, Chicago.IL, January 12, 2010.
Hello everyone,
My name is Uriel Sanchez and I have called this nation home for the past 18 years of my life. This past summer I graduated from the number one High School in the state and was accepted into one of the most highly respected universities in the city, DePaul University. I worked hard and was able to earn a grant from the university and a loan for four years.
With my school supplies packed, classes registered for and newly met friends I was excited, happy, overjoyed; my dream and that of my parents, one which they had worked so hard throughout their whole lives for became, what seemed, a reality.
In the late summer, exactly one week prior to the beginning of the biggest milestone in my life I received a phone call. A call from a person who worked for the financial aid office, who calmly asked for a few simple pieces of information, the last being, a social security number.
I knew that I would not be capable of producing such a number because I am an undocumented immigrant. I knew that there would absolutely be no way to pay the thousands of dollars towards tuition. I knew dropping out of DePaul would be my only option. I knew, that my dream, my parents dream had been stripped away. I was immediately shrouded in a swarm of emotions, I was unable to speak with a quiver in my voice, and confusion swallowed my mind.
Because of that, that technicality, I was denied one of the most fundamental rights that should be given to a human being, an education.
But I have not resigned to desperation, submission or hopelessness.
When we fail to speak up, when we fail to criticize, when we fail to stand up for our ideals, and when we fail to improve the lives of those around us; it is a far greater blow to the freedom, the decency, and to the justice which truly represents this nation we call home.
Thank You.
[...] su parte el estudiante Uriel quien ha estado en este país por los últimos 18 años vio sus sueños desvanecerse cuando se dio [...]
Your last paragraph sums up this whole country. You called this country home for the last 18 years yet you choose not to become a citizen? I assume you had jobs. Did you pay taxes? Did you apply for the proper papers to go to school here as an alien? If you answered no to these questions then why do you as a illegal non citizen believe you have any rights? My advise, join the club, become a citizen. Then speak up, criticize, and stand up. It’ll be your right then. Your rights right now are very limited. Kudos for wanting to get ahead. Just don’t ask me as a tax payer to finance your education.
Alan
Alan,
The questions you ask are frequently asked by those who are foreign to the immigration issue (or criminalization-of-undocumented-people-issue). To one extent your questions presuppose, at best, essential points to the discussion of immigration (e.g., that an undocumented person can easily (or has the choice to) apply for citizenship, that taxation w/o representation is not a double standard or that non-citizens in this Country have NO rights at all, and that your tax-payer money will directly pay for grants or loans for undocumented students); and, at worst, in your comment, you correlate the dignity of a human person by making its value completely contingent to a social agreement (i.e., the U.S. Constitution) that throughout different points of its historical development (up to this day) did not have any provisions (rights) for others on basis of their gender, race or sexual identity.
Keep seeking answers to your questions.
In peace,
h.r. esparza
Hi Alan – I just wanted to respond to one thing: We don’t chose to be undocumented or become citizens. Most of us who are here without documentation, would like to do so if there were a path to citizenship. That is precisely why we we’re fighting for immigration reform, and telling our stories.
Alan,
I don’t ask for your money. As I’m sure you read; the grants and loans were gained through my hard work, the hard work of my family and not that of a stranger. There was merit behind every achievement. As with most people who attend college, all tuition costs would’ve been or will be payed by me and my family, not you Alan.
The choice of me becoming a US citizen is one which was never offered or is available. It is one which I, along with millions of others like myself, are unable to attain in today’s world. Even after pledging allegiance to the flag for 18 years and adhering to the ‘protocol’ you mentioned. In that, my rights are limited.
I am already speaking up, critisizing and standing up as I write this, for it is my God-given right. And I will continue to do so until my last breath.
It is unfortunate to see that you would do nothing for what is right and just. That you, as a US citizen, would do nothing as the Constitution is raped from its word of equal rights to every man, woman and child on this land. So long as your precious money isn’t involved. For as much as my capitalistic self will allow me to bear witness, I ask a question: Who is the real American?
I hope you find any answers you’re looking for. Thanks for reading.
-Uriel
H.R Esparza
You’re right I am unfamiliar with immigration law. I do see the unjustice of bad policies every day. Honestly If I lived south of the border with a totally a corrupt govenment I’d be looking for a better life also, even if it ment being an illigal. I do simpathise with hard working people who want a better life.
I don’t have a problem with reforming immigration. The policies in place are antiquated. Ther’s a BUT here. Reform can not include everyone. If the law allowed “everyone” in we would be a nation of 2 billion instead of 400 million over night. Would you want criminals, religious fanitactics, diseased, or immigrants who come here just for our entitlement programs? Obvisiously common sense reform is in great need. With the present politicians in power, I do not expect a common sense policy to appear any time soon. I do expect to see more entitlements to the poor and down troden at the expense of an already overburdened tax system.
For a lot of people, if not everyone, it is hard to relate to what we have to go through. We live under a system that tells us that “hard work is rewarded,” yet everyday we come to realize that unlike our peers, we don’t have an equal opportunity in this country. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try in this country, there will always be someone saying that we are less because we lack of a number. I want to tell you Alan, that a number does not define who I am, a paper does not define who I am. I am a person and like Uri says, we have the right to an education, a right to speak our minds, and the right to tell off ignorant people that call people of their own kind “illegal,” that this country needs to change. With or without citizenship we will speak up and stand up for something that we have worked hard for. I invite you to step inside our shoes and tell me if you would do nothing about this.
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