There have been more deportations in the past 15 years than ever before in the history of the United States, where to date, some 11 million undocumented individuals reside. That number continues to grow every year.
On Tuesday, May 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed an immigration reform proposal with a 13-5 vote. The bill with 300 proposed amendments will go before the Senate on June 10. However, the question remains if the senators that did not take part in the initial hearings in May will adopt, or make any modifications to the bill.
San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network (SFILEN) held a news conference on Wednesday, May 29 at the Dolores Street Community Center to inform and answer any questions that the public had about the 2013 immigration reform bill.
“It’s going to be very important for these women to be included in this reform,” said Ariana Gil Nafarrate, an immigrants rights organizer for Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA). “There are many people at the moment living in the dark, a lot of people living with fear … The level of stress that one has is high when you’re afraid to leave your home, the fear of driving and getting stopped by the police that would lead to a deportation.”
“It’s not a fear without cause, people are seeing that that’s what’s happening … I think the main thing for these women and people in general is that it will end the fear,” she added.
Another topic discussed at the news conference was workplace discrimination and the protection of immigrant workers.
Teresa Molina, an undocumented woman, said she had been a victim of discrimination at her job. “I worked taking care of an older woman who was sick. I worked 24 hours a day, six days a week and was only paid $1.15 an hour,” said Molina. “This happens a lot, we suffer through this because we need the money.”
One amendment outlines a plan for undocumented youth to acquire citizenship. In particular, for youth that did not qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Though many consider DACA to be a stepping-stone in the path to immigration reform, for some, it has proven to be less effective than anticipated.
Wei Lee, 21, is an advocate for Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education (ASPIRE) and did not qualify for DACA because he came to this country at 16-years-old—just 20 days too late.
“I submitted my application with letters stating why I’m a good case for DACA, but it’s a very strict criteria that left out a lot of people. It was very painful of getting denied because I already graduated from college and would’ve put my degree to good use,” said Lee.
SFILEN’s main objective is to offer a support system to immigrants like Lee and their families to press Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and California elected officials to endorse an inclusive path to citizenship.
“I think every immigrant contributes in the same way if given a chance. That’s all we need, a chance,” said Lee.