A Conversation on Inequality: How Immigration Policy Effects Undocumented Students

Social inequality, racist slurs and deprivation of basic human rights are a part of the lives of many undocumented students such as Mario Garcia, Carmela Garcia and Karen Orozco. Such topics were touched upon on Nov. 24 during a public forum on undocumented students and their experiences in higher education. The event was hosted by NEIU's Movimiento Cultural Latino Americano, The Feminist Collective, and the Union for Puerto Rican Students (UPRS).

Mario Garcia, a student of Harold Washington University, is a current affiliate of the UPRS and Immigration Youth Justice League. He came to the U.S. as a minor in 1994 and after getting admitted to a local school in Illinois, he caught the eye of immigration authorities and was deported.

"In Illinois, you can't get a driver's license [or a] social security card," shared Garcia, "You have a constitutional right to remain silent, while traveling is not a safe activity for undocumented students."

Carmela, Garcia's sister, said that she and her brother face social inequality everywhere they go.

"One day, when I was on my way [to] work, I got pulled over by cops who took me to the detention center for not having valid driver's license and SSN. They took me just for a little piece of paper," shared Carmela. "I am surrounded by hatred, desperation, and humiliation everywhere and me and my brother aren't the only ones.

"As a student we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders," continued Carmela. "Being an activist, I believe that I have to struggle to complete my education so that one day I will be able to fight and raise awareness for illegal immigration and help other undocumented students like me."

Karen Orozco, an undocumented NEIU sophomore student and orchestra member, said that although she got two scholarships of $20,000, she will not be able to get a job after she graduates because she does not have a social security card.

Orozco also mentioned that half of her scholarship money is going for her father's bail, who was arrested because of driving without a valid license. She said that despite her good academic standing, she is not sure about her future.

Currently, there are 12 million undocumented students in the U.S. Mario, Carmela, and Karen are hoping that the Dream Act may change their lives and that all they want is the financial support for their education. They concluded by saying that, "They might be aliens, but not illegal."