Are You Undocumented and Unafraid? Time to Come Out

The day on which we declare ourselves undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic is almost upon us. On March 10th, leading into the week of March 14th, we will come out once again. Last year, hundreds of DREAMers across the country took the historic step of coming out as undocumented youth in schools, community centers, houses of worship and city halls. This step led us, undocumented youth, to become a force to be reckoned with, a movement that can never be forced back into the shadows.

Will you join the National Immigrant Youth Alliance in this call to action?

“Being undocumented doesn’t define who you are. By Coming Out we take back our right of speech that for years others have been trying to control and oppress. Being undocumented is something that has given us strength and patience throughout the years. Nobody, not even the Senate, can stop us. We’re here and we’re not leaving, be proud and be loud!”

-Angy, New York State Youth Leadership Council

“By Coming Out, we are taking control of the same fears that are going to exist no matter what. Last year, we came out, sat in, and rose up. Now, no one can stop us. This year, not only are we undocumented and unafraid, but we are also unapologetic. We are and we deserve to be a part of this country, and we won’t let anyone tell us differently.”

-Reyna, Immigrant Youth Justice League

The undocumented youth movement went on to challenge the prevailing forces of power with enormous gestures of courage and beauty. Brave youth across the country held their heads high as they starved for weeks outside Senators’ offices and as their determination led to arrests inside Senators’ offices. Yet others publicly battled ICE for their right to remain in their homes and communities, proudly asserting their humanity. We have worked long and hard, we have risen to meet every challenge and we have made this country a better place for all.

But we have a long way to go and our journey continues with one small step each by thousands of Dreamers. It cannot happen without YOU. It is your time to come out as an undocumented youth. But you are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of DREAMers, just like yourself, are making the decision to come out with you. Together, we are coming out of the shadows, leaving behind the fear and the broken promise of the American Dream. We are empowering ourselves to seek a better future, a future in which we are respected, in which our families live with dignity, in which our American Dream is possible.

We know that coming out as undocumented is a terrifying thought for many of us. But we also know that the experience is empowering and liberating for each of us, as well as for all of us as a community.

We have created a GUIDE TO COMING OUT to help you work through your fears and come up with coming out plan that is right for you. Additionally, you can contact us for help in planning your coming out. We are here to support each other through this process!

Posted on February 10, 2011 by admin in -
  • Elizabeth Duthinh

    I keep getting emails about this, but I’m not undocumented. This group sounds like it’s just for undocumented students, right?

    • Carlos_c75

      I dont think so.. I’m also a full blown citizen, but I support the cause so I’ll start looking at my schedule and try to make time for this.

    • Cesar

      Caarlos is correct, I am not undocumented but i have friends who are and I’ll support his cause to whatever extent I can.

  • Weezy

    NICE!

  • LocoFeminist

    I’m undocumented and feel like you all are policing what it means to be active in the struggle for equal rights. Which is to say that it us discrediting my power and self determination simply because I chose to not speak about my status. That is dangerous rhetoric that not only crosses into what one is fighting against but one that is actively alienating allies.

    • ireri

      actually we are looking at the idea of coming out as something nuanced that takes place in many many levels depending on the experiences and environment of each person. It can range from telling a trusted friend or a teacher about our status, which most of us do at some point, to writing about our experiences online for other people the read, to saying it in public, etc.

      All of these are ways of coming out that are powerful and important when it comes to getting other people to understand how laws are affecting us and maybe see how this relates to them (building bridges across communities). It’s not about forcing people to do anything nor about saying one way is better than another. it’s about opening up dialogues and spaces for undocumented youth to come together and for allies to connect our experiences with their own or at least get a better understanding of these…sorry u got the wrong impression.

      About allies, they are not excluded from the dialogue, but personally i believe that as undocumented youth we have unique and diverse experiences to offer that can help us examine society around us. With that analysis we can work for a change that intentionally takes marginalized communities into account as vital for society and works towards something that benefits all. Allies should be a part of the discussion, but we need to make sure that undocumented youth voices are there too and that we are speaking up for ourselves.

  • RJ

    I’d love to help in any way that I can.

    • Kenisha

      That is definitely where it has to start to be willing to offer assistance in any way you deem possible.

      Respectfully.

  • Joseph Nelson

    I have been advocating for the Dream Act since the beginning and have undocumented friends who are graduating and don’t know what to do.

    I’m sure you will let us know how we can support your cause.

    Rev. Joseph Nelson, OFM

  • http://www.giforumeducationfoundation.com Felix Diaz

    The situation re: undocumented immigrants, is nothing more than hypocrisy. Where did the pilgrims in 1620 get their green cards? Prior to them, other Europeans?? It’s the same old rhetoric, don’t do as I do, do as I say do. Hang in there, we too shall overcome.
    SI SE PUEDE!!

  • JAIRO YAYO

    Im a Chicano born in California, and I will stand up with the rest of my people.

    • Kenisha

      I totally respect that!

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  • Kenisha

    The emails are basically for people to take civic action into making the issue bigger and also to raise awareness more efficiently.

    I am not undocumented either. I support the issue because I am civically engaged.

    Thanks

  • ATekk

    I respect those who want to come out in public and reveal their status. But I also respect those who don’t. If revealing my status can cause me not to graduate and putting my family in danger, then I wont. As simple as that.

    Pure bravado without a real strategic pragmatic plan will not get us very far. I wish the leaders could put the emotional part in their pockets and come up with an actual pragmatic LONG TERM PLAN.

    We all heard the human side of the argument but we need to do more than that. We need hard cold numbers (such as GPA, and # of grads). We need to show that we are better than average students. We need to promote academic excellence for undocumented youth from high school to grad school. We should promote careers in engineering and medicine, professionals that this country needs. We need to help each other, which means that if I get an A and my undocumented brothers get C’s then we all lose. By helping each other, we are empowering each other to reach our dreams in spite of our status. If we can show that we are academically superior than the average student then we can make a stronger case in our favor.

    Success in spite of major disadvantages is very hard to ignore, but if we do succeed we will find more allies and sympathizers that we could have ever imagined. I’m not saying we should wait until we reach higher academic standards, but we can do more, we can do better.

    • Viridiana

      We are doing more and we are doing better. From my side of the fence, things on the organizing end are getting better, faster, smarter as we are informed and respond to increasing attacks on our undocumented communities. It’s about ACTIONS not WORDS and we will use ACTIONS to expose these attacks. Just as those folks who prefer to keep silent about their status to stay in school, not risk deportation, etc. are entitled to do so, so are we entitled to act upon that which our conscience dictates. In 2011, we’ve learned from 2010. We ARE doing more and we ARE doing better.

  • Rommel

    Anybody knows gathering places/times in Chicago?

  • Celesoccer

    Hi, I’m a senior in high school and I’m undocumented. I’m trying so hard to find a way to go to college and honestly my parents don’t have a clue, the counselors at school aren’t much help either. I don’t want things to end for me after high school.. I know i cant get financial aid and my parents aren’t very supportive. What can I do to help myself out?

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  • MS

    Can you post on your website a small poster or quarter-sheet flyer, black and white, that I could print out and post on bulletin boards around campus? It needs to have at least one web address that interested people would go to get more information about the DREAM Act. Thanks!

  • Aya

    Please do include information on what your documented allies can do to support our undocumented friends. Also, if anyone knows of an online guide for allies in the event that someone you know is removed by ICE, it would be great if you could post the link.

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WIMR554TXEYBTHNSXPBGXTIPWA Rosario Huitron robles

    Hola soy una persona Preocupada por la situación de los inmigrantes indocumentados, Soy Abogada penalista y Sria Gral DE la CNRDH en México A todo el o la que quiera mandarme su historia para darle solución concreta y precisa. sin pensarlo dos veces manden su problema a mi correo

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WIMR554TXEYBTHNSXPBGXTIPWA Rosario Huitron robles

    I am a person concerned about the situation of illegal immigrants, criminal lawyer and I Sria Gral de la CNRDH in Mexico to all or the one you want to send me their story to give specific and accurate solution. without a second thought send your problem to my email

  • Dtclemen

    I am not undocumented or even hispanic but two students at my college along with four others are and were arrrested yesterday during a sit in at the state house in Indianapolis, Indiana. Please give them your support and if you know of anything or anyone who can help them and keep them in this country please speak up.

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  • Bupendra Ram

    Where can I find the “Guide to Coming Out?” –Bupendra