DREAM Act is an acronym that stands for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act. It’s a piece of bipartisan legislation that would create a path to citizenship for certain undocumented/illegal immigrants who entered the United States when they were kids. The people who would benefit from DREAM Act legislation are sometimes referred . . .
On August 1, the Department of Homeland Security will release information about how, beginning August 15, certain young people who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents can apply for temporary legal status. Although not a pathway to citizenship, this program—commonly referred to as “deferred action”—will give beneficiaries the opportunity to work . . .
A few months ago, Kacie Jesus told us about the deportation of her husband Ray and its impact on her family. If you’d like to help the Jesus family out with the roughly $5000 it will cost them to pay off their legal expenses, get passports, and fly to Guatemala, email Kacie at kaciejesus@hotmail.com. Below . . .
Twenty-two years ago, at the age of fourteen, my husband Ray Jesus fled Guatemala on foot to save himself from being kidnapped or killed. His country was in the middle of a civil war, and the military had already killed tens of thousands of indigenous people just like Ray, including his eighteen-year-old brother-in-law. After living . . .
Last Friday I had the opportunity to give a series of talks about my film and immigration issues in Marshalltown, Iowa. My guide was Marshalltown-native Veronica Guevara, a college student who hosted my visit to the University of Iowa the day before. Many of Marshalltown’s residents and former residents—including Veronica’s parents (who are now citizens) . . .
Did you do anything to be born where you were? If given the choice, most of us would pick wealthy, loving families in rich countries like Italy, France, the United States, or Canada. But we don’t get to pick. We don’t do anything to earn the blessings or misfortunes we are born with. Imagine being . . .
Migration divides families. The most unfortunate cases are when a parent must leave a child behind in the home country in the care of grandparents or relatives. This is not at all uncommon. Among the roughly 12 million Mexican immigrants living in the United States (legally and illegally), in fact, an estimated 38 percent of . . .
Bob Kee came across more human remains this weekend during a hike through the Arizona desert. Read my earlier piece about why and how frequently this is happening. Photo courtesy of Bob Kee
Untold numbers of female immigrants are raped by human smugglers during their trek through the Arizona desert. Evidence is scattered all along the trails. The rapists hang the women’s undergarments from trees as trophies. Seeing one of these trees in person was one of the most chilling experiences of my life. This is happening on . . .
It’s the time of year for Christmas shopping and trips to see family. Most of us have the good fortune of being able to hop in a car or catch a flight, visit our loved ones and return to our lives and our jobs a few days later. Going home for Christmas isn’t so simple . . .
Winner of the 2011 American Library Association Notable Video Award, "The Other Side of Immigration" explores the root causes of Mexican immigration like no other documentary.
