UT ‘Dreamers’ Celebrate New Immigration Policy
Editor’s Note: The mission of The Alcalde and the Texas Exes is to keep alumni and friends informed about The University of Texas. But this article on a campus rally is unacceptably one-sided and not up to The Alcalde‘s reporting standards. The Texas Exes has no position on illegal immigration, nor on the DREAM Act, and we do not support any presidential candidate. We apologize for coming up short on this article, and we will strive to do better next time.
Daniel Olvera got his UT diploma in the mail yesterday. When he opened the envelope, he was overcome with pride—but also with grief and frustration.
“I looked at it,” Olvera said, “and I thought, ‘This is the degree I worked for all these years, but I won’t be able to use it.’ Then I put it back in the package.”
Because Olvera, BA ’12, is in the United States illegally, he cannot work here. Though he graduated from UT’s prestigious UTeach program, he thought his goal of teaching high school social studies was out of reach.
“That was yesterday, and this is today,” said Olivera, the president of UT’s University Leadership Initiative. “I don’t know what to say…I’m so excited. I’m so happy.”
Today was a significant day for Olvera and 800,000 young adults like him. This afternoon President Obama announced an executive order, effective immediately, that will allow many people who were brought into the United States illegally as children and grew up here to get legal work permits and avoid deportation. The measure is similar to the “Dream Act” that failed in Congress.
The policy will cover people aged 30 or younger who are in school, have earned a high school diploma, or are in the military. A clean criminal record is required, and people must have arrived in the country before age 16 and lived here at least five years to qualify.
About 20 members of the University Leadership Initiative, a UT student-run group that rallies for immigration reform, gathered in the blazing afternoon sun at Littlefield Fountain today to celebrate. A young alumnus who gave his name as Alfredo said, “Now I can drive like my friends can—I can travel like my friends can. I can put my UT degree to work.”
UT history professor Emilio Zamora read a statement from U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez commending the students for their activism and calling the policy “a tremendous first step.”
“We’ve been fighting for this a long time, and it’s a relief to say the least,” said Julieta Garibay, BSN ’05, MS ’08, who co-founded the University Leadership Initiative in 2005. “Today is one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Photo by Zen Ren
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6 Comments
Yes! I’m happy for them!
I’m so happy for them! Julieta, Montse you are amazing people! Thank you to your support and hopes…ULI our family!
Great job! This is only the beginning.
I would argue that if anyone tried this, entering and living in any other country illegally, they’d find themselves either in jail or dead.
It’s Un-American to let people run all over the rule of law and the rule of personal responsibility.
It’s not anyone’s fault that their parents BROKE THE LAW.
They should be rounded up parents and children just like ILLEGAL ALIENS are in Mexico and tossed out of the country (acutally in Mexico they are first tossed in prison) for breaking the law.
They are not mine, yours, or anyone other United State’s citizens responsibility.
Their family broke the law and in this country like all countries there are consequences for doing so.
Should we just give a big “Too Bad – So Sad” to everyone that has immigrated legally or is currently waiting and doing it the right way? That would be “Un-American”!
The mere fact that the Alcalde would post a story vindicating people for breaking the law shows just how far out of touch this leftist publication is out of touch with American jurisprudence.
You are setting a terrible precedent. Why should these “Dreamers” follow any law, pay taxes, refrain from doing whatever they want?
I pose two questions to the editor’s of the Alcalde:
First, suppose you have a rare and valuable vintage car that is stolen by an illegal alien.
The illegal alien gives the car to his young son who loves it and treats it like his most honored possession.
Years later the police discover the theft and identify the car as belonging to you.
The son of the illegal alien has worshipped the car and believed it to be his own for years.
Should he be allowed to keep it?
Final question, in academics at The University of Texas would you ever reward anyone for cheating and move them to the top of the class over those that played by the rules?
Thank you, Cary, for standing up. The kids deserve a fair break. But here’s the deal. How dare we steal these bright kids from our beloved nations to the south? They need these bright kids much worse than we do and yet we gloat over having stolen them from their home country. Do we not have any empathy for our neighbors across the border that need them to build their country into the lovely country and world power that they have the potential to become?
Very nice, Thank you for writing this article! it was much needed that our UT campus support these students! I am very happy for Daniel, Loren and many UT graduates!