Consider Immigrants in May Day Activism

"To divide and conquer," said Julius Caesar, and we listened. May 1, historically characterized as the day workers make demands for better work conditions, now extends to the demands of undocumented immigrants, and rightly so. Serving us on below minimum wage salaries and with few rights, this community suffers from constant fear of the ICE police and an educational tracking system that bars their children from attaining higher education. But what entitled them to this second class treatment? Although most would not point to the color of their skin or their nationality, the idea of "legal status" is as synthetic (and bogus) as the latter choices, all of which we still use today as the basis of tacit discrimination. Nevertheless mainstream media and governmental institutions will bend backward to justify this second class treatment because a united movement of 11 million strong combined with hundreds of thousands of documented American minorities for dignity and equal treatment severely threatens white privilege.

According to data collected by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the typical undocumented household (two adults and four dependants) receives an annual income of $15,000 a year. The average undocumented individual attended seven years of school. According to 2002 Federal and State Budget records, we have collected $16 billion dollars from undocumented immigrants in taxes, and they contribute far more to the economy than they receive through cheap labor. No one seriously wants to send 11 million people across the border (for both ethical and practical reasons). These facts and the statements I made in my introduction implore the necessity of rational and humane immigration reform that reflects the economic, political and cultural contribution immigrants make to American society. This brings me to the highlight of my argument: The DREAM Act. It stands for Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act and in its federal form, it promotes education by granting temporary status to dedicated students who do not have legal status but want to pursue a college degree. Once they achieve this degree they receive a more permanent residence. Another clause in the act states that eligible individuals have also the option of enrolling in the military in addition to completing college to gain legal status.

Enacting the DREAM Act would allow the most diligent and promising individuals to pull themselves and their families out of a second class "invisible" situation and become fully equal and participating members of this democracy. It would increase the minority enrollment in colleges all across the nation hence changing false perceptions and stereotypes about immigrants and creating less racially hostile environments on campuses. Also as a result of higher education previously undocumented families will earn a higher income and therefore attain greater economic stability. Most importantly, the DREAM Act will allow our society to take advantage of a greater population of educated individuals who are willing to put their minds to solving pressing national issues.

During the presidential election Barack Obama publicly endorsed the DREAM Act and promised that if elected, he would pursue its passage in Congress. The hope in his words and his promises for change mobilized thousands of youth to his side. Certainly, the movement that won Obama's election expresses a shift in history, a possibility for winning equality. However, we cannot rely on his election alone to make this happen.

In the 1960s, before Berkeley's leadership lost its voice to conformity and mediocrity, students took to the streets and built a civil rights movement that dictated the social legislation of the time; the Kennedy administration only provided the possibility of social change but the youth had to take the initiative to use it.

Today, we face the same situation and our time has come to march the streets of Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Berkeley to unite against the racism, the division of our community and the second class treatment of 11 million human beings. We must dictate social legislation once again. Help us make the DREAM come true by joining the May 1 marches and rallies at a street near you! Go Bears!