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A Brother in Struggle

By November 18, 2010No Comments

By Angela

New Organizing Project blogger

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Imagine waking up one morning and being told that you will be deported in a matter of days. As undocumented students, this is the fear that we live with daily. Recently, this fear became a reality for a 20-year-old DREAMer, Steve Li.

Steve "Shing Ma" Li (photo taken from vivirlatino.com)

Steve is a student at the City College of San Francisco who is dreaming of opening a medical clinic to serve immigrant communities. But one morning, ICE raided his house and detained Steve in Arizona for 56 days. During a telephone interview from the detention center in Florence, Arizona, he said, “One day I was getting ready to go to school to see my friends and teachers, and the next day I was locked in jail with criminals and gangsters and being treated like I wasn’t a person.” He was then told that he would get deported this past Monday, November 15.

Ever since Steve’s case came to the light, DREAMers and supporters began to mobilize to stop Steve’s deportation. As a brother and a loved one going through our struggle, many took it upon themselves to do whatever they could to halt Steve from being deported to a country he does not know. This was a time once again to show our strength and prove what we as DREAMers can accomplish.

Over 7,000 Facebook users signed on in support of Steve’s case in less than a week, and we successfully exploded public officials’ telephone inboxes so they could hear our concern and do something about the situation. The great momentum created by DREAMers have created a significant victory. On Monday, when Steve was supposed to get deported, Senator Feinstein said that she will introduce a private bill for Steve. She stated, “I have asked ICE to halt the deportation proceedings while I consider introducing a private bill that will allow Mr. Li to remain in the United States on a temporary basis.”

The case of Steve Li is a testament to one of the mottoes of the DREAM Act campaign that DREAMers are undocumented and unafraid. Numerous times we have seen that our movement has saved our brothers and sisters from deportation. Every time we are able to successfully stop a deportation, we are relieved and celebrate that another battle has been won. And every time we are stronger together.

Until the day we can truly rejoice in victory for the DREAM Act, we will continue to mobilize and fight for our lives.

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For information on what is going on with Congress, the DREAM Act and how you can help, please visit http://bit.ly/novdream

Already know what’s happening? Start making your calls to Senator Reid by using the suggested script and call-in number below provided by DREAM University – http://on.fb.me/ourdreamnow

To Senator Reid (866-877-5552): 
“Hi, my name is ________________. I´m calling to Congratulate Senator Reid for his reelection and to remind him that we will hold him accountable for his promise to bring the DREAM Act for a vote during the lame duck session of the 111th Congress. Thank You!”

Afterwards, update your status: 
¨I called Senator Reid at 1 866- 877- 5552 and asked him to bring up the DREAM Act for a vote during the 111th Congress. Please do the same.¨

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