April 8, 2016
Contact: Sae Hee Chun, schun@nakasec.org, 703-256-2208
National AAPI DACA Video Tour Holds Screening at George Mason University
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA — On the evening of April 8th, the National AAPI DACA Video Tour will screen two documentaries featuring personal stories of undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients: Dream Riders Across America and Halmoni (Grandmother) at the Johnson Center at George Mason University (4400 University Dr. Fairfax, VA 22030). This pre-screening, in advance of the official launch in Washington D.C. on April 18th, is co-sponsored by the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and the Women and Gender Studies Program at George Mason University (GMU).
In anticipation of the April 18th oral argument in the U.S. Supreme Court on President Obama’s deferred action initiatives, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the video tour screenings will be held in over ten cities across the country. The Supreme Court could announce its decision by June 2016.
Given this critical time, it is important to educate the community about the importance of the DAPA and DACA programs by highlighting real stories and sharing the hopes and dreams of undocumented youth and families. These documentaries provide an opportunity for two stories from an AAPI community leader and young people of color and immigrants to be shared with AAPI communities across the country.
Victor Huynh, Dream Rider from Annandale, Virginia, said: “We need to raise awareness about DACA and DAPA even if DAPA is being talked about in the Court. DACA is a program that can stop families from being separated. If DAPA passes as well then the parents of the kids who were born here can stay and take care of those kids.”
Nancy Hyong, Educator with the Women and Gender Studies Program at GMU, shared: “As an educator and a US citizen, it is my responsibility to use my privilege to educate the world about dreamers. They are our children, our brothers and sisters, our friends, our classmates, our students and our neighbors but most importantly they are our future regardless of their immigration status. We must work with what we have to invest in our future. Dreamers ARE OUR FUTURE! ” said Nancy Xiong, George Mason University.“
Ju Hong, National AAPI DACA Collaborative Coordinator and the face behind Halmoni (Grandmother) shared the following comments with the GMU event organizers: “DACA has allowed me to travel back to South Korea to reunite with my ailing grandmother for the first time in over 13 years. Imagine what DAPA and expanded DACA could do for the millions of families and community members who would benefit from these programs. Throughout the National AAPI DACA Video Tour, we encourage AAPI communities to share a personalized sign with messages of support for DACA/DAPA.”
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Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_aerial_view_of_the_Johnson_Center_at_dawn..jpg (CC BY-SA)
