The Hill
(Op-Ed)
By Bo Daraphant
July 28, 2015
My
relationship with the U.S. is like having a crush on a girl who does
not like me back. I would like to stay here to explore, grow, work, and
live, but this place wants
me to do none of these things and leave. Thailand is the place of my
younger years and the U.S. is my place of growth, experiences, and
relationships with young people, adults, and a community that has
empowered me to find my unique voice in this movement
and build a united network of young people who see this country as
their home.
I
was undocumented and afraid that my father was going to pass away
before I could return to Thailand. I had been raised by my aunt and
uncle. My mom frequently visited
and my dad supported me financially from afar. I followed my aunt and
uncle to L.A. when my cousin who is a U.S. citizen gave birth to my
nephew. My mom agreed to leave me believing that it was best for her
only son to find a fruitful future in the U.S. I
did not bid farewell to other family or friends believing I would get
my citizenship after my cousin became my legal guardian.
We
hired a lawyer but a couple months after my tourist visa had expired,
my lawyer told my family that he could no longer work on my case. He had
run into problems related
to the international child abduction law.
My
legal status began to interfere with my life. I set out to take college
classes at a local community college and get a job like all my friends
but I failed at both.
I needed a social security number to work and have access to
opportunities such as going to college and qualifying for in-state
tuition.
Even
though there was no clear road to move forward, I did not want to leave
without fulfilling the hope that my family in Thailand had for me to be
one of the first Daraphants
to attend school in the U.S.
In
high school, a counselor connected me to an undocumented alumnus, Jose
Antonio Flores, who attended UC Berkeley and shared that I would qualify
for AB540 enabling me
to pay in-state tuition, and about the California Dream Act providing
me with financial aid. I rejoiced in knowing that college was attainable
and my dream to share my artistic talents was possible.
A
couple months later, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a
program protecting eligible young people from deportation and allowing
them to legally work and
drive in the U.S. temporarily, was passed in 2012. I did not qualify
for DACA because it specified that a person must enter the country
before 2007. I entered in 2009. However, DACA has signified that things
are getting better for immigrants.
Shortly
before my high school graduation, I went to the Immigrant Youth
Empowerment Conference hosted by UCLA. It was surreal that everyone had
their own story and journey,
but shared my struggle as undocumented youth. I joined Peter Liu’s
group which focuses on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
undocumented issues. That was the first time I met another Asian student
who was undocumented. I heard many powerful stories
from older ASPIRE members who attended college without the California
Dream Act and worked hard to achieve what they did before DACA was even a
rumor.
Once
I started college at UCI, I tried everything from breakdancing to
fraternities, and ended up in the Dreamer Advocate Program. There I met
Ana M. Barragan, the coordinator
who gave me an internship in peer advising and media advertisement. She
asked me to share my story in a small room filled with 20 people and
later for Immigration Awareness Week. I finally had an opportunity to
contribute to the movement.
Jonathan
Paik from the Korean Resource Center (KRC) asked me to speak at a May
Day protest where I met the Mayor of Garden Grove, California. I was
later invited to the
first UC Undocumented Summit in Oakland where Putri, a friend from
ASPIRE, started the interruption of Janet Napolitano as she addressed
the large numbers of deportations and separation of students and
families that took place when she was the Secretary of
the Department of Homeland Security. It was surreal to see UC students
from every campus stand up to voice their thoughts. I have also been
interning with KRC where I work with my mentor and inspiration, Ju Hong,
on the AAPI DACA Collaborative.
Not
long ago I was afraid that I would never see my dad again. That fear is
still within me, but now there is the anticipated implementation of
expanded DACA and the hope
that every day will be brighter than the previous. This trip will go
far beyond immigration; it is about uniting families, giving people
opportunities to do something great with their lives, and showing that
every life is important.
That
is why I am joining the Dream Riders Across America bus tour with
undocumented young people and allies from various states and diverse
backgrounds traveling across
the country to meet community organizations, young people, and families
dedicated to ending social, racial, and economic injustice. Follow us
at dreamriders.us
I will end with a Bob Marley quote: “Live for yourself and you will live in vain; Live for others, and you will live again.”
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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