Young immigrants have a dream
Just yesterday it was announced that Rigoberto (Rigo) Padilla will not have to leave this country later this month. He can stay another year while his immigration status is reviewed and regularized. Rigo came to this country at 6 years old, went through U.S. schools, and was an honor student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was caught running a stop sign, had had a few beers, and, as an undocumented immigrant, had no driver’s license. ICE came upon him as he was locked up in Cook County Jail, and an immigration judge quickly ordered his deportation.
A campaign ensued among his fellow students and faculty at UIC to allow him to stay in the country, at least to finish his education – he is a junior and sociology major. One interesting aspect of the protest in favor of Rigo was that many of the organizers were in the same situation – undocumented students who were brought to this country at young ages. Like Rigo many no longer had effective contacts to their country of origin, may be had never even visited it, and see themselves as “Americans.” Now he can stay to finish his education, but there are many in our schools who have similar histories to Rigo’s.
When I was stationed as an associate pastor in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago, I knew some such students. I admired their courage and that of their parents in supporting at some sacrifice the education of their children. It was not easy. Illinois gave them a break on tuition, but families were known to mortgage their homes to pay the rest since undocumented students did not qualify for government-assured student loans. I always thought our hard-nose attitudes on immigration, especially toward the young, was a waste of money and talent. We educated them in our schools and when they were ready to be productive citizens of society, we begrudged them help in the final stage of education. What a waste of talent!
For years Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) of Chicago has introduced in Congress the so-called Dream Act, which would extend to youth who were brought to this country illegally before 15 years and who went through our schools, the right to stay to finish their education and then even to apply for permanent residency. The bill had won broad acceptance in Congress, but was always a casualty to the anti-immigrant animus toward comprehensive reform. A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the Senate by Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.). But it probably will have to wait to be part of a comprehensive package that will be taken up in the new year. Meanwhile the Department of Homeland Security seems to be signaling to go slow on cases similar to Rigo Padilla’s (see New York Times article ).
Comments (23)
Just A Thought
By James (not verified) on Monday, December 21, 2009Yes, I'm Catholic and a member of KC. Does Anyone recall this Biblical Text? "By their works shall ye know them."
Mr. Padilla firsts disrespects us by violating our immigration laws, then by driving while unqualified, then endangered others by drunk driving. Now, because he is a good student the UCI fellows want his record expunged and beg his re-admittance to their institution.
His "works" suggest that he may be a good student but lack moral character and respect for others.
Is this really the kind of person we want to make a citizen?
My grandfather was an immigrant to the US, but he was a LEGAL IMMIGRANT. There is a difference!
Immigrant student deserve a
By Josy (not verified) on Tuesday, December 15, 2009Immigrant student deserve a chance to continue studying. Rigo is a great example of students who want to continue to pursue their dreams. Those students deserve a chance to continue their education. Many immigrants come to make a better life and be part of society. This nation needs an immigration reform and the dream action! There are many misconceptions about immigrants but that is because many are not well informed and do not even know their struggle. They suffer in their country and many times there has been US interventions that propelled the conflicts in those countries. It is time to demand equal rights for everybody!
Re: What would Jesus do with immigrants?
By Dignity and Justice (not verified) on Tuesday, December 15, 2009I, too, was initially surprised at some of the meaner comments below. But then I realized that many of them are _not_ being posted by Catholics. (One even made that obvious by saying "the Catholics" want to expand "their" church by allowing in more poor people.) And a quick glance at other Internet news stories shows that some of those "flaming" this story below are using exactly the same kind of anti-immigrant speech used elsewhere---that is, there is a small group of people out there who are adding their nasty comments to _all_ of these Internet news stories, but they pretend to be regular Joe-sixpack citizens to throw the rest of us off. I'm not saying, however, that none of them are Catholics; and for those who are, we can pray to soften the hearts of those who have forgotten the history of Catholics and immigrants in this country (it's a history of struggle against anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic exclusionists), not to mention those who refuse to see the human dignity of our new immigrants, as well as their great value as our neighbors, friends, students, and yes, leaders of America. Let's welcome the Stranger among us!
What Would Jesus do with Immigrants?
By What would Jesus do? (not verified) on Monday, December 14, 2009Wow it really surprises me to hear the responses below. I am a daughter of Immigrants, who's nationality is American, Ethnicity is Mexican, and Race is Unknown. I also come from a strong Catholic family that has always been involved with helping the church.
I am disappointed at you my fellow catholics. wasn't Jesus Christ himself an immigrant at one point? would you refer to Christ our Lord as an "illegal alien?" This country does not even call it's own convicts illegal! The word "illegal" is humiliating and dehumanizing. To you who say "Mexicans now are not like they were before" how can an ethnicity of people change as a whole? you are stereotyping Mexicans! Ask yourself what would Jesus do? you bunch of hypocritical catholics!
Illegal refers to how they ended up in the US
By Anonymous (not verified) on Tuesday, December 15, 2009Criminals engage in illegal activity. To refer to them as illegal criminals would be redundant and a double negative, thus legitimizing their behavior.
Those who come into the US without proper documentation, do so illegally. To separate their status from those who enter legally, we refer to them as illegal immigrants. If they don't like the title, come in through appropriate channels and we will gladly call them legal.
Let's not pretend that egregious behavior is acceptable. Stealing is stealing, regardless of why it is done.
And by the way, I am Catholic.
just because something is
By Anonymous (not verified) on Thursday, December 17, 2009just because something is "legal" or "illegal" does not make it right or wrong all the time EX: we have had laws in our country that were racist and wrong, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Slavery, Japanese Concentration camps, Indian Removal Act, Jim Crow Laws.
These are laws made by MEN. Laws made by God are (no stealing, no killing, no adultery...)
So stealing DOES NOT equal to "coming into the United States Illegally" one was made from God and the other made my MEN.
Jesus teaches us to welcome the foreigner.
As for our country, it's simple. Create a channel or laws that will allow immigrants to come into our country legally. In that way they don't have to risk their lives crossing the border in pursuit of a better life and they come in a "humanizing" way.
again "stealing" is not the same as "crossing the border illegally" I am not promoting it and i agree both are "breaking the law" and it is bottom line. However, our lack of having a proper way for people to come in legally causes them to cross the border because it is their only option for them to work, make a living, and feed their children. At least they work with dignity versus doing what many do... join drug cartels in order to make income to put food on the table.
immigrants are people too
By ireri (not verified) on Monday, December 14, 2009People migrate for all sorts of reasons, and from all sorts of places, whether from state to state, neighborhood to neighborhood or country to country. We leave to find better jobs, learn new things, get away from something, for survival. When there are laws in place that prohibit people from doing something that is needed in order to survive, such as migrating, then these laws no longer reflect the reality of our lives, and should be changed. Immigration laws do not protect the U.S. Instead, they cause pain, obstacles, and separation to people who are only trying to live the best way they can. It is time to change these laws, the DREAM act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform can offer part of a solution to recognizing the rights of people to move, to live, and recognizing our contributions to society as well as our humanity. Yes, we make mistakes too, because after all we are human, and as such should have the same rights as other humans in this country. To say that people can be deported from a place where we have built our homes for making one mistake when other people (like citizens) who make that same mistake, or worse, can not, simply because of where we were born or how we came to be in a place, is a complete double standard that we need to get rid of in order to fight for the rights of everyone as members of our communities.
Human dignity and Catholic respect
By Dignity and Justice (not verified) on Monday, December 14, 2009Now we have millions of immigrants among us, although as a proportion their numbers are not larger than the immigrant populations of 100 years ago. Yet they are from different places. In addition to Europe, we see people from Latin America and Asia. And although it may be difficult to accept at first, they are like us, and they will help our country to be even greater. This has always been a country of immigrants, but there have always been nativists opposed to newcomers as well. Let us Welcome the Stranger! Let us respect their human dignity, and a truly humane pathway toward citizenship.
Catholics should stand up for immigrants
By Dignity and Justice (not verified) on Monday, December 14, 2009When we take the opportunity to read on the history of the U.S. Catholic Church (e.g., I recommend Dolan 1985 work), we cannot miss noticing that the history of Catholicism in this country has been intimately tied up with immigration since colonial times. It is fascinating, in fact, how the history of the church and the history of this great immigrant-nation are so intertwined. Furthermore, careful readings of histories, and careful listening to one's own forebears who tell of our grandparents, great-grandparents, and others before us, will reveal to us all that the immigrants of today ARE VERY MUCH LIKE the immigrants of yesteryear.
Do we not think it was a crime that, a century ago (and even more recently), large signs were posted in windows reading "No Irish Need Apply?" especially since, as Catholics, we know that "No Irish" was equally a code for "No Catholics," at least none who were at that time being judged to be "non-white" and beneath those who came here before them. Similar terrible treatments were meted out to many Italian and German Catholics who came here, merely trying to seek better lives for their families. And it took years of struggle, organizing labor unions, working for dignity within parishes, etc., for these immigrants to help the rest of our ancestors to see the light.
I for one am appalled by the
By Anonymous (not verified) on Monday, December 14, 2009I for one am appalled by the ignorance of the people that are against any type of legislation for these immigrants. People have to face the fact that deporting the millions of immgirants in this country is not a feasable thing to do, especially not with the economy being the way it is. I don't understand where all the rage against these people is, when all they wanted was a better life for their family.
Yes it was wrong for them to come here illegally but it's not like they wouldve had a chance getting a visa in their home country, it is not as easy as people think. Now,it is not fair that the children that were brought here at such a young age should be punished for their parents mistake, if you will.
