On June 15, 2012 President Obama announced a deferred action that would temporarily suspend deportation for undocumented youth known as DREAMERs if they meet specific requirements. The undocumented and unafraid campaigns and supporters are seeing the fruits of their labor. However, for those 800,000 that may qualify, pay the fees, and present proof, this two-year opportunity will not lead to legalization though it will provide work permits. But, for what jobs? High unemployment is affecting everybody. In addition arrests for lacking documents is supposedly reserved for violent, serious criminals and not DREAMERs, but the government is still deporting the same people it promises not to deport. In fact, private correction detention centers are making money in unjustly detaining DREAMERs and low-priority detainees. There is excitement, suspicion and fear within the immigrant community.
We are seeing contradictory laws and treatment. States like California, Illinois and Hawaii are improving the ability of undocumented students to have access and more opportunity to study after high school. On the other hand, states like Arizona, Alabama and Georgia are taking away access to higher education. Arizona banned Ethnic Studies in Tucson by passing a law—never mind that students were motivated to stay in school by the program. Can a society be improved by getting less education? Restricted enrollment and prohibitive education costs are now the norm. There are also more police shootings and outright charges of young people being gang members, such as the killing of 25-year-old unarmed Manuel Diaz in Anaheim, CA. Police shootings in Anaheim total eight this year.
Last year in London, over one thousand people rioted after a 29-year-old father of four was gunned down. Mass protests targeted the tripling of tuition fees and cuts to public sector pensions. Some 50,000 people demonstrated, 215 were arrested, and 35 police were injured. In Canada, just a proposal to cut education or tuition increases in Quebec’s universities resulted in hundreds of thousands taking to the streets. (A law has been proposed that will limit protest rights—causing further frustrations with the government’s willingness to bail-out businesses but not helping the average student or citizen.)
Everywhere, youth and the communities they live in are under attack. Youth are not to blame for their situation. Joblessness spells economic disaster and divided communities. The governments’ response around the world is to criminalize and beat the very victims of depressed economies.
Migration is one avenue to seek better opportunities, but an average person cannot always migrate where they want. Yet the billionaires have their pick of which country they wish to live in. They don’t care what happens to the majority as long as their profits continue.
The lines are being drawn to determine who gets an opportunity to a future, and who does not. How can some human beings be more deserving than others? Students will continue to join with others to voice their needs. We must demand our future!
