Stories of Undocumented Youth

The diversity event I went to was, “Stories of Undocumented Youth.”  This film and discussion was very eye opening, I never knew there was so many youth that were/are undocumented in the United States.  Every year there are around 65,000 high schools graduates that are not able to continue their path through life in the United States because of not have the right papers to make them US citizens.  This eye opening  event was started with the film “Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth,” which was about four youth that have lived in the United States for as long as they can remember but their parents were illegal’s. When these high school graduates came of age they had problems getting jobs and going to college, because they were not US citizen because of their parents’ actions.  However, since the DREAM Act was passed those individuals that are undocumented now have the opportunity to gain permanent resident status here in the US and follow their dreams.  Following the video there was a short break followed by a discussion on this issue, which was also very eye opening.  

Before attending this event I never had put any thought into the fact that individuals all over this country of all different races and backgrounds are affected by their parents’ choice to come to America illegally.  There is nothing that makes them any different in the everyday life, until they find out they have no papers saying they are American citizens.  If I was one of those individuals that found out I was “undocumented” I don’t know  what I would do….I would be devastated that I couldn’t follow my dreams and lost when  I had to give up everything I had  ever known.  I feel that the DREAM Act was a great piece of legislation for our government to pass because now individuals are able to pave their own paths to life.  Undocumented youth don’t have to be punished for what their parents did anymore.