This evening in Arizona, a young, gay man is literally putting his life on the line.
In today's Arizona, the fact that Mohammad Abdollahi is willing to speak up would be cause enough for concern. Abdollahi, who has been in the United States since the age of 3, risks arrest and deportation simply by being visible. Under the state's new, anti-immigrant law, his mere presence means risking his continued residency in the only country he has ever known well enough to call it 'home.'
Add to that, however, the fact that Abdollahi (who currently lives in Michigan) is gay, and originally from Iran, and you can begin to understand the true courage behind his current sit-in at the office of Senator John McCain.
If he is arrested, the 24-year-old faces deporation to one of the most notoriously homophobic countries in the world. Lesbians and gays are routinely tortured, and even executed, in Iran. There is little doubt that, if he is forced to return there, Abdollahi will, too, face unspeakable persecution simply because of who he is.
And yet, he is not deterred.
As journalist Todd Heywood first reported today in the Michigan Messenger, Abdollahi is risking his very life in order to press for passage of the DREAM Act, a critically important piece of legislation which would give young, undocumented people like him a path to citizenship and an opportunity to remain in the United States.
The young people who would benefit from the DREAM Act's passage were largely, like Abdollahi, brought to the U.S. by their parents. They have called America home for the majority of their lives, but their futures are uncertain because they have been unable to obtain legal residency. (In Abdollahi's case, his application for residency was rejected because his family mistakenly paid $20 less than the required fee.)
So today, Abdollahi and three other young people brought their stories to the Tucson office of Senator McCain.
But, as Heywood reports, Abdollahi's action "is far from just an act of civil disobedience. As a young gay man, he faces deportation to a country where he knows neither the language nor the culture -- and worse, where homosexuality is punished with torture and executions."
Simply put: Abdollahi, if arrested, will likely be deported to a country where gays and lesbians are put to death.
That is why the DREAM Act - which was recently included in a Senate immigration outline for comprehensive immigration reform - is so important to so many immigrants, both gay and straight. It is, quite literally, the difference between building a future in the United States or spending the future in a place where they must fear for their lives.
"[Abdollahi's case] is certainly a strong argument for why the DREAM Act should be passed as part of comprehensive immigration reform," Immigration Equality told Heywood.
It is also, the group noted, a clear example of the stake the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement has in ensuring that Congress tackles humane, comprehensive immigration reform soon.
"As LGBT people, our community certainly understands what it's like to be singled out because of who we are, or what we look like," the group said. "There's a real danger as [anti-immigrant] fervor begins to spread."
Abdollahi hopes his action will spur everyone - regardless of who or where they are - to join the fight for reform.
"He believes this could mobilize people to take action," his friend Priscilla Martinez of One Michigan, said.
Taking that action, for Abdollahi and others, increasingly means the difference between life and death.
CALIFORNIA HAS THE SAME LAW! Are people having sit-ins there? Again, READ THE LAW, it's in section 834b of their penal code. Here's a link. It's a crummy link, because the stupid link for the state of California lumps a whole bunch of sections together, but you can scroll through and find it.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=833-851.90.
BE SMART - GET THE FACTS
Whatever happened to "compassionate conservatives"? I guess that was just a meaningless campaign sound bite.
People who oppose the DREAM Act on this comment section are clearly uninformed and are generalizing the issue to simple politics.
Immigration law is the second most complex legal body, after tax law. People who oppose the DREAM Act based on immigration law concerns need to first understand that they don't understand the law, and next, they need to be willing to read up on articles and work about this important piece of legislation.
This country is wasting precious talent. Pass the DREAM Act.
Since when is life fair?
"It is unfair to say to the peoples of India and China that because they cannot walk here they must go through the regular process,"
Not sure what to tell you but that has nothing to do with anything. And definitely has nothing to do with the DREAM ACT, and there are DREAM ACT students from these countries you mentioned.
"while we tell the people south of the boarder that if you can walk here then you can stay here."
Again, this has nothing to do with the DREAM ACT.
"While the DREAM Act has admirable aims I would rather spend our time and resources getting the millions of American college kids lower debt and more degrees."
Everybody is already doing it. DREAM ACT doesn't stop other students from getting degree. These students at least most of them agree with the DREAM ACT as far as I am concerned. Are you saying they are less capable of DREAM ACT students?
"Liberalism use to be about fairness and equality, there is nothing unfair about our immigration process, "
Really? you must live under a rock, no offense, or lack of a lot of knowledge about the subject.
DREAM ACT students are not asking for a free pass. They have definitely earned what they are asking for, and all they ask for is an opportunity to be equal the same as their peers. What is unfair is denying them the opportunity to fully participate in society.
http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/rep_lamar_smith_has_a_nightmare_on_the_dream_act
The anti-immigrant propaganda makes up every excuse to make the dream act seem as a bad policy for America but what they won't tell you is, that they are fully formulated on lies and misguided information... you know the usual with fox news.
The older arguments which are false.
First of all
"The dream act is a bad dream for citizens. A tax paying, legal citizen can't send their kids a few miles across a state line without paying extra. "
That applies to everyone. Even DREAM ACT students.
"Yet an illegal alien (it really doesn't matter what his sexual preference is) can pay less. Either lower the rates for all or let him go home and get his education. "
That is a big fat lie.
anyone who moves out of states will pay more. Regardless of their status.
Puns aside it just makes no sense to continue to reward and encourage behavior that is either unwanted or illegal. Unless you want illegals and want it to be legal. At least be honest and say so if that is your idea! But don't complain when 20 or so years down the road we have 50 million illegals and 450 citizens, no water, no energy sources (except countries that hate us), no sewer systems, no good schools, etc. Because we can't keep up now how could we even stay close if we open the floodgates?
I have yet to see any regards for DREAM ACT students. As far as I am concerned DREAM ACT students have not committed any crimes. You can't hold a children accountable by what their parents do. And this is the case.
If your logic makes sense in your head, alcohol and cigarettes would be illegal now since they are heavy "unwanted " by a lot of people.
This is obviously misguided information and has nothing to do with the DREAM ACT students. And these are anti-immigrant hate group talking points, and we are talking about students that already live in America an do nothing but contribute to society. There are 65,000 students graduating each year, there are like 300 million people living in the US. Logically speaking - 65k derivatives would never be like 300m that are able to bring family here, since everyone is descent from immigrants at some point. If you read a lot anti-immigrants hate group site like fairs, you are going to probably find a lot bs like that, which DREAM ACT students have no say about, and don't don't change the main topic which is about the DREAM ACT students. Is like saying, we shouldn't make more cars because the streets are full of them, or we shouldn't make more cloth because we already have plenty. So is misguided information and the topic here is DREAM ACT.
On another note, according to our friend Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, there are NO Gay Iranians...
Today, on the anniversary of landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, four student leaders challenge immigration law and stage a sit-in at Senator John McCain’s Tucson Office. They are challenging congressional leadership to choose the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) as the standard for immigration reform.
With this challenge to local and federal law, these youth hope to highlight the urgency of legislative action in Congress, and catalyze mass grassroots mobilization to pass the DREAM Act before June 15th.
65,000 undocumented students graduate from US high schools every year with very few options to move on with their lives. The DREAM Act recognizes the hard work they have put in at school and allows them to reach for their dreams whether thats college or the military. The country has already invested in these students in the form of their primary education. These students should be allowed to return the favor by being able to come out of the shadows and openly and positively contribute to society and the U.S. economy. PLEASE contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to sign on as a CO-SPONSOR and fight to PASS THE D.R.E.A.M. ACT by JUNE 15th!!
Actually, being undocumented is NOT a criminal act. It is a civil infraction.
And second, of course Mo and his parents did not come illegally! They came on visas LEGALLY and fell out of status due to attorney errors. 45% of people who are here with no legal status actually came with visas.