By Jorge Steven Acuña
A typical day for a college student usually starts off with the constant snoozing of an alarm clock prior to our first class, but life as we know it doesn't always go as planned. What I thought was supposed to be an ordinary college day, took a turn for the worse on the morning of Wednesday, March 7. It was on that day that I was awoken by several ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) agents, who had raided my house. Many have asked what it felt like at that moment, others asked what my first reaction was. My response to both of those questions is an astounding 'nothing.'
It's an amazing concept to realize how the life you have lived in a land you call home can come crashing down before your eyes as your father is being arrested next to the dinner table; a table that, by its rugged appearance, represents the countless memories of love and joy shared as a family through the 11 years living in the United States. Nothing was felt in those moments when I saw my mother cry before my eyes as she screamed out in anger for what had just happened to the man she has been happily in love with for 20 years. Nothing was said on that two-hour drive to Baltimore's ICE Field Office. Upon arriving to the office, we were told we'd be let out that same night. As humans, we tend to find even the slightest source of hope in every negative situation. The idea that I would be home that night finally made me feel something: hope.
Three sets of fingerprints, countless tears, and two water bottles later, I was in a detention room filled with other detainees. Amongst the men, was my father. I explained to him that we were not criminals and we would not be treated as such. I assured him that I was going to make it to my class later that night and that everything was going to be alright. I told him this because I was hopeful it would be unjust to not let my law-abiding family be free. However, a decision was made that was sent from a superior down to an inferior, past another person into the commands of an officer who walked into the detention room and said, "... you will be going to a jail until you are deported back to your home country."
Nothing is an amazing concept within the realm of human emotions. As humans, we are supposed to feel emotions. We are not objects that can be manipulated as such. However, after that statement, it was back to nothing. Nothing was felt when I was locked up in a maximum-security cell with my father. Nothing was felt as I saw my mother weep before my eyes as she shed every last tear in her loving motherly eyes. Nothing was felt when I woke up at night to hear my father cry. Nothing was felt during the countless apologies from my parents for having to live through this. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
I didn't feel any emotion during those six days in jail. The gift of emotion came back to my heart when I was free again. Joy and relief was pumped to every part of my body as I was let out with my family on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 13th. I will not mention my experiences in jail those six days; for I am not here to tell you what to expect. Instead, I would like to state that this sort of injustice is inhumane, not only to me, but to those who lived it or those that wake up and go to sleep in fear of living this.
My friends and family had their voices heard. They advocated for me and urged many people with power to make a change. I realize now that far too often we as humans do nothing for the injustices around us. My friends went against all odds and fought for something they believed was unjust. JSA started out symbolizing my initials. Now it represents a new movement--Justice for Students in America.
My promise to everyone reading this blog is that no matter what tomorrow brings, I will fight for justice and advocate for change. Your responsibility as my audience is to take action against the injustices faced in the world's most powerful nation. Register to vote, sign petitions for change, and never be afraid to do something for what you believe in.
Jorge Steven Acuña is a 19-year old Montgomery College student. He and his parents came to the U.S. from Colombia over a decade ago and were denied political asylum. On March 7, 2012, they were detained by ICE agents. Jorge Steven excelled academically and athletically in high school and is one semester away from receiving a degree from Montgomery College, where he holds a 3.5 GPA! He dreams of going to medical school at Johns Hopkins University and is the epitome of everything the DREAM Act stands for. Contact Jorge Steven Acuña at jacuna@thejsamovement.org.
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I am constantly amazed...illegals, criminals by definition always demand to be released because they are law abiding.......uh!....
They break and ignore the laws of OUR country by being here illegally and then have the gall to claim "Law Abiding" and expect release.
Deport them all...now.
How about we (US citizens) share the emotion we feel towards your need to break the laws.
We don't appreciate people like your family, who broke the laws WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY, only to cry foul when you got arrested for it.
Come legally, the way my family did, so you don't have to sit in a jail cell for 6 days, among which you won't talk about.
The 19 million Americans who cannot find work while 7.5 million Illegal Immigrants work in jobs they used to do.
Teenagers who cannot find summer jobs and teens not going to college who have a 24% unemployment rate because the jobs are filled by Illegal Immigrants.
Citizen Construction Workers who saw their wages fall 14% before the current recession and are suffering an 17% unemployment rate now thanks to Illegal Immigration.
Citizen meatpacking workers who saw their wages fall from $19/hr. to $13/hr. all the while losing their jobs to Illegal Immigrants.
Citizens suffering from identity theft perpetrated on them by people trying to illegally work in the USA.
Potential Legal Immigrants who wait up to 14 years to come legally because Illegal Immigrants have taken too many jobs.
The working poor who, before the current recession, experienced a growing percent of their number earning below poverty level wages thanks to Illegal Immigration driving down wages an average of 8% as documented by various Economists.
Citizens suffering unemployment, watching the latest company in their town caught employing Illegal Immigrants, knowing the government is only willing to deport illegal workers from the workforce if they have committed some other crime. Knowing those illegal workers were sometimes protected by their local government with sanctuary city policies.
THAT is whats wrong with this country.
I guess the law only applies to honest citizens, not criminal border hoppers.....
President Obama has done more than any other president to secure the border so we aren't talking about an open door policy.
What we are talking about is recognizing that this country needs working age people to prop up our aging population and the toll it takes on the Social Security and other government systems. Lets give those who are working and contributing a pathway to legal status. Capitalism thrives on population growth, the trend of deportations and the decline in immigration only makes the real estate problems worse by not providing a population to soak up the excess housing stock.
"THE FAIR DREAM ACT"
1- Illegals have to acknowledge that they have broken the law and pay a penalty for no less then $15K..Payable in a five year term at 5% APR. Upon applying, they would be issued a temporary work permit for 5 years, if they fail to make payments for more than 90 days, the work permit would be cancelled and they will be subject to deportation.
2.- Pass a TOEFL exam with a satisfactory score.
3- Get a GED or high school diploma.
4.-Once the work permit is issued, neither they nor their family will be eligible for any type of public assistance. If they receive public assistance, they will be subject to deportation.
5.-Have no criminal record neither in the U.S. nor in their country of origin.
6.- If they have children born in the U.S., they must have paid at least 50% of the cost of maternity
7- At the end of the five year period, if they fulfilled all the above requirements, they can change their status to legal resident. If they do not meet the requirements, they will be subject to deportation.