Many of the noncitizens living in the country have fled their country to seek refuge in the land of free. A common misconception is that they are criminals, when they are fleeing an experience so powerful it wills them to risk their lives and the lives of their children to cross the border and step into the United States.
Among these undocumented noncitizens is Benita Veliz who migrated with her family to the United States when she was 8 and managed to graduate from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas on a full scholarship and with honors at the age of 19.
In January of 2009 she was stopped on a routine traffic violation. When the cop asked her why she could not provide a license, she did not lie. The truth got her arrested and sent to a detention facility where she was told she would be out of the country in 3 months. She quickly contacted everyone she could and even wrote an editorial for the New York Times and appear in several local television shows advocating the Dream Act, The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.
District 10 Judge sponsored and a bill for her and with help from all the publicity, she was able postpone her hearing five times. She is now awaiting results from The Dream act.
The Dream Act is a piece of proposed federal legislation in the United States that was introduced in the United States Senate, and the United States House of Representatives on March 26, 2009. This bill would give undocumented immigrant students who graduate from US high schools, are of good moral character, arrived in the US as children, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. The students would obtain temporary residency for a six-year period. Within the six year period, a qualified student must have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or [have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States," or have "served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge."[1]. "Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated [according to the terms of the Act] shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act."
“I have faith in the Dream Act, I really do. I can’t see myself being deported, I don’t have any family in Mexico,” Veliz said.
Her grandparents are legal citizens and have filed plea for their son, Benita’s father. The process has taken over 10 years and since only immediate family can request citizenship for another family member, Veliz’s grandparent have no power over her possible deportation. Only Veliz’s father or mother can request her and even if her father where to become a citizen soon it would take an additional 10 years to get Veliz’s citizenship because a citizen can only request a family member after living a minimum of five consecutive years in the United States. Veliz’s age is major concern as well. She is now 24 and when and if her father obtains his citizenship, her age will be factor in the level of priority.
