I’d like to start this statement off by saying I speak on behalf of all undocumented immigrants across the country who are currently living in fear, myself included. I was not one of the students who had to go through the traumatic experience of seeing my best friend detained, but today I speak for them as well. Although this is not my real spoken voice, allow my words to be heard loud and clear. Given today’s circumstances and my documentation status, I can not give this statement in person because I fear for the safety of my family. As I begin talking about my friend Marcelo Gomes and before you begin your justifications for his arrest, your “he came here illegally’, or your ignorant “he should’ve gotten his documentation” comments, I invite you to open your mind and attempt to sympathise for a situation so many of you have never had to experience. As I begin writing please keep this in mind and do not tie the shoes that you’ve never walked in.
My parents immigrated to this country to provide the best form of education for my siblings and I. I quickly learned that education is power in a country where English learners like me could only reach social acceptance in a classroom through education. This lesson was one many of us had to learn quickly, such as my friend Marcelo Gomes, an immigrant student like me from Brasil.
Marcelo always cares for others, regardless of if he sees them as a friend. I’d describe him as the light in every room. He taught me how to have confidence in myself and always look at the positive side of things and keep fighting to reach my goals. He is the friend I never knew I needed. However, I know many people already know all of this about him, but my purpose with this speech is to reach the audience who is dehumanizing and criminalizing my friend and his family, therefore allow me to speak factually and not emotionally.
It is factual that the United States was founded and built on immigration. Our founding fathers were well aware of this during the writing of the Constitution, which explains an immigrant’s rights to due process within this country that are being ignored in the eyes of today’s federal government. How can you punish immigrants who have helped build and shape this country when the federal government makes it financially impossible to raise a family? When the laws and procedures regarding necessary documentation and visa eligibility are constantly changing? When it’s necessary to contract an expensive lawyer in order to navigate the system?
My friend and I happen to be part of one of these working class immigrant families, who, although we have struggled financially, have tried our best to stay in this country “the right way”, as many would call it.
The United States has advertised itself as the “Land of Freedom and Opportunity” for centuries, which is why it is so appealing to immigrants. The American Dream was indeed created by immigrants, that is a fact. The dream originated from letters that were sent back to the home countries of immigrants in the 19th and 20th century of the United States. These letters talked about how the immigrants of early American society were able to reach their goals and dreams in the new land. It is unpatriotic to hate and dehumanize innocent immigrants such as my friend and his family because they sought this country for a better life as advertised by the people of the United States themselves.
In regards to the statement the ICE administration made about Marcelo Gomes, ICE has openly admitted that arresting Marcelo was a mistake and proceeded to call his father, “father of the year” in a sarcastic manner. Factually, Marcelo’s father is a great father and deserves the title of “Father of The Year” in a serious manner. The sacrifices he had to make and the life he had to leave behind for his kids speaks far beyond his character. As any parent would, Marcelo’s parents wanted nothing but the best for their children which is why they are such an integral part of their community. It is why they are yearly tax payers and give back to this country for all the opportunities it has given their children. I can speak for every immigrant when I say this, no immigrant wants to live in the United States undocumented. In a land filled with countless opportunities and progressive pathways, the pathways to citizenship are intentionally complicated and limiting not for the few, but the many. Our country doesn’t need mass deportation, we need comprehensive and aggressive immigration reform to allow immigrants clearer and easier pathways to legal residency.
I have far more things to say about the dehumanizing comments made about my friend during ICE’s acknowledgement of his arrest, but my time here is running out. So, allow me to close with a few statements. Immigrants have been and still are the backbone of the United States, but they have evolved past that. They are our friends, our neighbors, our musicians, our athletes, our students, our scholars, our working class.
The fight for innocent immigrants does not end when our friend comes back home to us, it only begins. Do not think for a second that all is well when Marcelo comes back. There are still countless families and friends within our communities who live in fear of being ripped off the street at any moment. We will keep fighting until all families within this community and within this country can live fearlessly and joyously. Allow me to mention that this is not a threat to the federal government or any form of ICE authority, but when you throw fire on the beautifully flourished gardens immigrants have built within this country and within their communities, you will see the damages. The thing about fire is that it spreads rapidly, and even when it goes out, the damages are noticeable. Therefore there is no way of silencing my voice and the voice of your unhappy citizens. Throughout this statement, I hope you were all able to keep an open mind and I hope I was able to make you sympathise with a situation you may have never considered and I thank you all for your time.
Sincerely, Scarlet Hawk.
