Out of the Shadows--Into the Streets

There's an event occurring on Sunday, March 10 that I feel very strongly about, so I thought I'd share it with you. It's called "Out of the Shadows--Into the Streets" and is a march for undocumented immigrants.  Here's an example of a flier that you may or may not have seen, as most are posted in Chicago.

“Out of the Shadows and Into the Streets” occurs for the 4^th year on March 10, 2013 and is a rally for undocumented immigrants to just join in the rally by walking in the streets and giving the attitude that “we are here, we are undocumented, we are unafraid, and we are unstoppable.”  Every year, the national "Coming Out of the Shadows--Into the Streets" day helps highlight the unheard stories in our immigrant communities, and put a spotlight on the stories of the people who this immigration system deems "illegal" and deportable.  

Barriers for undocumented immigrants primarily lay with the fact and fear that these people are just that: undocumented immigrants and can be deported if they announce their illegal status.  This leads to a lack of awareness of where to go for security and aid.  An example is found here, but I want to focus particularly on this excerpt from HuffPo:

Gang of 8 Senate Blueprint Provides No Real Pathway to Citizenship


Prerna Lal, Huffington Post

” …the blueprint glosses over the most punitive and problematic parts of the immigration system. The Senate plan fails to address the growing problem of long-term lawful permanent residents who are subject to deportation for minor crimes. Moreover, the blueprint does not modify the prolonged mandatory detention of non-citizens, which makes the immigration system must more punitive than the criminal justice system. The blueprint also fails to address Secure Communities – a misnomer of a policy that subjects immigrants to detention and deportation pre-conviction, violating the fundamental American concept of due process. Finally, the omission of legislation to resolve the issue of 40,000 same-sex binational couples who are forced to live apart, altogether, has much of the immigrant and LGBT communities up in arms.”

While Lal has some interesting points to the avoidance of obtaining citizenship, I like to think of this march as undocumented immigrants steps towards becoming a citizen, or if not the adults, then at least with the children.

Undocumented youth have very few organizations to utilize to help seek and advance their rights.  In addition, there is a need for an organization to serve as the “front door” for undocumented immigrants to go to when they need social service referrals, but they are afraid or unaware to go for help. 

IYJL-Chicago is an aid and provides resources, and it is my hope it will continue to help and provide an outreach to the undocumented immigrants through educational workshops, legal aid, social services, and an array of other intra-community resources such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the American Dream Act. When undocumented immigrants “come out” (which they're able to do at the march on March 10) and take risks, they help strategize and create stories to influence the immigration debate.

Fear can be dissolved by creating awareness. Knowing this, I encourage you to either join in, watch from the sidelines, or anywhere you're out of the shadows and participate in the "Out of the Shadows--Into the Streets" march!