Chicago students join US immigration debate by 'coming out'
January 19 2010 by Liam Clifford
A group of Chicago students are increasing the pressure on the government to introduce US immigration reform by ‘coming out’ as unregistered immigrants.
The Immigrant Youth Justice League comprises 15 Chicago
students who are owning up to being unregistered immigrants as a means to add to
the debate about whether illegals should be provided with a path to
citizenship.
Many unregistered students keep their status a secret and go
through the process of successful study in the US without detection. However, as
the debate comes to the forefront once again this year, many are opting to be
honest about their US immigration status to make a statement about the system.
The students hope their admission will show onlookers that they are
educated, successful and hard-working members of society. Many of the students
are far more familiar with the US than their homelands and speak English as
their first language.
The Chicago group was inspired by the Dream Act,
which would provide conditional legal status to children who were moved to the
US illegally by their parents.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
says that despite the students’ declaration, they will not necessarily be
arrested. The department’s Gail Montenegro stated, "with limited resources, ICE
prioritises its enforcement actions based on implications to national security
and public safety.”
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