The continuous reminder that “you don’t belong here” continues to be a significant stressor for those who are undocumented in this country. Approximately one year has passed since President Donald Trump abhorrently nulled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; thus, striking down any hope to implement a new immigration reform for the undocumented community. Although not much progress has been made, the clock keeps ticking on DACA. And, as the uncertainty of DACA continues to grow, many remain displaced and face new struggles to survive harsh security processes.
As the path to citizenship for the more than 820,000 undocumented people remains unstable, a strong push for endless advocacy is warranted. At this stage in the DACA process, perpetual mistreatment of the undocumented community is in our hands. Moving forward, it is important to recognize that having citizenship is a privilege that allows us to advocate for human rights. Now, more than ever, we must avoid becoming tools of oppression and hold ourselves accountable to ensure that all DACA recipients avoid being used as tokens in the ongoing negotiations for a new reform. In doing so, let us not forget about all the children and their parents who are the most recent victims affected by the ongoing tactics to deport those who are undocumented.
As we continue to move towards a social justice framework of advocacy, I invite you all to become an active member of the Committee on Social Activism (COSA), which exists to empower brothers to practice and promote leadership in their community grounded in social justice frameworks. Applications for membership are closing soon. If you are interested in applying, please click on the following link: https://lambd.as/apply2cosa.
Should you have any questions, concerns or issues regarding social justice issues, please do not hesitate to use me a resource. Please contact me at your earliest convenience at .
In solidarity,
Steve R. Pereira
Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.
National Executive Board
National Director of Social Justice Initiatives