NYC Dreamers: A Journey to Mexico & Back
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy announced in 2012, providing work authorization and protection from deportation to immigrants arriving in the U.S. at a young age. Last year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals deemed the DACA policy illegal, and while individuals with valid DACA permits will maintain their protections for now, the policy is closed to new applicants, leaving over 400,000 individuals who were eligible, unable to enroll in DACA. Currently, the future of DACA remains uncertain. Approximately 150,000 “Dreamers,” as DACA recipients are known to live throughout the five boroughs of New York City.
Last month, 21 Dreamers from the New York City area took an advanced parole trip to Mexico City. This visit was organized by Mixteca and La Colmena in collaboration with The Mexican Studies Institute at the City University of New York (CUNY) & received support from Congressman Goldman.
During this meaningful week Dreamers, many of whom have not set foot in Mexico since childhood, revisited their roots, language, and culture, exploring various cultural sites such as: Museo Nacional de Antropología, Palacio de Bellas Artes, los Pirámides de Teotihuacan, & Los Pinos, as well as educational institutions Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) & more!
Join us over the next couple of weeks, as we share stories from Dreamers about their trip and experiences. Our first story is from Araceli, who shares her transformational experience, bringing visibility to Dreamers across the country.
The bipartisan Dream Act of 2023, would establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers across the U.S. As legal challenges threaten the future of this crucial policy for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers, this legislation is necessary to ensure that they can continue living in and contributing to the country they call home.
“Dreamers are Americans, and a pathway to citizenship is long overdue.” - fwd.us
Araceli Ortega
As a DACA recipient, I have had the opportunity to practice my teaching career at the New York Department of Education as a Spanish teacher. My students drive me to fight harder to be able to give them the best school education that they deserve.. When I left the immigration services office with my advance parole permit, I was the happiest person because I was going to have the opportunity to visit my country. The country to which one day I promised to return and connect with my roots and my culture again: México.
Stepping onto Mexican soil, it was like a totally different world for me. Everyone greets you ‘buenos días’, ‘buenas tardes’, even though they don't know you, the humility of hardworking people every day. I felt that I was part of the country after being absent for such a long time.
We spent everyday learning about the cultural richness that Mexico has to offer. We visited the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where we were welcomed with open arms, UNAM University Museum of Contemporary Art, where I observed Ben Vauiter's works. We also visited the Center of Coyoacán, Las Bellas Artes, New Beginnings, Monument of the Revolution, and TV Azteca. We also had the opportunity to be interviewed and had a conference with Mr. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, La Condesa and finally, Chapultepec Castle is an emblematic place.
During my trip, I saw my mother for the first time in 14 years. My mother always says "la vida no la tenemos comprada” ( life is not promised). My biggest fear was never seeing my mother again. The day I saw my mother again, there were no words to explain the emotions I felt. I hugged her with all my strength and I didn't want to let her go. We cried with happiness. I enjoyed my mom every moment, and I didn't want to be separated from her. I wanted to recover every moment that I lost for 14 years, but it was impossible. I just lived in the present and told her how much I love her, and thanked her for all the education and values that she instilled in us, making me the person I am now. I also visited the graves of my two grandparents. I promised them that one day I would return, but unfortunately I did not arrive in time. I took flowers to their grave and talked without them, waiting for an answer. They were not able to give me a blessing as they’ve always done.
Finally, it was time to return to the United States, to New York, not where I was born, but the country where I grew up, where many doors and opportunities were opened, where the most important thing in my life awaited me: my family. The plane landed and a chapter of my life ended and another chapter began. One with more strength to achieve my dreams and be a better person than before.
“There is no doubt that this is my home, here I live, here it happens. This is my house frozen in a chapter of time” - Mario Benedetti
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Araceli Ortega Evangelista was born in Mexico. She obtained her Master's Degree as a Secondary Spanish Teacher, and is working on her second postgraduate degree in Leadership. She currently works at Esperanza Academy Preparatory School.