California
Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill in 2015 that instructs schools
and 
2.
By Esmy Jimenez, The Seattle Globalist ~ September 21, 2016
“Welcome home!” the immigration officer at Sea-Tac says cheerfully.
The words sound strange. He’s dressed in the same uniform that for many years I was taught to fear, but here he is welcoming me back to the U.S., knowing that I am not a citizen.
He smiles and says it so genuinely, but for me the words ring differently.
You see, I am one of 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Brought over when as a baby, I grew up completely in the states. I went to school here, ran on the cross country team, and was even the homecoming queen.
But because my mother brought us without proper documentation, we are classified as undocumented immigrants.
With the executive order passed under the Obama administration in 2012, many young adults like me are now “DACAmented,” that is, we are protected by USCIS’ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I currently have work authorization and a driver’s license here in the state of Washington. I still cannot vote but I do pay taxes (as I did before DACA, as did my mixed-status family their entire life).
A few months ago, I first heard about a special study abroad program for DREAMers. Based out of California State University-Long Beach through the California-Mexico Studies Center, the program used a legal process called “advanced parole” to allow us to leave and re-enter the country legally.
Now, advance parole is a tricky business. It’s $360 just to apply, and requests must be made a few months in advance. You are only allowed to travel under one of the three circumstances: a serious illness or death in the family, business overseas, or for education. Even under those circumstances, the language of the paperwork specifically states: “This document does not guarantee that a person will be paroled into the United States. CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) has discretion to deny a request for parole.”
Getting ready to fly out of the country on my Mexican passport. (Photo by Esmy Jimenez)
Despite
an ominous message that warns us away, I applied and was granted
permission to finally travel to my other home in Mexico.
I went there for three weeks with 37 other DACAmented students to learn about the political, social, and economic history of my native country and to reconnect with my family that’s still there.
We traveled to historic sites like the Pyramids of Teotihuacan and to the Palace of Hernan Cortez. We were also in immersive language classes with CETLALIC, a Spanish Language school in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
As a first timer, I was stunned by the sheer size of Mexico City (you think NYC is big… this place is literally 300 years older with double the population), thrilled by the normalcy around protesting (during my time there, teachers were camped out in the local park protesting the national education reform), and even surprised at how dog friendly the city was!
But the most memorable time on the trip was the week we returned to our families.
Meeting my family for the first time was surreal. There are not words to explain the feeling of reconnecting with that which you’ve always known, but have never seen, let alone touched.
Though many of us in the U.S. have talked to our relatives over the phone or exchanged photos via social media, it was the first time we got to share a meal together or actually hug our own families, our own aunts, cousins, and even parents.
For me, I was able to see the resting place of my grandparents in Zacatecolotla, Guerrero. My abuelo died almost two years ago, and because of our status at the time my mother and I were not able to attend the funeral. For me, that meant never being able to physically meet my grandfather; for my mom, that meant 22 years of being apart with no way to say goodbye before he passed.
Similarly on my
father’s side, he was finally able to ‘see’ his mother over
FaceTime for the first time in nearly 30 years after leaving Mexico.
While most of my family members either had
I
am writing this letter in an urgent request for aid in the
conservation of this unique genetic resource, this "equine time
capsule" on the brink of extinction. Our horses were DNA tested
in July by Dr. Gus Cothran and the results were AMAZING, (results
letter enclosed). For over twenty-six years, the Heritage Discover
Center and Rancho Del Sueno have conserved and cared for these special
horses. But 
I hope you don’t mind that I jumped into your
remembrance stream to let you know that Sanjuanita was
very special person and much a part of my life, in my
formative years. It seems almost like an embryonic state
long ago, and yet I remember it like yesterday. I loved
her then, and I wish we had been given more time to know
each other as older women, but it was not to be. I
rejoice in the early days and the few hours we had in
June. I am sorry for losing a mature friendship that
could have been.
On
January 9, 2008, 20 year old Sgt. Zachary McBride lost his
life after he entered a home, booby trapped with explosives
in Sinsil, Iraq with 5 of his comrades. Sgt. McBride who had
chosen to defray college life and the promise of
scholarships, and instead volunteer for the ARMY. Like so
many young volunteers, Zachary was in school when he watched
the events of 9/11 and decided, on that day, that he would
join the Army. His death changed many worlds that day,
one of which was the founder of Resurrecting Lives, Dr.
Chrisanne Gordon. On that day, she dedicated herself
to making a change for our returning veterans. To Read more
about Sgt. McBride, please 
On
July 19, 2010, 27 year old Staff Sgt. Brian F. Piercy, 82nd
Airborne Division, died in Arghandab River Valley,
Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked
his unit using an improvised explosive device. “He
believed in the values of the Army and in the mission of
what he was doing in Afghanistan.”— David Piercy,
brother as stated in the newspaper Fresno Bee. Staff Sgt.
Piercy, always a leader and a patriot, is one of eight young
heroes who have perished in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
from his high school in Clovis, California. His
brother, Kevin, also served with him at Fort Bragg. Brian is
the inspiration for the Fort Bragg employment program that
will allow military members to obtain a job and an education
prior to military separation. To read more about
Staff Sgt. Piercy please 
The
reunion was founded to celebrate, honor and pay tribute
to those who made this city their home in the search for
a better life for themselves and their children. Every
one enjoyed the day sharing stories, memories, photos
and precious mementos of the past. Great grandparents,
grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and
friends names were in the air along with the stories
that brought us all together to fuse a community that is
dearly treasured and celebrated as the Olive Street
Barrio.
Museum
of the San Ramon Valley 
Voces Oral History Project
Envìo
a Uds. la imagen del registro del bautismo del General Insurgente Don
Vicente Guerrero Saldaña. Benemèrito de la Patria. 
