Dreamers keep fighting

Juan Santiago was brought to the United States as a child, and he discovered he was undocumented sometime around the immigration marches of 2007. He didn't know it then, he said, but that's when he became an activist. The Madera student now lobbies for the passage of the federal Dream Act (which would grant legalization for undocumented students after meeting certain requirements) and the California Dream Act, half of which was approved last week. The second half is stuck in legislative limbo, his chances of passage appearing more slim.

I met Juan and a group of young students at UCSC, my alma mater, where they were learning how to document their own stories. Juan is a Zapotec Indian from Oaxaca, Mexico, and indigenous groups have often been documented by outsiders. Jonathan Fox of UCSC had the idea to have these youths acquire the tools to tell their own stories.

They are a lively, engaged group. They were mostly from the California's Central Valley, although there was one young woman from Salinas. They're all bright, politically active. And they realize their struggle is long term: the passage of the federal Dream Act is probably not going to happen during this session, but they'll keep at it.

Juan is a bit upset because the public in general has been confusing the passage of half of the California Dream Act -- which will allow undocumented students to receive private scholarships -- with the whole enchilada. No, Juan has told people. We have not gained legal status. This is just a small portion of what they're fighting for, he says.

"It's so frustrating," he said. "People have told me, 'Now you're legal, right?' I have to explain the whole thing."

And there's more to come, Juan says. Next: the fight for the rights of indigenous peoples. Here and everywhere.

If you want to hear more about Juan, here's his blog.