Theresa (not her real name) is 22 years old.
She is an “illegal alien” as people are wont to say.
Theresa’s mother brought her to the United States from Mexico when she was a seven year old. Theresa was a bright and hard-working student. She became a sensitive young girl and over time realized that she wanted to work in medicine. She finished in the top ten per cent of her high school class and began the University of Texas at Brownsville’s Nursing program.
Apart from the grueling academic program, Theresa had to scrimp and save to afford tuition. Her mother made
$100 a week working as a maid (for 60 hours a week). Theresa could not work, as she was undocumented, but through the generosity of friends and of people who believed in her, she made it through the program, graduating with honors and ready to take the state board exams. But since the exams were given in Corpus Christi, which meant that Theresa would have to pass by the Border Patrol, she couldn’t take them. While she is finishing up her course work for her Bachelors in Science, she languishes, wanting to practice her trade, but unable, unwilling to return to Mexico, as this would separate her from her mother and her sister.
Meanwhile, Valley Regional Hospital, a mile up the road from Theresa’s small home, pays up to $10,000 in signing fees from RN’s. Many of them come from as far away as the Philippines. Hospital officials grind their teeth as they await some sort of change to the immigration laws that would allow young people like Theresa a chance to serve their communities.
Such a change has been introduced time and again in Congress. It is called “The Dream Act”, a piece of legislation that has bi-partisan support and is a way for our country to include students that we have educated and whose skills we need in our work to build a great nation. The Act is only for the students themselves, excludes anyone with a criminal record, and has been praised by Republicans and Democrats.
Those who oppose the bill call it an “amnesty” (which is inaccurate and unfair, as it makes it seem like children could have chosen NOT to have come with their parents).
Please write your congressional representatives and encourage them to support the Dream Act.
(Photo by Michael Seifert)
