The DREAM Act, an eight-year-old bill that was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in March 2009, would create the opportunity for “good” students who arrived in the United States as children to obtain conditional legal residency.

As politicians deliberate, students across the country are seeing their education goals disrupted as threats of deportation arise. Some, are seeking support to get their deportations delayed until their fate would be determined by the new law.

“I qualify for the DREAM Act”

Jorge-Alonso Chehade recently graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree. Unlike the thousands of fresh college graduates who are busy seeking employment though, Alonso is protesting for his right to remain in the U.S.

Alsonso was born in Peru and brought to the U.S. by his parents eight years ago at the age of 14. A couple of months before graduating, Alonso found himself in a difficult situation.

In an email sent via the Dreamactivist.org network to supporters, Alonso explains:

“On March 14, 2009, I and a friend went to visit some friends at Western Washington University and rather than driving back home late at night we decided to stay at our friends' place. The next morning, not being familiar with the area we took a wrong turn on the highway and ended up near the Canadian Border. I was stopped by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities and when it was discovered that I was undocumented.”

Alonso is scheduled to be deported to Peru on September 25. His flight is on September 17. With the help of other young immigrant-rights activists, he has started campaign to ask Americans for support. There is an online petition, a Facebook group, and a push to call the Department of Homeland Security.

In this video, Alonso describes his situation and why he believes people should support him.

There are other videos on YouTube in the same channel, including this video highlighting his achievements:

Another dream on hold

As described on Global Voices last month, Herta Llusho, a 19-year-old college student born in Albania, was facing deportation on August 19, but eventually had her deportation date deferred thanks to a similar campaign led by the Dream activists.

She has been given until November 9, and is using the time to encourage more Americans to support her.

On Take Part, education blogger Melanie Smollin wrote in support of Herta:

“Herta and her family still need your help. She was given an order of supervision, and told to appear at her local DHS office with her mother on November 9th, which means she isn’t out of the woods just yet. She can still be detained at any time.

Deporting this educated, talented, and ambitious young woman who is committed to becoming a productive citizen and serving her community would be an utterly senseless act, and would cause more harm than good.”

DREAM Act Day of Action: September 23

With the knowledge that thousands of undocumented students could be affected by deportation — the United We Dream Network is asking supporters to join forces on September 23 and declare a Back to School Dream Act Day of Action.

The group hopes to promote the DREAM Act legislation with rallies across the country on college campuses.

Buoyed by the success of a previous Dream Act Graduation Day on June 23, where 500 people made their way to Washington DC, they say they are confident another nationwide event will be successful:

“This time, we are going back to school to let Congress know we are part of the communities they represent.

Herta Llusho is a 19-year old student at risk of being deported from the United States to Albania on Wednesday, August 19.

Bloggers at DreamActivist.org and other immigrant rights blogs are calling on Americans to help delay her deportation until new legislation is enacted that would enable her to stay.

And they have listed numerous ways for people to help, including: calling senators and congress members, joining groups and organizations or by simply blogging about her story.

Herta's Story

Herta is a freshman at the University of Detroit Mercy, majoring in electrical engineering.

Eight years ago, as a child, Herta arrived in the United States from Albania with her mother, in pursuit of the ‘American dream'. She graduated middle school and high school with good grades.

Llusho (third from the left) with friends during her high school graduation ceremony.

By definition, Herta is an “undocumented immigrant” but her family have been trying to obtain legal status for her since her first year in the U.S. On August 19, their hopes for her future may be shattered. This is when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plan to return her to Albania.

In an email sent to Dreamactivist.org subscribers, Hersha writes:

“Despite our best efforts, on August 19, I will be removed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the only place I know as my home. I will be sent back to a country that has become a foreign place to me. I don't even speak Albanian well anymore.”

Herta’s father stayed in Albania, while her mother and siblings ventured across the Atlantic Ocean.

“My parents brought me to the United States because they believed in the promises this country had to offer. To them it was the land of opportunities, values, and ideals. They were faithful believers of the American Dream, meaning that through hard work, education, and good character their children could accomplish anything they wanted.”

In this video made with Kyle de Beausset from Citizen Orange, Herta explains what she is going through.

Blogging for Llusho

Several bloggers have written about Herta and encouraged their readers to fight for her cause, including American Humanity, B-Listed, Documenting Me, Nuestra Voice and Standing FIRM.

Change.org is hosting an online petition to help Herta, and the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) is facilitating phone calls to senators on their website. On Facebook Herta's cause has attracted more than 2000 supporters.

Kyle from, Citizen Orange wrote about meeting with Herta and her older brother Lirjon, who has a student visa.

“Lirjon and Herta are incredible people. Herta is especially lucky to have a brother like Lirjon who has been tirelessly advocating for her. Even in the short time that Lirjon and Herta introduced themselves to my family, they had a huge impact. It was a special moment for me, too. My family is used to seeing me type away at a computer. This was the first time they got to meet the real people whose lives I'm affecting.

He continues:

“Herta would probably not want me to describe it this way, but the U.S. has spit in her face and she has responded only with love. That deep, true, and endearing love in the face of injustice, when acted upon even by one person, does more for the betterment of the universe than millions of angry demonstraters will ever do. By fighting to stay in the U.S., Herta is participating in what Gandhi would call “satyagraha”, which the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. often translated into “truth-force” or “love-force.” Those who support Herta are participating in satyagraha, too.”

“I continue to believe…”

With the support of DreamActivist, Citizen Orange, and many others - Herta has shared her story with the world. Their hope is that a proposed bill called The DREAM Act will be passed soon. It would allow undocumented students, like Herta, to become legal residents depending on certain prerequisites, like age of arrival and years of study.

Although federal lawmakers first rejected the bill in 2007, it was re-introduced with some changes in March 2009 and supporters hope that it could gain enough support to be passed with President Barack Obama in office. Should it pass, it is estimated that around 65,000 undocumented students who entered the U.S. as children would be permitted to stay.

Herta hopes that her life may take the same turn as another 18-year old undocumented immigrant and student, Taha in New Jersey. Taha, would have been sent back to his ancestral home of Bangladesh – however, after support from two senators and other Americans – Homeland Security deferred his deportation.

Now, Herta is asking for the same.

“Help me delay my deportation until I finish college or until the DREAM Act is passed. Help renew the promise of the American Dream for me, so that together we can work renew the promise of the American Dream for everyone”