My name is Angel. I am a college student here at Western. I’m a first-generation college student making a petition for my family and I to stay here in the U.S. Theres one thing about this petition though. It’s not just for my family and I, but it’s for my friends, classmates, and for students of undocumented status. It’s for the people that are living in fear. Fear of getting racially profiled and questioned. Fear of being separated from their families. Fear of walking anywhere without having peace of mind or the assurance that they’ll be free from discrimination. Fear that the life they’ve built here with their families will crumble at any instant. It’s for my people, the ones that are filled with terror every day they wake up knowing that they’re constantly at risk.

My mom brought me here to the U.S. when I was only 2 years old. She carried me and traveled from Guatemala to the U.S., avoiding dangers that could have ended in either one or both of us being kidnapped, trafficked, or killed. The courage and amount of faith she had to safely get here and build a new life is nothing less than outstanding. She was risking everything she had, but she didn’t do it for herself. She risked everything for me. For her future children. Because of her courage, she gave me a future. She gave me a new life. This is what the U.S. has always been rooted in. Americans are supposed to have courage and fight for their future. Americans do not back down, and neither do we.

Recently, we got a letter from immigration stating that they have decided to reject our renewal for our workers’ permit. This means losing everything here. I am a beneficiary under my mom’s name, and although my workers permit doesn’t expire until 2028, they would automatically revoke mine alongside hers. My mom works endlessly to keep my siblings and I afloat. Moving back would mean she’d be drowning even more than she already is. And why is that? The deportation process is expensive. Even if you self-deport, it’s an incredible amount of money that we simply do not have. Going back also means that my siblings would have an illegal presence as they were born in the U.S., and the fines for being illegal would rack up. The cost of returning would mentally, emotionally, and financially destroy us.

Again, this isn’t just a letter about us. This isn’t just my story. Many undocumented students are at risk as well of losing everything. We are not here to break or destroy. We are not here to cause evil. We are here to build our future, work, contribute, and have a better life. We are not “aliens.” We’re not “illegals.” Our DNA is not an abomination. We’re not less than you or anyone else. We are not faceless or nameless either. We are the students here, we are your classmates, your neighbors, your friends. We are the backbone of America, regardless of how you see it. Just like you, we also struggle, and we have our own demons we must fight.

To my people, even with all this fear running rampant, we must remember the moments of courage we’ve had in the past. The courage our families have had. Even if we’re afraid, we must remember that courage itself doesn’t have to be remembered, as it’s never forgotten. It’s living through us. We will remain brave during this tyrannical rule. The fear of deportation must not erase our courage. The system telling us to be quiet will never keep us quiet. We are here to better ourselves and to give back. People like us will fight with everything we have, and we will not back down on any tyrannical rulings. As much as they want to take our humanity away, they will never be able to break our pride. As much as they don’t want us here, we will remind them that we already belong here. We will not bow down to any kings here in the United States of America. Corruption will never win; justice will always prevail in one way or another.

We will be asking the Governor of Washington, gov. Bob Furgeson, and everyone in power to see us. This petition will serve as proof to folks in power that people care about us. We are tired of hiding. It’s time to start seeing us for who we really are. We’re what makes up this state, this country, and we’re what makes or breaks the future of America. We will humbly ask for a sponsorship, for protection, for a single chance to continue contributing to our community. To build relationships, to keep loving and creating amazing, beautiful things. A chance to continue loving what we call home. This petition isn’t just a plea for my family. This is a petition to show that everyone here does believe that justice will win. It’s us believing that there in fact is compassion in this country. It’s a promise that we will always fight no matter how tired we get. That we will keep trying no matter how impossible it seems. It’s a promise that we will remain resilient.

To all my friends, to all the people that signed, to everyone that is experiencing the same thing, thank you. Thank you so much from the marrow of my bones. Your story matters, and your voice will be heard as well. No matter how much fear they have instilled in us, we will never back down. We will never break. We have the power to love each other no matter what happens. We have the power for that. Our dreams know no fear. We’re indestructible even when we’re tired. Our hearts must be filled with hope. We will not rest until justice is served. If you’d like to monetarily help my family this link https://gofund.me/9ea028917 will take you to our GoFundMe. We appreciate any help possible, and we cannot thank everyone enough. It genuinely means the entire world to us. Even the smallest amounts will go a long way.

We will no longer be invisible.

We are not any less than the other person next to you.

We are the future of this country.

Once again, thank you so incredibly much for standing with us, and for having the courage to help us. We will remain triumphant, and we will stand tall, no matter how many times they try to knock us down. Why? Because we are proud of our heritage. Because we have soldiers DNA.                                                                                                 

-Angel.