My Brother, the DREAMer

Sal Ramirez tells the story of his brother, Raul, who was deported to Mexico despite being married to a U.S. citizen and having a child in the U.S.

SOURCE: Courtesy of Sal Ramirez

About 11 years ago, my family and I moved to California from Mexico. Our parents brought us here to find a better future for ourselves, one they knew we wouldn’t receive back in our homeland.  My Mom told us that although it was too late for her to accomplish her American Dream, we now had the opportunity to become someone important, help people, make a difference and make good of ourselves. 

Being in an immigrant, lower-class family, attending public schools and struggling to make ends meet, my parents pushed my brothers and me to follow our dreams and go to college.  As my Dad always said, “Anyone can take away your pride, your belongings and your money, but no one can ever take away your education.”

Going to college was our dream.  My oldest brother, Raul, was a father figure to me and an incredibly intelligent student.  He worked hard, earned his own money and contributed as much as possible to the household so that the younger ones like me wouldn’t have to worry about money. 

Raul’s dream was also to go to college.  He wanted to earn a degree as an auto mechanic to be able to build his own small business.  He was very talented and passionate.  He excelled in his classes and earned recognition from his professors; they even offered him a position as a professor within the auto mechanics field.  He married a U.S. Citizen, his child was born in the U.S. and his American Dream was well on its way, or so he thought.  He was wrong.  He was undocumented.  He couldn’t accept the teaching position, put his name on a business, and had to drop out of college because he was no longer able to afford to pay tuition. 

I couldn’t understand what was happening at the time. It seemed to be common sense that anyone who wanted to do good should be able to.  Raul was a good man, a leader in the community and a great role model.  He wanted to work, pay taxes, vote, contribute to the economy and get an education.  Raul identified as an American, but his immigration status said otherwise. 

I didn’t understand the gravity of the issue until one early morning a couple months ago.  The sun wasn’t out yet and I was still sleeping in my bed in my college residence hall.  I got a phone call. It was my mother, crying. She said something I never expected to hear: ICE had arrested Raul. He was going to be deported to Mexico by that afternoon.  I rushed to the place where they had him, but couldn’t see him, talk to him or give him a goodbye hug.  His dreams were shattered, his hopes of attending an institution of higher education were over, and his American Dream was destroyed. 

That morning I learned the unfairness of the situation.  I understood that the US is not the place where good people are able to accomplish their goals in life; it is not the land of opportunity, nor the place where everyone is able to achieve the American Dream.

If the DREAM Act had become law any time before he was deported, Raul would’ve been able to qualify for the conditional citizenship.  He could’ve been a DREAMer, a taxpayer, contributor to the community and a great family man.  The DREAM Act is much more than hope for America’s future, it’s a way to honor the principles set forth by our founding fathers.

I am fortunate enough to be documented.  Raul’s situation inspired me to become a U.S. citizen and make my vote count.  I’ve learned the power of my vote, my influence among my peers and the power of unity.  The opportunity to achieve the American Dream should existfor every individual in this country, regardless of what documents you have or don’t have.  It may be too late to fight for my brother’s chance to live the American Dream, but I’m determined to not let any more DREAMERs’ hopes be destroyed. 

Sal Ramirez is a New Leader at the Center for Progressive Leadership, and a Field and Program Intern at USAction. He is a rising junior at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. 

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