The Case Of Yanelli: Why The DREAM Act Is Important

By Flavia de la Fuente, dreamactivist.org

Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are about to face their first real test with the Latino community in the Florida primary. Can they moderate their message enough not to completely drive away the possibility that Latinos might vote for them? Or will they appeal to hardcore nativist sentiments to secure winning the primary?

It seems they’ve found a fine line to walk by supporting a watered-down DREAM Act. Join the military, they say, and maybe you can pursue a path to citizenship.  It’s a concession, but the consequences of excluding those who wouldn’t join the military can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Mitt Romney used to be the spiritual leader for his Mormon community in Boston. The truth is, I grew up around a few Mormons in Orange County, and I’ve long admired the Mormon community for their commitment in sticking together and supporting each other. Their homes, their compassion, and perhaps more importantly their pocketbooks are always at the ready when someone in their community is in need. And it is not uncommon for them to open their doors to others. I know for a fact that a community in Orange County has recently welcomed a mother and daughter who have escaped atrocities in Africa.

So this question is mostly for Mitt Romney, because I don’t see any kind of compassion in Newt Gingrich. If there’s somebody who could be redeemed, I want to believe that it would be Romney. Dear Mr. Romney, Mitt, Willard, even, would you, as a spiritual man, as a devout Mormon, be willing to hear the case of Yanelli? Would you help her? Would you give her a chance to pursue happiness? Would you be willing to save a life?

Yanelli came to the United States by herself at the age of 13. She struggled to find work, survive, get an education, but soon despair came to live in her mind, and she struggled with depression. When she was pulled over by police last year in a routine stop, she was asked to present identification and she gave the police her consular ID — the only form of identification she had. This was enough, apparently, to drive her into this country’s quota-driven deportation system.

Feeling helpless and alone, she attempted to take her life twice while in detention. Even though she’s being treated with anti-depressants, her path to recovery cannot be from inside of a jail cell without the support of a community.

Yet while inside our detention system, Yanelli got tricked — ICE agreed to pass on a legal packet prepared for Yanelli that included letters of support, medical history, and crucial evidence for her to use in court, as she would be defending herself. But they reneged on that promise, purposefully withheld it, and Yanelli went to court empty handed. Feeling trapped, she received a final order of removal — in the immigration system, this is the death knell.

So far away from where she’s being held, Mitt, you and Newt will debate whether immigrants should be allowed to pursue a path to citizenship, whether they should be allowed to work, whether they should be allowed to pursue an education, the real question will linger: are immigrants worthy of compassion? The same kind of compassion that you showed to members of your own community?

We’d love to know where you stand.

To support Yanelli, please contact ICE and ask them not to deport her. She has days left. Thank you.