To answer this question I looked back on American history and analyzed what methods were previously utilized by advocates for a particular cause.  I was immediately drawn to the Civil Rights Movement, as many of the actions taken by immigration activists today are similar to those taken by civil rights activists past and present.  Similar to the civil rights activists these students are demonstrating courage in the face of fear and high risks.  Activists have utilized tried and true methods, like protest rallies and sit-ins, however, disclosure of undocumented immigration status is a new tactic being used by supporters of the DREAM Act.

 

The risk that these students face by disclosing their immigration status is incredibly high to say the least.  By being present in the U.S. without valid documentation these students can be detained and deported to their country of birth.  Moreover, under current immigration regulations, persons present in the United States unlawfully for more than one (1) year, are subject to a 10 year bar upon their departure.  Therefore, these student protesters face a real threat of being deported to a “home country” that most of them know nothing of, since they have spent the majority of their lives in the U.S.  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has publicly stated on numerous occasions that they focus on deporting persons with criminal backgrounds and that they do not necessarily deport all persons reported to them.  However, there is no guarantee from ICE that these students will not be placed in deportation proceedings.  In fact, three student protesters in Arizona were arrested in May and are currently in deportation proceedings.  Although some protesters in Washington, DC have been arrested for disorderly conduct, no deportation proceedings have been instituted against those protesters to date.

 

The strategy to put a personal face to the stories of these ambitious young immigrants is a brilliant, albeit risky, way to humanize the cause and draw media attention to an important issue.  That being said I don’t know that I would want my minor niece or nephew to take this kind of risk if they were in situations similar to these student protesters. It remains to be seen whether these students’ bravery will inspire Congress to enact the DREAM Act.