One year ago this week, my life changed.
I came out of the “shadows” by publicly sharing my story about how the broken immigration system had torn apart my family when I was a child.
{mosads}Then, a few days after I shared my story in the Los Angeles Times, I went to Las Vegas and heard President Obama’s plans to provide immigration relief by expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and creating the new “DAPA” program for parents of citizens and lawful permanent residents.
I knew the relief the president spoke of would not help my family, but it would bring hope to families who came after mine.
A year later, the widely anticipated relief has yet to be realized, as anti-immigrant conservatives blocked that relief. But, I remain hopeful that our case will be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. I also believe in the power of the Latino vote and fully expect that voters will reject the hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric being spewed on the Republican campaign trail. The Latino vote will create a strong mandate for comprehensive immigration reform.
Before the momentous events of a year ago, I was uncertain about weighing in on the immigration issue, even though I experienced the broken system first-hand. I did not hear people like me — citizen children of parents without documents — talking about it, or if they did, they were drowned out by politicians who wanted to deport us; politicians who could not know what reform advocates were talking about because they had never personally experienced losing loved ones through the dysfunctional immigration system.
I decided that instead of feeling like a victim, I could be of service by getting involved and promoting solutions. I spoke out. And speaking out gave me the courage to search inward, and write a book about my experiences, titled “IN THE COUNTRY WE LOVE: A Family Divided,” which will be available in May.
Passing along pieces of my story was easy through social media. I was able to share it with people who care about the issue. And I was able to inform those who didn’t care as much — and who even had negative opinions — to see how the broken system had affected a familiar face.
It didn’t hurt that I was already on one of the most popular shows on television.
Some of the most active participants on this issue are organizations like the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, which provides legal support for those defending the rights of immigrants, and Mi Familia Vota, which works year round on citizenship training, voter registration and mobilization.
Their work was invaluable in bringing me forward as an advocate who could speak publicly on behalf of the millions who have been ignored.
Just this year, I have engaged through all of the social media platforms — Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google hangouts — to educate immigrants on the president’s DACA/DAPA immigration relief programs and offer help on where to get information.
As the programs got tied up in court earlier this year, we pivoted to voter registration and civic engagement, including encouraging people to become citizens.
I have urged young Latinos to vote and let our voices be heard so that politicians cannot ignore us. I also have pushed back against those who wanted to take away birthright citizenship — citizenship to children of immigrants born in the U.S. This year, I was named a White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization.
Driving up citizenship and getting young people involved in the political process is important for three main reasons.
First, there are about 13.3 million lawful permanent residents living in the United States, and 8.8 million are eligible to become citizens. Second, there are 600,000 citizen children of DAPA-eligible parents who are eligible to vote today. We need to make sure they are registered to vote. And, there are 800,000 Latinos who turn 18 each year. An estimated 93 percent of Latino children are U.S. citizens and will be eligible to vote when they turn 18.
So, we have to get involved. The political attacks against immigrants by conservatives in Congress, in “red” states, and on the GOP campaign trail have only gotten worse.
How can anyone who is Latino or from an immigrant community, listen to the attacks and not get angry? Let’s turn our anger into action and win.
Guerrero is an actor, best known for her roles as Maritza Ramos on Orange Is the New Black and Lina on Jane the Virgin.