There are currently 931 undocumented students enrolled at California State University, Northridge. On April 29, students and alumni gathered at CSUN to discuss the DREAM Act and the struggles undocumented students go through to receive a college degree at an interdisciplinary symposium titled, “Migration and Memory.” The symposium was part of a two-day event that was held in the Northridge Center at the University Student Union.

The student panel urged the crowd to come together to inform and help undocumented students. The California DREAM Act is an acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.  Assembly Bill 540 enables qualified non-resident students to pay in-state fees at public state institutions.

AB 540 students become eligible for financial aid under the California DREAM Act, but 479 students get denied in the application process. So many students get denied because the application is very complicated and many families are uninformed about the policies.

Students gave testimonies about the daily battles that they must fight to attend and feel accepted at a university. “Every day I’m being challenged because of my gender, my skin color, my immigration status and my sexuality, “ one student shared. “I have to defend myself every day, and to be honest, I don’t know how I survive.”

Students from Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana de Aztlán and Central American United Student Association performed a skit portraying some of the struggles students go through when they are not United States citizens. They acted out the difficulties that AB 540 students must go through to receive a college education, why a resource center is needed on campus and why no one should be labeled as an “illegal immigrant.”

As of now, MeChA, CAUSA and Dreams to be Heard (D2BH) are the only campus organizations that provide assistance to undocumented students at CSUN. These organizations believe that an AB 540 resource center that provides on-campus information, workshops and legal clinics could increase undocumented student success.

The panel also discussed the issues with deportation and detention centers. Alma De Jesus, co-founder of Dreams to be Heard and an alumna of CSUN, showed pictures of immigrants who were in detention centers and were being sent back to their respective countries.

“Dreams to be Heard is all about organizing and utilizing the power of the community to turn a situation into a positive,” De Jesus said. “Without action things will not change.”

The organization brings deportees back home and helps detained immigrants get back to their families. Sandra Jara from Lima, Peru told her story about how D2BH helped her get back to her mom after she was told she could not return to the United States.

“I think it’s very important for everyone to share their story and to not be afraid to say they are undocumented,” Jara said. “No one should feel illegal.”

The Bring Them Home Campaign brought her back to her mother and allowed her to continue her college education. They are currently trying to bring 150 individuals back to their families in the United States.

The Dream activist panel was sponsored by the Central American studies department, the Chicana/o studies department and College of Humanities. For more information about the organizations and the DREAM Act, email dreamstobeheard@gmail.com or call 818-677-1200