My name is Grecia Lima and I have been a legal permanent resident of the US for one year but I lived as an undocumented American and a Dreamer for 11 years. President Obama made an announcement last Friday June 15th about stopping the deportations of DREAMers and making them eligible for a work permit. For many of us who have been coming out to our teachers, our friends,  our family and even our partners this is long overdue – history in the making!

However, the announcement came with such a mixed reaction for many DREAMers. I currently split my work time half in California and half in Arizona. In Arizona, I have encountered many DREAMers who view the announcement as the step of the right direction but wonder about the fate of their parents and friends who can’t qualify, especially in the wake of the upcoming Supreme Court Decision on the constitutionality of SB1070.

The reality is that for me and many other DREAMers this is an accomplishment and a step in the right direction of a road long traveled and a road that still has long way to go.
Personally, I view this is an opportunity for all of us to be reminded of our dreams, aspirations, sacrifice and courage. We are living in a moment of choice – where we as the progressive movement, the DREAM Act movement, the immigrant rights movement can create a shared vision, power and structure or we can choose to DREAM selfishly.
I know that we will continue to make the choices that have define this movement the choice of leadership, shared work and responsibility. For my choice- I choose to DREAM with my family, I choose to DREAM with my fellow undocumented Americans and I choose to put my time and energy on creating sustainable electoral infrastructures that enable disenfranchise voters to DREAM and stand with us.  Will you join me?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
USCIS should have an application process in 60 days so we need to inform our community that the process will take some time to implement and to know what it will look like.
Eligible Individuals are:

• Be between 15 years or older and 30 years or younger may apply
• Be in US for at least 5 (as of 6/15/12)
• Have to have maintained continuous residence

UPDATE: USCIS just posted a really detailed question and answer: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7...

For More Resouces you can check out:
http://unitedwedream.org/
http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/

Grecia Lima is an Electoral Field Organizer with the Campaigns for Community Change. Her views represent her own and not those of her organization.