APA Youth Launch National Immigration Road Tour

Several Asian American and Pacific Islander undocumented youths, members of Congress, and National AAPI leaders convened on July 31 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building to raise awareness for immigration reform.

The youths, recently approved under DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, demonstrated at the House Triangle today as part of their nine-city tour, “DREAM Riders: Road Trip Across American Campaign.”  The tour both celebrates and marks the one year anniversary of DACA.

Holding signs and banners, participants listened as keynote speakers from the House of Representatives, Asian American Organizations, and DREAMERS offered remarks on comprehensive immigration reform.

DREAMers and their supporters hope to mobilize AAPI and other immigrant communities on the issue of immigration as the House considers reform legislation.

U.S Rep Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) urged her colleagues to pass “meaningful comprehensive reform.” “In the year since Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals took effect, more than 365,000 young men and women have remained in, and contributed to, this country – the only country they have ever called home,” she said. “While DACA provides them with temporary protection, a pathway to citizenship is the only way to remove the uncertainty that DREAMers face every day.”

Brandon Licuanan, a rider from Illinois, commented on the involvedness of youths on immigration reform across the country, saying, “”Youth in America are prepared to speak out to make a difference in our communities.”

The DREAM Riders Road Trip is part of a larger effort to rally the AAPI community in the immigration debate, which includes eight national Asian American organizations (Advancing Justice — AAJC, APALA, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, NAKASEC, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, South Asian Americans Leading Together, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

The coalition has call for elected officials to put forth comprehensive, not piecemeal, legislation that will address the challenges of the country’s immigration system. Wida Amir, the immigrant rights program director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) summed up these aspirations, saying, “America is supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave; we need an immigration process that honors these ideals now.”

DREAM Riders will also stop in Charlotte, N.C. (Aug. 1), Atlanta (Aug. 2-3), New Orleans (Aug. 4), Houston (Aug. 5-6) and Los Angeles (Aug. 6).

The road trip campaign is organized by the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC), Korean Resource Center (KRC) and NAKASEC. More information and the tour’s blog can be found at  www.krcla.org/dream and through Twitter #dreamriders