By Andrea Tecpoyotl Tepale, Legal Rights Organizer
My name is Andrea Tecpoyotl Tepale. At age five, my parents decided to embark on a journey to the United States from my birth home, Puebla, Mexico. This brave decision completely changed my life.
Growing up, I did not understand the complexities of what it meant to be undocumented in this country. I grew up surrounded by undocumented people who made ends meet regardless of their immigration status. However, when I was 10 my father was deported and I began to see what it meant to be undocumented. Suddenly this 10-year-old kid had to figure out how a piece of paper, a “legal document,” was preventing me from seeing my father. I lived in fear for many years; fear that I could also lose my mother for the same reason. To protect myself, and what was left of my family, I learned to keep my status a secret.
One day, my mom heard about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that would allow me to get access to different opportunities. Although I was not eligible for two more years, I remember my mother carefully gathering all the necessary evidence to ensure I would qualify. I was approved for DACA when I was a junior in high school. My dreams of going to college and getting my first job were just starting to fill my mind, but the Trump Administration was in the process of rescinding DACA. Like many other Dreamers, I was enraged. I made a brave decision, just like my parents, to use my voice to uplift my community. While uplifting the community, I soon realized I was not the only undocumented student. So I began to share my story at school and attend rallies that aimed to amplify this same issue.
Fast-forward to now… I am one of the Legal Rights Organizers at Alliance San Diego, providing immigration services to my community alongside others. This work is important to me because it keeps me hopeful. It is also humbling to know there are many families like mine who have made their lives here but live in uncertain circumstances in an increasingly hostile political climate. To date, DACA has cycled through several court hearings, and there has yet to be anything permanent offered for myself and thousands of other Dreamers in this country. It is overwhelming to think about. Every time DACA is in the courts, so much is on the line for all of us. Our families and our communities contribute to our economy, and yet we remain in constant limbo. We constantly face the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next or how our futures will take shape.
On October 10, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans heard verbal arguments on whether to continue or end DACA. I was at the hearing with other DACA staff and board from Alliance San Diego and Dreamers from across the country to bear witness as the court considered our fate. Watch our Instagram Live videos from the footsteps of the courthouse following the hearings and show your support for Dreamers like me and our families by sharing our stories.
Ultimately, Congress must create a pathway to citizenship for us. Until then, DACA is a lifesaver. Literally. Regardless of the outcome of the October 10 hearing, our team will continue to dedicate our time and resources to provide the best legal services for the San Diego community and the community at large. We will remain a trusted and safe space for people while offering tools on how to elevate their dignity and uphold their human rights. With your support, we will continue to develop leaders and advocate for a future where all of us can thrive without fear. I invite you to make a donation, sign up to volunteer with us, or come network at one of our upcoming events. We hope to see you soon!
