TIFTON — It doesn't take long to realize that the four young adults who made Tifton a stopover Thursday on their walk from Miami to Washington, D.C., are passionate about the message they are spreading along the way.
Gaby Pacheco, Juan Rodriguez, Carlos Roa and Felipe Matos began their 1,500-mile "Trail of Dreams" journey at Miami's Freedom Tower Jan. 1. All of them have at least a bachelor's degree and lots of stories to tell about the stumbling blocks that exist for individuals and families that prevent both documented and undocumented Hispanics and other immigrants from achieving goals.
The four travelers have had press conferences in several south Georgia towns and cities recently. Thursday, after getting some assistance with sinus issues and other ailments at ABAC's health center, they met at Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church to talk.
There are several message points the group hopes to get across to as many as possible on their journey. They say that the pathway to citizenship in this country is filled with barriers and many immigrants have the desire to become full, participating and responsible members of society here. Another issue the group hopes will soon be addressed is the "exploitation" of undocumented immigrants and more rights for workers. Perhaps most importantly, the group hopes that immigration issues that separate families will be revised.
Pacheco was 7 years old in 1993 when her parents brought her here from Ecuador. In 2006, federal immigration agents raided her home, and Gaby’s family has been fighting deportation ever since. The only possession from home Gaby carries on her journey is a Bible, which she reads daily for inspiration. She said this country is her home and where she attended school and graduated from high school, yet she found "barriers" in her quest for higher education. She said she learned that she would have to pay out-of-state tuition to attend a college in her home state and that she didn't qualify for financial aid or loans.
Scholarships are also difficult to find and many of those in her situation rely on limited private funding to help. The young people could also not understand how their parents could pay into the Social Security system, some for over 30 years, and still not be considered a full citizen.
"That's why we walk," Pacheco said. "We were part of the 5 percent able to break through the barriers and go to college. We are all human beings and get hurt and sick, but we share our stories. We have similar desires as anyone and want to see our loved ones succeed."
Hoping to dispel any perception that "all immigrants are criminals" and only want a handout, Pacheco told of an 11-year-old boy who spoke up when someone asked if any member of the audience at an Albany press conference had a question. Pacheco said everyone could tell that the boy was timid because his face was red and he acted nervous. When the boy began to speak in a thick southern accent, Pacheco said she had no idea what he might say.
Pacheco said the boy recalled how he had lived here all of his life but immigration laws had sent his parents back to Mexico.
"He said he couldn't understand why his hardworking parents were taken away from him and why, even though he had that blue passport, his parents couldn't be with him somewhere," Matos said with tears in his eyes. "That upset me so bad."
Matos went on to say his family was dealing with a similar situation.
Adelina Nicholls of the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights said she hopes the "Dreamers'" journey helps Georgians to better understand the realities behind the myths and stereotypes.
"Our communities often find themselves discriminated against and blamed for the state's problems," she said. "We are parents, grandparents, students, workers and dreamers. We seek only that which is fair and the opportunity to work hard, to have a family, to go to school and church, to live fully with dignity and peaceful lives."
For biographies on the student Dreamers, go to www.trail2010.org.
