Documented and undocumented immigrants from all over the United States are showing their support for immigration reform that would make it easier for people born overseas to seek US citizenship. Some people have even decided to take drastic action in order to make sure that people hear their message of equality.
In 2010 four people – Gaby Pacheco, Juan Rodriguez, Carlos Roa and Felipe Matos – underwent a walk from Miami to Washington in order to push for immigration reform. They had qualified for the DACA Initiative (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and are referred to as Dreamers because they met the basic requirements for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which is more commonly known simply as the DREAM Act.
They are considered to be pioneers of the entire movement, having persuaded President Barack Obama two years ago, back in 2012, to give protection to young immigrants that came to the United States illegally when they were children with their parents, in order to make sure that they could not be deported.
They are not the only immigrants to have taken drastic action to show their support for immigration reform, with undocumented immigrant Francisco Diaz, who was born in Mexico, now also undertaking his own campaign. Diaz entered the United States 14 years ago in 2000 without permission and has been living close to Brownsville in Texas in fear of being deported. He intends to undertake a 1085-mile, two-month bike ride from Homestead in Texas to Washington, taking along a pen with which Obama can sign an executive order to stop deportations.