College of Saint Mary student makes her voice heard on immigration reform

- Leo Adam Biga, El Perico -

College of Saint Mary junior-to-be Atziri Valadez, 20, is a Dreamer who won't take threats to immigration reform lying down. The paralegal major passionately advocates for retention of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). She plans on being an immigration attorney.

The Mexican native's activism includes peaceful protests and rallies, testimony before elected officials and mentoring other DACA recipients. Her campus and community engagement has earned her the national Newman Civic Fellowship. She's among 262 new fellows afforded learning, networking, scholarship opportunities during the one-year experience.​

Valadez chats with peer Fellows via Facebook. She'll gather with then in November for a conference in Boston, Massachusetts. "I'm very excited about it," said Valadez, who may attend a public policy in international affairs conference in Washington D.C. in July.

Social justice issues took hold for her in 2017 when President Trump said he might end DACA.

"That's something that would affect my life very much," Valadez said. "That's why I decided I wanted to be a voice for other DACA recipients. I joined Young Nebraskans in Action at Heartland Workers Center, and I started telling my story at schools. Even though it was scary at first, I enjoyed doing that. I discovered I was really good at it."

Once resolved to help other immigrants, she said, "I decided to major in paralegal studies." A recent internship she did at the Immigrant Legal Center reinforced her desire.

"It was very emotional. There were people crying, worried about their status. Some women were domestic violence survivors; other people needed help with work permit forms. It was a real eye-opener, and it did affirm the career path I want to follow."

She continues speaking up for immigrant rights. "I've learned that my voice actually does have a little power. It does pay off to tell your story because people see how unjust laws are affecting others around them."

She calls for policies that enable her and her fellow Dreamers to realize their potential in America - the only country they've ever known. Like many DACA students, Valadez came to the U.S. as a young child. She only learned she was undocumented as a teen. She knows first-hand what it means to be considered less-than.

"It's hard living in the shadows. With DACA, it's easier to step out of the shadows and be comfortable without having to look over my shoulder all the time. DACA's benefited me in so many ways. I've been able to get a driver's license, work, and go to college. It's made me feel normal. I don't feel like an outcast anymore.

"We need a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients because we contribute to the United States, and we have clean records."

She appears in the 2018 documentary, We Are Dreamers alongside other immigrant students that writer-performer-activist Daniel Beaty did workshops with in partnership with The Rose Theater and Immigrant Legal Center. The project was photographed and directed by Omaha filmmaker Mele Mason.

"It turned out really well. I'm happy to be a part of it," Valadez said of the film, which is on YouTube.

Valadez feels sharing her story humanizes issues beyond the abstract. She did just that with Congressman Don Bacon (R-2nd District) and other members of Nebraska's congressional delegation last March on a trip to the nation's capital she made with other CSM students. She's also appeared before the Nebraska Legislature.

"A lot of people are ignorant about the issues going on around immigration. Once I tell them how it's affecting my life, they realize how important it is to support reform. I believe telling our stories can make a difference," she said, adding, "but it's hard to change someone's mind."

She said her advocacy sometimes draws negative comments. "That's the kind of stuff that brings you down. But I feel like there's more positive than negative when it comes to advocating for issues like this."

Anti-immigration policies impact her family, too. She's one of four siblings. Her older sister Ana studies social work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

"Our dad was actually detained by ICE last year for about a month," Valadez said. "He was part of a group of men at work who got picked up. They're all close friends of our family. My mom was crying, and we were all freaking out because we didn't know where he was. We didn't hear from him for hours. It was really scary."

Once reunited with the family, her father was forced to wear an ankle bracelet. His case is still pending.

At CSM she's found a supportive second family for whatever crises arise or activities she organizes.

"It's been great. They support immigrant students, which is really awesome."

Like many of her Latina classmates, she attends school on the Misericordia Scholarship, which CSM awards to Dreamers. Without the scholarship, she likely could not afford the private college.

Her busy campus life includes serving as vice president of the Students for Justice Club. She also advises other Latinas about immigration matters and refers them to resources and experts.

"It's really cool," she said. "I love helping people out. It's nice that people trust me."

Valadez hopes to pursue her law degree at either Creighton University or the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to be close to family. She expects she'll practice close to home to continue being a role model for her two younger siblings, both of whom she expects will follow her and Ana in higher education.

"We're all doing really well. Our parents are very proud."