Juan Vazquez: We marched, but Denham won’t take even small step for Dreamers

Congressman Jeff Denham, we marched from Merced to Modesto and we want a clean Dream Act now! That was the purpose of our March, La Lucha Sigue; we understand that you have stated you support the Dream Act, but we need to see action – not words. About 40 MECHA students from Stanislaus State and MJC marched each day, some marched all three day.

I was told by one of Denham’s representatives during your mobile office hours that you won’t sign a discharge petition because you have never done it before. Well, the majority of the students who marched have never walked 16 miles before – and we did it for three days, totaling 46 miles. I ask that you break from your tradition and do whatever it takes to pass a clean Dream Act.

We are passionate because this affects us personally. We are students who study, work and pay taxes. We are productive members of society who proudly flew our American flags during the March. We are not criminals or rapist – as some people have stated. Our families settled here, and we have roots in the Central Valley. We will keep marching until Congress passes a clean Dream Act.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Juan Vazquez: We marched, but Denham won’t take even small step for Dreamers."