On Oct. 21, Antonio Gutiérrez, Housing Organizer of Centro Autonomo and Mexico Solidarity Network, spoke at UW-La Crosse about the issues undocumented immigrants face in the U.S. and his experience as an undocumented immigrant himself.

Gutiérrez came to the U.S. in 2000 with his mother, sister and father in hopes of achieving the American Dream.  Achieving this dream, however, meant the loss of friends and family for Gutiérrez.

Gutiérrez explained why he thought learning about the issues concerning undocumented immigrants is important, saying,  “I think that just because you’re not undocumented or you don’t consider yourself an immigrant anymore because you were born and raised here in United States, at one point or another our country, which is a beautiful nation that is one of the most diverse countries in the world, it was built on immigration.”

In this program, Gutiérrez brought up the issues of undocumented immigrants and the injustices they all undergo in America.  He explained how society misrepresents undocumented immigrants and dehumanizes them by treating them like criminals and deporting them back to where they had lived before.

After graduating from architectural school in 2012, Gutiérrez was able to find employment.  However, after the discovery of his status as an undocumented immigrant, his employer was compelled to release him of his services, even though he had graduated from college with honors and had the drive and will to do what it took to succeed in life.  This event brought to surface the reality of the hardships undocumented immigrants, such as Gutiérrez himself, faced daily in the U.S.

The rejection Gutiérrez experienced from his employer led him to the Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL).  IYJL is an organization led by undocumented organizers who continue to fight for the recognition of rights for all undocumented immigrants.  Through IYJL, Gutiérrez was able to feel accepted and empowered.  Through the use of their slogan, “Undocumented.  Unafraid.  Unapologetic,” IYJL was able to empower not only Gutiérrez, but other undocumented immigrants, as well.

Gutiérrez explained how effective and powerful IYJL is.  He explained the pressure IYJL creates on politicians and how IYJL and the events it holds brings together communities made up of undocumented and documented citizens of America.

On March 10, 2010, IYJL established an event called Coming Out Of The Shadows.  This event was created to empower undocumented immigrants, as well as to educate and bring to light, to documented citizens, the hardships undocumented citizens undergo. Coming Out Of The Shadows is now a national annual event.

Omar Granados, a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at UW-L, hoped students took one thing particular away from Gutiérrez.

He said, “The idea that being illegal is not a crime.  The idea that perhaps a lot of their ancestors were in this situation as some point in history.  And the idea of being unapologetic about it.  It’s a constructive notion, not a criminal perspective, as it has been portrayed by the media.”

Gutiérrez informed his attendees that 1,100 immigrants are deported every day in America.  He explained to that deporting these immigrants not only dehumanizes them but takes them away from the life they have been building in America as well as their friends and families.

Gutiérrez expressed that the deportation of any one immigrant, is one too many.

To find out more about IYJL, visit www.iyjl.org