On November 16, I had a wonderful experience going to Washington, DC, with my ECG 300 class, Immigration, Law, and Social Justice, and other peers to meet with legislators about DACA. I went to Washington and advocated for something I am deeply passionate about, and concerned about, too. The issue of immigration affects and has affected my family and me ever since we immigrated to the U.S., which is why I enrolled in this class. I take the information that I am learning in the classroom and convey it to my parents, who then pass it along to the members of our community also impacted by immigration laws. This course is particularly helpful because of the current administration’s decision to repeal DACA, the implementation of travel bans for certain countries, and the echo of wanting to enforce regulations for people to enter the U.S. This is why I took the advocacy part of the class so seriously—for me, it hit home. It made me feel like I had a voice, like I was making an impact, and I felt heard.
During the trip to Washington, DC, I found it to be a challenge to share my personal story with Senator Toomey’s assistant. Due to Senator Toomey's stance on immigration, I thought that my experience would not have been valued. When the group and I began the advocacy work in the round table with one of Senator Toomey’s assistants, she seemed receptive to the immigrant experience. Her openness allowed me to feel comfortable enough to share my story. I felt that my story added a personal touch to the economic piece that I was delivering, and it was rewarding to have someone in her position hear it. At times, when I see all of the commotion in the media about immigration laws, I feel inferior and powerless. The advocacy trip made me feel powerful. Even if it was just for a few minutes, I had a voice that someone listened to. The advocacy experience was truly wonderful. I will continue to recommend the course to my friends. I think there is a lot to take away from taking a course like this in college, regardless of one’s political affiliation. The knowledge and skills attained here can be taken anywhere.