Julieta Paredes shows her approval letter.
Congratulations to the first LUPE youths receiving their notifications of approval for deferred action: Julieta Paredes, of Port Isabel, and Guillermo Reyes, of Peñitas.
Julieta told us she was very excited, emotional and nervous when her stepfather arrived with the notice to Julieta's room. “My step dad brought the letter and anxiously stayed there while I opened and read it at loud. I didn’t even finish reading the whole letter before I started giggling nervously, and yelling that I was approved! He quickly called my mom so I could share the good news and she ran to hug me tight. I was so happy and wanted to share the good news with everyone I love.”
Julieta says she received help from Felix and Lupita, of LUPE, to prepare her application quickly and adequately. She also said she had faith that the DREAM Act would be finally approved.
She also showed her gratitude. “I will continue furthering my education in UTB like I’ve done so far and once graduated, I hope to become a professional and give back to the country that I have been calling home since I was 6 years old.”
Cesar Chavez said, “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.” While Deferred Action is a small step toward the justice that we so desperately need for our community, there is no doubt that it will be a transformative moment for all the youth who are approved for the temporary protection from deportation and accompanying work permit. Deferred Action is tilling the ground for the justice that Dreamers will harvest in the years to come.
To start your Deferred Action application with Felix and Lupita, call LUPE's Mercedes office at 956-565-2761.
