Contact: Marco Saavedra January 31, 2012
Cell: 347.226.8294
Email: msaavedra007@gmail.com
Family of Joaquin Luna, DREAM Act Student Who Committed Suicide, Releases Statement in Support of Yanelli Hernandez and Launch of UndocuHealth.org
Activists race to stop deportation of a suicidal youth
Rio Grande Valley, TX—The family of Joaquin Luna has expressed their support for Yanelli Serrano Hernandez and for the Undocumented Mental Health Day campaign organized by the National Immigrant Youth Alliance. The initiative is an immediate response to the deportation of Yanelli Hernandez Serrano, a DREAM Act-eligible youth who has attempted suicide while in detention. She is set to be deported Tuesday.
In conjunction with NIYA, the Luna family is releasing the following statement on Undocumented Mental Health Day, the launch of UndocuHealth.org and the imminent deportation of Yanelli:
As a mother, I am saddened to hear what’s happening to Yanelli. I hope that my words get to her and can help her find some peace and hope. It’s not easy for a mother to see her child filled with dreams…and then wake up to a harsh reality that they are no longer here.
When my son died, I kept thinking why, why him? I still wake up wondering why it had to be him. I find comfort thinking that what happened with Joaquin will serve as a lesson for those who keep holding hostages the DREAMs of young children like Joaquin. His biggest DREAM was to be an engineer; that’s all he wanted. Unfortunately, he lost hope. I keep thinking that maybe another young person will hear about my son and it will help them find a way out.
I hope that ICE and the proper authorities find it in their heart to release her. She needs to be out, with her mother. Only a mother knows how to take care of her child, and also what it feels like to lose a child after we’ve try everything to keep them safe. I pray to God that Yanelli is released soon, and I pray that she doesn’t lose hope, that she doesn’t take her own life. Losing a child is the greatest pain a mother can go through.
I hope that more people understand that these DREAMers need help; they deserve a chance. I hope my son’s story serves as an example of why it’s important to help them and to give them a chance to fulfill their dreams. From where I am, the only thing I can do is pray to God for the well being of Yanelli.
Luna committed suicide last November, succumbing to frustration over his immigration status. His death triggered renewed calls for passage of the DREAM Act, as well as a conversation among activists about how to address the apparent epidemic of major depression among undocumented youth. Yanelli, instead of receiving treatment near her family, was placed in solitary confinement after her attempted suicide. She was left naked with only a blanket and placed on Prozac.
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5 responses to Press Release – UndocuHealth.org
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SAm on February 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm
I am truly sorry for your lose, I really am. I honestly don’t understand half the things you said with that she needs to be released. She is going to be released, released back in her country of citizenship which is probably where her caring mother should meet her since her mother is more than likely not a citizen of the USA either. People act like going back to their country of citizenship is the worse thing someone can do, it’s like worse than jail. I want people to stop and think, what if the USA was not here. What would Mexico do and other people from South America, what would they do? The biggest lie every told, was that your hopes and dreams can’t be accomplished where you are born as if Engineers do not exist in Mexico, or Doctors or Lawyers. It may be difficult, but it’s difficult here as well, especially being undoc’d. Imagine if all these smart 11 million undoc population went back to country of citizenship and demanded change like they demand change here, you know what would happen. They would make change happen where it needs it most. Where people suffer the most, that’s where real change needs to happen, in the country of citizenship, not a foreign nation.
Michelle on March 3, 2012 at 4:18 am
Dear Sam,
You make some good points, as a matter of fact I actually agree with you when you say “real change needs to happen in the country of citizenship” [referring to Mexico, and countries in Central and South America]. But guess what is preventing for real change to happen?! I would suggest reading some books like “The School of the Americas” by Lesley Gill, investigate the death of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, or perhaps read the history of the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
The point that I’m trying to makes here is that ever after WWI; so when England’s economic influence was replaced by the U.S., progress was literary not not permitted in Latin America.
It is very truthful, and unfortunate that many Latin Americans continue to depend on the U.S., but it all goes down to the history and relations between the U.S. and Latin America, (and in many countries around the world).
In other words, it is not the case that change hasn’t occur to many activists around Latin America, the real truth is that the U.S. has always intervened whenever there has been an attempt to change and to better the situation in Latin America.
Though you are also right when you say that many dreams can also be accomplished in our native countries; i.e. become Engineers, Doctors or Lawyers, however, these dreams aren’t designed for the working class, or for the most affected around Latin America: the people who live in rural areas. WHY? Because thanks to globalization and free markets, which is extremely supported by the West, many peasants were displaced during the 1980s. That’s why there was an influx of Hispanic immigration in the U.S., and therefore the Immigration Reform and Control Act was adopted in 1986.
Finally, I’m not demonizing the U.S., I’ve lived here almost my entire life, therefore, I’ve embraced the numerous cultures you can find in this country, specially when you live in New York. My argument here is that many of us have no other alternative but migrate to other countries like the U.S. for a better future, perhaps a future that was taken away from us in the first place.
Best,
Michelle.
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