Help me keep my dreams alive!

Hi there,

I hope this campaign finds you doing well.

I am currently a High School teacher in San Diego teaching sophomores the wonders of the Spanish language and culture. For the past three years I've worked hard as a teacher and as an educator. I value my students for more than just their grade in my class, but for who they are as a person. I don't easily give up on any student. 

I wanted to teach because teachers had changed my life. At a young age my dad went to jail and my mom suffered a long battle with a terminal disease that took her life my last year of high school. Teachers took me in as their own so I could graduate and become somebody. I lived with one of my teachers and her family for 9 months, and after I graduated and til this day, they have been there for me 100% as if I was their own. I succeeded and was admitted to Harvard's Class of 2013. After Harvard I began working as a HS teacher to do for other kids what my teachers did for me.

However, I was undocumented at the time. My parents had brought me to the US when I was little and we had overstayed our visas. I applied for Deferred Action, which gave me legal status so that I could not be deported and gave me work authorization for 2 years. This is how I was able to begin working.

Recently, I was accepted into USC's School of Social Work for my Master's in Mental Health and School Psychology. Due to my DACA status, I was not eligible to apply for federal aid and USC's School of Social Work couldn't offer me any aid, so I was unable to attend and I had to defer for a year. This shattered me, because my education is enormously important to me and my next step is my Master's Degree. The total cost of the program is around $90,000 and I don't know how I can find that much money to help me finish my education goals.

Immigration asks all DACA recipients not to file for renewal prior to 6 months before their work authorization expires. Mine expired in September so I re-applied in May. Two weeks before my authorization expired, I heard back from USCIS. My application was denied. I was not granted work authorization and, despite my employer trying hard to find a million and one ways to keep me employed and in the classroom, they simply couldn't do it without breaking any laws. On Monday I was given my final check and asked to take a leave of absence until I receive my work authorization. I re-applied for a work authorization with a new attorney, and she says it will take at least 90 days. I'm afraid the holidays might make the wait longer. I don't have the kind of money to support myself for three (or more) months - rent, car payments, insurance, bills, etc. Without work authorization, there is little I can do, and I'm afraid I'll lose everything I've worked so hard for.

Our immigration system is broken. It sucks. Hard-working people like me who mean nothing but the best, who see this country as their own, get screwed every day. I am asking for the kindness of any and all strangers to help me keep my home, my car, and my dreams alive during the three months I have no job, as working illegaly could jeopardize my status in this country and any future applications with immigration. Thank you.

This is only enough to pay for my rent. That's all that I ask for - the rest I can do with all the money I've saved. There are also legal expenses I have to cover to continue on the path to getting my permanent residency, and I need to cover those as well. Thank you.