Huffington Post (Op-Ed)
By Ivan Ceja and Justino Mora
July 9, 2015
Dear Donald Trump,
We
are two first-generation undocumented immigrants from Mexico: Ivan Ceja
and Justino Mora. We are the first members in our families to graduate
from high school and
attend college, Cal State Dominguez Hills and UCLA, respectively.
Recently, you made statements referring to Mexican immigrants in the
United States, labeling them as criminals, rapists and drug dealers. We
beg to differ.
We
are none of those things, and neither are our parents, relatives and
the millions of other immigrants across the nation. We are sons,
daughters, brothers, sisters,
fathers, mothers, students, entrepreneurs and citizens of the world who
came to this country in search of a better life and opportunities to
realize the American Dream.
The
lack of respect you displayed towards immigrants on the day you
announced your candidacy for the presidency is unacceptable and
shameful. How do you expect to win
a presidential campaign by attacking the very backbone of this nation?
According to the Center for American Progress, 16.6 million people live
in mixed-immigration-status families, and our ability to influence
local, statewide and national elections is rapidly
growing. Remember this fact the next time you decide to speak about us
in front of the camera. People like you who intend to run for the U.S.
presidency should be seeking our approval, not bashing our parents and
grandparents. You would think that a businessman
such as yourself would never forget who built this nation, brick by
brick, railroad by railroad, stone by stone.
Over
the past six years, we have dedicated our lives to fighting and
advocating for our rights and for those of our loved ones. Three years
ago, we even co-founded what
is now a non-profit organization that advocates and informs
undocumented immigrants across the nation. Whereas you spread bigotry,
ignorance and hate, our parents have taught us to promote respect,
compassion and empathy.
Mahatma
Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world," and we
seek to do just that. The ideals that we harvest -- the ones we carry in
our hearts to guide
us as we seek to bring about change -- are deeply rooted in the history
of our parents' upbringing in Mexico. Despite having had very little in
Mexico and arriving to the United States with nothing, they remained
humble and worked hard to give us the best
they could. We are not ashamed of where we come from, but rather strive
to be recognized for what we have to contribute.
This
week, we embark on our newest journey -- building a startup company
over the next 10 weeks as the first undocumented immigrants to
participate in Startup UCLA. We
are very privileged -- privileged to have the support of our loved ones
and our community. Our business model will embrace diversity and
welcome everyone, regardless of their immigration status or nationality,
to collaborate with one another and participate
in the political process to move this nation forward.
We
would like to remind you of something you said in 1987: "I try to learn
from the past, but I plan for the future by focusing exclusively on the
present." How do you
expect to have a chance at winning the presidency when you disregard
and disrespect the fastest growing demographic in the United States? You
should take your own advice and learn from the present: the more hate
you spew out of your mouth, the more companies
and organizations will cut ties with you. More recently, you stated
that "infectious disease is pouring across the border," without thinking
about the consequences of making such bogus and hateful claims. If
there is one thing history has taught us, it is
that hate is one of the most contagious and destructive diseases known
to humankind. Please stop spreading it. We will not sit back and watch
as you continue to insult our values and traditions. Instead we will
contradict every one of your statements by means
of our actions.
Sincerely,
Ivan Ceja and Justino Mora
Co-Founders of UndocuMedia, Inc.
Co-Founders of Polibeats
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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