Sometimes fate has a way to rub it in your face that in the end, we all really are in this together.  As previously featured, Project Economic Refugee has been tracking the uncanny commonalities between the experiences that the LGBTQ rights and the immigrants rights communities have faced on their path towards their respective fight for equality in our society.  The latest manifestation of the crossing of paths among these two camps has now come in the form of a disturbing trend of tragedy, as we are learning that some undocumented teens, just like the LGBTQ teens, faced with despair in their lives, are committing suicide.  The Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL) is organizing an event in Chicago (flyer above) to tell undocumented teens that they are NOT alone and that together we CAN overcome despair.  In the lead up to the event, the IYJL is collecting stories of support to share about those that have thought about or have attempted suicide due to being undocumented and having doors shut on their faces.  The following personal story is up on their website:

“I graduated in June of 2009, a day after my graduation I attempted suicide because I was tired, because I did not want to tell my mom we’d have to pay for my education out of our own pocket. And when schools gave me scholarships I didn’t want to put her through the pain of telling me that we still couldn’t afford it. That’s when a funeral started to look less expensive than 4-years of education at the school of my choice. I’ve decided to come out about this because every day that passes by without addressing this is another day another student is probably thinking the same and I don’t want that anymore.

“I know that for the past months we’ve worked under an unpredictable legislative schedule and it has come down to this: a vote in the House and Senate as early as next week. I know that this is something that some of us have experienced, or thought about, and I can only imagine how many other undocumented people there are just like us, who need hope and inspiration. And others need to realize that this is what fighting for DREAM is about, fighting for our lives.”

Reyna Wences,
Immigrant Youth Justice League

If you have other stories that you would like to share with them to feature on their campaign, please send an e-mail to iyjleague@gmail.com.