Dreamers

December 15, 2014
“To let the Dreamers speak for themselves” is the goal veteran journalist Truax sets for herself in this account of 10 undocumented young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. She puts a human face on the debate around the proposed DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act. To this end, Truax recounts both the empowerment of activism and traumatic events, including a precipitous deportation and a suicide. Political figures whose actions or inactions affect the lives of the “Dreamers” appear as well: President Obama, often referred to as “Deporter in Chief”; Sheriff Joseph Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., known for draconian enforcement of immigration laws; Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, who’s introduced several versions of the DREAM Act since 2001; and Mohammad Abdollahi, who leads the DREAM Activist Undocumented Students Action and Resource Network. Truax succeeds in conveying how a shadow status permeates the lives of all the young people profiled here, with education, employment opportunities, and essential social services severely limited or unavailable. At its core, Truax’s book is a severe reproach to U.S. immigration law; the appendix, a précis of the 2011 DREAM Act, illustrates the succor it would bring to some but how problematic the policy is for many others.

January 1, 2015
In this English-language edition of her first book, an immigrant, LA-based reporter tells the intimate stories of the young people who, by no choice of their own, live without legal status in the United States.With both political parties posturing on the issue of immigration reform and with the consequences of the president's controversial executive action still unfolding, Truax's subject could hardly be timelier. And it's impossible not to sympathize with the subgroup of the estimated 11 million illegals living in America she profiles here: young people boldly declaring their undocumented status, bringing dangerous attention to their precarious lives, and organizing to encourage passage of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. Truax showcases the personal histories of the Dreamers living under the constant threat of deportation and denied access to educational opportunities, housing, permits, licenses and career paths many take for granted. Here, they "speak for themselves," relating tales of fear, frustration, courage, achievement and assertiveness: the Vietnamese honor student; the Mexican high schooler teaching English to her neighbors; the Texas student leader setting up a Dream Alliance chapter. Having covered this story for years and earned their trust, Truax introduces us to the places Dreamers go for support-the Food Closet at UCLA, El Hormiguero in the San Fernando Valley-to the political actions and to training sessions held in various states, to activists and politicians sympathetic to the cause-Gov. Jerry Brown, California state representative Gil Cedillo, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin-and even to some immigration opponents such as Maricopa County's notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio. There is, of course, a serious economic, legal, even moral argument against immigration on the Dreamers' terms. But Truax focuses solely on the struggle and challenges they face today, and she does so in a way that leaves a mark on any reader with a conscience. A forthright, moving piece of advocacy journalism.

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Starred review from February 15, 2015

In the United States, immigration is a topic of debate involving the opinions of politicians, activists, and immigrants themselves. Journalist Truax wants to give those involved in the current immigration debate the opportunity to tell their story. They are called the DREAMers, with the name referring to those who could benefit from the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The author compiles ten stories of undocumented youth, informing the reader about the decisions these individuals make every day, including forming alliances with others like themselves and fighting for the American dream. The common thread is that all migrated to the United States as children with their parents, living almost their entire lives in this country, yet are not considered citizens. They have matured politically and are active in using social media to raise awareness of their plight, becoming the face of a policy that demands attention. Truax's book gives a voice to the diverse immigrant youth in the United States and illustrates the challenges and limitations of creating one policy to solve their dilemma. VERDICT Immigration buffs and ethnic studies aficionados will not be disappointed. Truax's informative, engaging read provides a new perspective on this country's ongoing immigration debate.--Susan E. Montgomery, Rollins Coll., Olin Lib., Winter Park, FL

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2015
In August 2001, two unlikely collaborators, a Democratic senator from Illinois and a Republican from Utah, introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, which sought to create reasonable paths to residency and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Derailed by the attacks of 9/11, the DREAM Act has never gained consensus in Congress, despite repeated attempts to demonstrate the social and economic benefits. The author of this inspiriting account, a Spanish-language journalist based in Los Angeles, chronicles the courageous demonstrations by supporters of the DREAM Act, from a motley crew of about a dozen in Montgomery, Alabama to six brave protesters who stood up to Joe Arpaio, the notoriously xenophobic sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Truax catalogs minor victories and major accomplishments alike, from the release of undocumented protesters to the Obama administration's announcement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. In the chapter Undocuqueers, Truax recounts the challenges overcome by immigrants facing two kinds of coming out: acknowledging their sexuality and nationality. Compelling, honest, and personal, this is a must-read for anyone interested in the immigration debate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)