Dream to Belong music video: in support of the DREAM Act and CIR: Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Free song download at  http://www.facebook.com/ImmigrationReformVideos
Dream to Belong -Music and lyrics by Andres Useche A video in support of the DREAM Act & Comprehensive Immigration reform; filmed and photographed with hundreds of DREAMers and immigration reform activists across the country. Dedicated to all the Dreamers and in memory of Dreamer Joaquin Luna and our ally Shaun Chapa. (scroll down for full performer + video credits after this):



This country was built on a DREAM: A dream of freedom, of opportunity, the belief that if you put in the hard work you could become anything you wanted to be, that you could achieve anything. It was that dream that inspired waves of migration and brought so many to build railroads and work the fields, that drove so many to join the beautiful diversity that helps make the United States the country that it is today. It was that dream of opportunity that led parents to bring their small children into the US, seeking to give them a better life. These children grew up here, undocumented: we call them Dreamers. It is that same Dream that fuels our struggle for the DREAM Act & immigration reform today. Dreamers too have had to seek the land of opportunity where they already live, where their fulfillment has been denied for too long. Dreamers have inspired me as they have inspired so many because they embody the struggle to belong, to grow, to achieve and to give back as much as they possibly can. Through their relentless pursuit of education and their desire to work, Dreamers not only better themselves but the country they grew up in, the land they love. When this nation opens its arms to Dreamers, it's getting closer to a more complete fulfillment of its fundamental promise. It is this embrace that brings us closer to a more perfect union, a nation with an arc bending towards justice. 

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was a giant leap and a testament to the hard work of DREAMers themselves who have organized for what is right. We are grateful to the Obama administration for this temporary measure but as the President himself has said, this is only the beginning. Dreamers and allies will not stop until the solution is permanent and includes the hardworking families who made such a tremendous effort to give their children, the DREAMers, a brighter future. Join our efforts. Together, Si, Se Puede!!! -Andres Useche

DREAMers! Here's a step-by-step guide for the undocumented youth applying for the Obama Administration's Deportation Relief and Work Permits program: DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

United We DREAM: What happens after DREAMers send in their DACA Application? 

A fellow Dreamer from California documented his entire application process. He has now been accepted and received his work permit! Congratulations and thank you for taking the time to share this with us. But first some important things to remember: (tips +video)

UWD: TIPS for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals application:

Before you begin filling out your forms, you must read all the instructions per form under http://www.uscis.gov/i-821D
You may fill out your forms by typing or print legibly in black ink.

Remember that you must submit copies of all your original documents. (Not the original documents themselves)
Copy/Scan Your Entire Application: Make a photocopy or scan of your entire application, including the checks or money orders. You may need to refer to your application again in the future (or show it to an advocate or attorney). This is especially important if the Dream Act passes, or if you become eligible to file for permanent status; you will want a record of everything you stated in your DACA application.
Label and Protect Your Photographs: On the back of your photographs, label in pencil your full name and date of birth. Place both photographs in a small plastic bag (like a sandwich bag) and paperclip (do not staple) them to front of your application (behind theForm G-1145).
Sign All Forms: Make sure your original signature is on all USCIS forms (Form I-821Dand Form I-765)

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services how-to-Video for DACA:

What happens after you send in your DACA Application? Step by Step.

1) If you sent a G1145, you receive electronic receipts of your I-821D and I-765 forms:

2) If you did not send a G1145, you will receive your I-821D and I-765 form receipts via mail 5-7 days after the Lockbox facility received your package:

3) You will receive a receipt to verify all your information is correct for the biometrics appointment:

4) After receipts, the next step in the process would be for background checks as part of the decision process. USCIS will now request for your biometrics (fingerprints).

You will then receive a subsequent I-797 Notice of Action receipt in the mail with your appointment date for your biometrics to be taken at your local Application Support Center, ASC. (7-10 days after the Lockbox received your package)

5) You have an appointment, the date arrived and the ASC has successfully taken your biometrics/fingerprints, your photo and your signature. Depending on your background checks,

whether your record is clean or not so clean, the following will take less or more time. Your biometrics are sent to the FBI (who usually returns your record within 24-48 hrs) and its forwarded to USCIS for them to do IBIS Name Check and IDENT Fingerprint Check as part of the background checks.

The Biometrics letter after your appointment (notice the stamp):

6) You should then receive a TXT (If you have Signed Up to USCIS Portfolio) showing that your I-765 application has been accepted and your card has been ordered for production.

This change will also appear in Case Status online. (6-15 days after the date you did Biometrics at ASC)

Note that you can check your case status online with your initial receipt number after you have created an account.

7) Congratulations! Your case has now been accepted! The adjudication of I-765 means your DACA case has been approved.

You should then receive a TXT (If you have Signed Up to USCIS Portfolio) stating that your I-821D has been approved and a notice has been mailed. (1 day after your I-765 EAD goes into production)

-7.2 You should then receive a TXT (If you have Signed Up to USCIS Portfolio) stating that your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), has been mailed. (1 day after your I-765 EAD goes into production)

You should then receive a TXT (If you have Signed Up to USCIS Portfolio) stating that USPS has picked up your EAD. (1 day after your I-765 EAD goes into production)

7.3 Then you should receive a First Class Flat Rate Envelope that contains I-797D which contains the approval notice and the EAD card itself. (4 days after I-765 EAD goes into production)

Yes you now have your work permit and this is what it looks like: 

Front of I-797D:

7.4 After reading the letter in the back of I-797D you should find your work permit attached, this is what it looks like:

Also : here's how the undocumented youth can get a social security number after qualifying for deportation relief/Deferred Action ! 

http://ow.ly/dFCZa

www.socialsecurity.gov

Our DREAM Act song (full) + Obama on Immigration (FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT)

Dream to Belong  -The complete song in support of the DREAM Act, dedicated to all the Dreamers and in memory of Dreamer Joaquin Luna. Full credits here

Let's keep putting pressure on the ground, organizing, demonstrating, talking to people online and in person and reminding everyone that this country, founded on the ideal of equality and opportunity, can only benefit from each Dreamer's desire to educate themselves and contribute openly to this nation. Any society can only benefit from its struggle to overcome prejudice, selfishness and xenophobia, and every person can only grow from attempting to become more inclusive and compassionate.
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Univision's blog post on "Dream to Belong" can be found HERE and includes lyrics.
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Scroll down to skip this intro and go directly to the TRANSCRIPT of Obama's interview...
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On Feb 6 2012 Interview I gave an interview to Tim Paynter of Denver's 1150am radio. The first part of that interview was about our new song and the Dreamers and you can find it in my last post. In the second part I addressed questions about Obama and immigration reform and for those who don't speak Spanish, here is the gist of what I said:
While volunteering in support of the DREAM Act, I've come across some supporters of immigration reform who are understandably frustrated that the law hasn't been passed yet but who are unjustly blaming President Obama. Let's not forget the facts. While Obama, Reid, Durbin and most of the Democrats continue to push for the DREAM Act, (98% of Dems voted to pass it), Republicans as a whole have blocked it in congress, and their candidates oppose it as well, with Romney explicitly declaring he'd veto it.  Through the "Morton Memo" the administration has tried to shift ICE's focus to deporting high-risk individuals and actual criminals instead of DREAMers, (resulting in a drop in deportations according to this story by the LA Times) sparing many who were in line for deportation and whose cases have been dropped, including several who I've volunteered for and with. I've seen this progress first hand and think it is important that DREAMers know they can appeal to ICE's  Prosecutorial Discretion as laid out by the administration and John Morton. However any president's constitutional limitations require support in congress to pass a federal law that would offer the DREAMERs a lasting path to citizenship. We need our allies in government to make the DREAM Act a reality and we need to keep acting marching and demonstrating peacefully, creating awareness and putting pressure on senators to vote for the DREAM Act. We have to pay attention to who is promoting anti-immigrant laws like HB 56 in Alabama and  SB 1070 in Arizona (Which Obama opposed). There are too many Republican politicians constantly taking anti-immigrant positions in every state, and we can stand with those who oppose them. By making sure we are doing all we can to strengthen the campaigns of senators who represent our ideals and trying to help them get elected we will also increase the number of votes in favor of immigration reform and will help those trying to  get it passed when it comes to the floor of the congress again. Here's the audio in Spanish:

so that was Feb 6.

On Feb 21, President Obama gave an interview to Piolin of Univision radio in which he tackled questions about his immigration reform promises (in similar terms to those I  used in my Feb 6 interview).  : http://univisionnews.tumblr.com/post/18103030750/obama-i-didnt-break-my-promise-on-immigration-reform

"Dream to Belong" New song preview, radio interview re: DREAM Act, live premiere with the DREAMers

I wrote a song called "Dream to Belong" in support of the DREAM Act. The pictures below are from the first performance of the song at the Dream Alliance State Wide Summit in Austin, TX on Saturday, January 28th, 2012.

If enacted, The DREAM Act would save many undocumented young students from being deported and allow them a chance to give back to the country they grew up in, the country they love. I am in awe of the DREAMers I've had the honor of meeting and I am constantly inspired by their efforts to better themselves and society as a whole.

 A little bit of "Dream to Belong" was also played in the context of a radio interview I gave three days ago to Tim Paynter on 1150 radio in Denver, CO. The interview is too long to post complete but in the player above you can hear a snippet of the song and a message of support to the DREAMers. I'm pasting another part of the interview below where they play a bit of my earlier song Si Se Puede Cambiar and I discuss President Barack Obama and what he's done for the Dream Act as well as what Republicans are doing against it.

I'll be doing all I can to try to stop the deportation of Dreamers and help the DREAM Act come to pass in 2012. Join us, together we'll make the DREAM come true!

For Immigration Reform: Marching into the Light (Music Video) + tv interview

I wrote this song in protest of SB1070. (UPDATE: Congratulations Arizona on voting Russell Pearce OUT of office! ) Share this video in support of immigration reform and the DREAM Act and please join us in the struggle to end discrimination and prejudice. (Free song download on music player on the left column <<<< )Let's cherish the diversity which has always been a part of these United States and which has propelled this nation into becoming, at its best, a beacon of hope, uniting our common dreams of equality and freedom for all. A. U.

SONG CREDITS: "Marching into the Light" Music and Lyrics by Andres Useche / Lead vocals and guitar: Andres Useche /
/Recorded and produced by: George Shaw. / Back-up Vocals: Oya Thomas, Hilary Fraser- Thomson, Valerie Stern, Grace J. Lee, Dawen Wang, Paul Kwo/ Electric Guitar: Eugene Huang /Piano, sequences: George Shaw

VIDEO CREDITS: Written and Directed by: Andres Useche / Edited by: Brian Torres and Andres Useche / Cinematography by: Martin Linss, Brian Torres, Andres Useche. Still photography by: Vinh Tran, Andres Useche, Bill Barber cc. Some shots by Eric Byler and Annabel Park also appear on the 9500 Liberty documentary. Special Thanks to : Carolina Camargo, Gabriela Ortiz.

Andres Useche interview on Immigration reform: