DREAM Graduation 2012: Undocumented Youth March in Washington D.C.

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, gathered Monday in front of the Supreme Court to protest SB 1070 while pushing the DREAM Act. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Juan Carlos Guevara “I’ve spent $22,000 – all of the money I saved up for college – on fighting off deportation,” said Juan Carlos Guevara, a 22-year-old who bussed over 11 hours from Mableton, Georgia dressed in his black and maroon trimmed graduation gown. “I hope they’ll let me stay.” Guevara is an undocumented immigrant who has been in the United States for over six years. Today, the high school honors graduate who is an aspiring chemical biologist is fighting off the government’s second attempt at deporting him. (Bryan Llenas)

The De Dios Family Irving De Dios, 27 and his wife Aleyda De Dios, 20, traveled from North Carolina to take part in the rally. The young couple marched for their 3-month-old daughter, Estrella. Irving, who came to the United States from Mexico at 15, qualifies under Obama’s new policy, but says it’s not enough to stop them from fighting. “I have a daughter and we want to teach her the importance of fighting what you believe in,” Irving said, while wearing his undocumented and unafraid shirt. “We are fighting so that we don’t have see families split up.” (Bryan Llenas)

The DREAMers Mother While the push for the DREAM Act inspired hundreds of young people to trek hundreds of miles by bus, ironically, it was one of the oldest people in the room, 44-year-old Alejandra Pimentel of Hamilton, Ohio, that stole the show in the end. A mother of four, Pimentel, has two children that are U.S. citizens and two others brought to the United States at ages 5 and 6. Her husband has been deported three times, and is in Mexico. She currently is fighting deportation proceedings for one of her sons. Pimentel, who suffers from Arthritis, looked past the tears welling up in her eyes with both hands on the altar staring down the teens hardened by years of living in fear of deportation. "I am so proud of everyone of you for fighting for your rights," she told them. "I support you as I support my own son." (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. They went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. They went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. They went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

Pastor Wilker of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington D.C. says he has been standing by undocumented youth since 1994. (Bryan Llenas)

Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)

June 27: Over 250 so-called DREAMers, or undocumented youth who have been brought into the United States illegally by their parents, from 17 states gathered Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, just steps away from the nation’s Capitol building for the annual DREAM Act Graduation 2012. The group went on to march and protest outside of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Bryan Llenas)