Undocumented Immigrant Fighting To Stay In SA

POSTED: Wednesday, April 1, 2009
UPDATED: 10:20 pm CDT April 1, 2009

SAN ANTONIO -- A woman with dreams of becoming an immigration attorney may end up in immigration court, but for reasons she didn't want.

Benita Veliz has lived in San Antonio most of her life, being brought to the United States as a child from Mexico by her family. Veliz, a valedictorian at Jefferson High School with a double major at St. Mary's University, was pulled over for a traffic stop in late January.

That's when life became complicated. Veliz did not have a driver's license and is, admittedly, not in the United States legally.

"I was born in Mexico... and just have never had a way to become legalized," she said. "I always thought I was going to end up in immigration court by the time I was 23, but not in this capacity.

"I'm losing my life," she said. "I'm losing the only life I've ever known."

Veliz and her attorney both said they have one hope, a congressional bill known as the Dream Act that would allow children of undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship following college or a military stint.

"What a waste it would be for our country to have an individual with the education, the motivation, the community service that Benita has, to be sent away," said Nancy Shivers, Veliz's attorney, who also points out that there are many others in her client's situation.

St. Mary's University students will hold a rally in support of the Dream Act at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, at the amphitheater on campus.
http://www.ksat.com/news/19071401/detail.html