Voteless undocumented immigrants to watch debates, hope for promises of immigration r
Voteless undocumented immigrants to watch debates, hope for promises of immigration reform
By Mac King
CREATED OCT. 3, 2012
VIDEO AT LINK
An urban economics student at Boise State, 25-year-old Gallo Albor harbors no illusions as to the subject of this election.
“It’s about the economy,” he said.
Albor fled Mexico and a life of poverty 12 years ago to chase a dream many Americans now recognize as fleeting. But Gallo isn’t a citizen of this country and he can’t vote.
“Would you call yourself an American then?” we asked him in August.
“Yes, of course,” Albor said. “It depends on the love you have for the land you are in.”
Love for this land and a desire to stay in it leave Gallo looking to the presidential debates for promises of immigration reform.
“Well, I would like to hear both of them say they’re going to do something with us,” Albor said. “Not just send us back.”
Albor is now in phase two of the DREAM Act application process. If accepted, he’ll buy himself an extra two years in the United States.
“It’s one step,” Albor said, “but we don’t want our families left behind us.”
In September, the president announced the DREAM Act wouldn't grant undocumented immigrants like Albor access to his health care system.
“That’s not a big issue for me,” Albor said.
Instead, he’s focused on the cost of deporting non-citizens. Gallo recognizes his drive, his education and his experience as investments placed in him by his new country and believes the return he and the thousands of other immigrants could provide to this nation if allowed to stay permanently might provide the candidates the economic-stimulus for which they’re looking.
“I just hope that they solve this immigration issue as soon as possible so [we] can be integrated into society and become a family as a whole,” Albor said.
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