Home for the holidays

Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like home. I’ll be home for Christmas. Every year around this time, we are bombarded with images of home and the family. But before we get too caught up in the symbolism of the season, let’s pause and ask ourselves what would happen to your picture of home if you are living in a jail cell and your family is in hiding?

Bernard Pastor might be able to answer that question for you. Bernard, 18, is a graduate of Reading High School. In high school he was an honor student and a star soccer player. He was also voted best-dressed by members of his graduating class. He wants to attend the seminary and work as a pastor. However, Bernard is also undocumented and right now his dreams are on hold as he sits behind bars at the Morrow County Jail in Mount Gilead. Earlier this month, he was involved in a minor traffic accident and after questioning he was arrested. His deportation hearing began shortly thereafter.

Bernard was brought to the United States at the age of 3 and has lived in the U.S. ever since. His family fled Guatemala because they feared persecution after converting from Catholicism to the evangelical Pentecostal Church. They family’s application for asylum was denied. Rather than face an uncertain and unsafe future in Guatemala, the family stayed in the United States. He has lived in Arkansas and for the last six years he lived in Reading. Bernard’s parents and siblings are currently in hiding.

Sadly, Bernard’s story is not uncommon. Thousands of immigrants who were brought to this country as children face deportation after graduating from U. S. high schools. These students, many of whom have no other memories of home outside of the United States, live in fear of deportation. Even though they want to serve their country, current laws prevent them from doing so.

At this very moment, we can help Bernard and show our support for others like him by supporting the passage of the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief, Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) is a bipartisan federal legislation that was first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001 and re-introduced in the Senate and in the House on March 26, 2009. The passage of the DREAM Act could change Bernard’s life. The law allows young immigrants who have lived in this country for at least five years, graduated from high school, and are of good moral character the opportunity to earn citizenship if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning.




To learn more about the DREAM Act and what you can do to urge our elected officials to move on this legislation, visit dreamactivist.org. You can also show your support by signing a petition to keep Pastor at home.

A vote on the DREAM Act could happen as early as today. Let’s act now to help keep Bernard’s dream alive.