Hope. After families and friends have been torn apart, hope is what is left. A personal friend of mine went through hardship concerning immigration. His father was caught by ICE while working. His whole family was devastated, because they didn’t know when they were going to be able to see him again.

This situation caused disruption to my friend’s life. He didn’t go to school, his family was depressed and he had no subterfuge. This is starting to become a trend. Why do families have to suffer being apart? This whole country was based on immigrants from Europe. Why is it that American neighbors, Latin-American countries, are being held to this complex immigration system?

Our current immigration system is broken. However, this does not mean that it can’t be fixed. Thanks to President Obama, he has made Deferred Action (DACA) possible. Many people have benefited with the DACA. Although DACA lets undocumented people “breathe” for a temporary amount—two years—that still doesn’t satisfy the people. We need something more definite. That is why we need the DREAM Act to be passed. And a common-sense immigration process to rebuild the immigration system.

Thanks to OneAmerica, the largest immigrant rights organization in Washington State, our hope is being strengthened. Through rallies and informational meetings on the immigration system, One America has helped clear the nebulous concerns of many. They also mobilized tens of thousands of people during this past election via canvassing, phone banking, or word-of-mouth. The Hispanic population has taken a huge step toward progress here in Washington and across the country.