Hi SCAC, my name is Ji Soo Kim. I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington and I have been a regular member of SCAC for several years. I first heard about SCAC though Priscilla Kwong during my sophomore year at the University of Washington and have been coming ever since. I have deeply appreciated the love and support from the SCAC community during my time here which is why I bring my story to you today.
My family came to the US from Korea when I was only 2 years old. My family wanted to escape poverty and decided the US had more opportunities for me and my sister. We entered on visitor visas but my parents were not eligible to obtain work visas. They made the decision to remain in the US and thus we became illegal immigrants. We faced many challenges due to our undocumented status, but despite many barriers my family was able to obtain green cards and are on their path to citizenship. I, however, did not qualify to obtain a green card with them so I relied on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain legal status. With DACA, I was able to attend university and apply for work in the US.
While in college, I received Jesus Christ as my God and Savior and felt a strong call to help those who are vulnerable in this country. This led me to major in Public Health so I could influence systemic change to better the opportunities and outcomes for those on the margins. After graduation, I worked for TeenFeed, a nonprofit that provides food and case management for homeless communities; I hope to continue working in the nonprofit sector.
I am incredibly grateful for the DACA program. Before DACA I had to seriously consider whether I should give up on my dreams of going to college and being able to work in a field that I love. But this program allowed for me to attend University, find a job after graduation, and live free from fear due to my legal status.
However on September 5th, 2017, the Federal Government rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which gave me and 800,000 undocumented young people safety from deportation and a chance at living a normal life. Now that DACA is ending, I have only until October 13th, 2018 before I lose my ability to work and therefore cannot use my degree to help those in need. I would also be in constant fear of being detained and deported to a country I have no recollection of or connection. I want to continue doing the work that I love and believe Jesus has called me to do, but without a Dream Act I will never be able to. Not only are my dreams on the line, but almost a million young people are depending on this act to secure their futures.
Today I’m asking for your help as a sister in Christ, to pray for compassionate and sensible legislation that supports the ideas of the Dream Act. Positive action by the Federal Government would allow for me and many others like me to pursue our dreams in the only country we have ever known and loved, and serve as contributing members of the United States. I ask this because this church is my family and I have experienced firsthand how this body has been a strong catalyst for change on Beacon Hill and Seattle.
Please pray for our Federal government leaders, our President and DACA recipients. Would you also take a step further and advocate for a Dream Act so young people can have a chance at a future in this country? You can make your voice count by contacting…
• White House – https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• United We Dream 478-488-8059
• www.interfaithimmigration.org/2017/09/05/dreamactof2017/
Blessings in Christ,
Ji Soo Kim