Deportable undocumented students are continuing to walk across America for the Federal DREAM Act, despite President Obam’s Deferred Action Announcement.

ST. LOUIS- Campaign for an American DREAM (CAD) will be having a press conference today at 12:30pm at Kiener Plaza, on N Broadway and Market St. in St. Louis, MO. CAD is a grassroots organization led by undocumented youth walking from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. for the passage of a comprehensive Federal DREAM Act, while educating and empowering communities. CAD has been on the road walking since March 10th, 2012 and is currently in St. Louis, Mo.

“We must continue fighting for the DREAM Act”, says Veronica Gomez, one of the walkers. “Even though President Obama has issued a memorandum granting Deferred Action (DA) to qualifying undocumented youth, this does not mean that all undocumented youth will be granted relief from deportation”. Veronica states, “it is important that legislators pass the DREAM Act and not use band-aid solutions.”

CAD was the first to take action in a sit-in and hunger strike at the Obama Campaign Office in Denver, Colorado demanding that the President issue an Executive Order, stopping the deportation of DREAM Act eligible youth. Instead we got a memorandum with DA that does not qualify to all undocumented youth in this country.

“I am in the process of being deported”, states Jonatan Martinez who was placed in deportation proceedings last year. “This DA would stop my deportation but it does not fix my status. It is important that we work towards a more comprehensive DREAM Act, where talented undocumented youth like myself can be implemented into society and give back to the nation we call home. We will continue walking and empowering our communities to stand up and fight back for equal justice.”

The Federal DREAM Act would create a pathway for undocumented youth to become legalized. Without the DREAM Act, memorandums like the DA from the Obama Administration will not legalize our youth. “President Obama’s DA is a step in the right direction”, says Raymi Gutierrez, the only US citizen walking with CAD, “but this is simply not enough.”

CAD will continue walking across the country, empowering and educating communities on why it is important that we continue to fight for the Federal DREAM Act. CAD started in San Francisco, covering California and moving east passing through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas and now Missouri. The route also includes Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. CAD will arrive in D.C. on November 2nd, just 4 days before the presidential election.

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CAD’s mission is to walk across the nation from San Francisco to D.C creating dialogue around the passage of the DREAM Act and fixing our broken immigration system with the clause of equality, unity, and diversity. CAD believes all people are equal, all those who are oppressed should be united, and our daily lives and the Campaign itself highlight diversity.