Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernandez is an undocumented queer community organizer from California who currently resides in Colorado and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  As an immigrant rights  activist, Javier has co-founded several undocumented youth-led organizations, including the Undocumented & Queer Collective in Pomona, California; Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success (I.D.E.A.S.) in Chaffey College; and Inland Empire-Immigrant Youth Coalition (IE-IYC) in the Inland Empire, California.  Most recently he has co-founded Colorado; Organize, Resist, Escalate (COORE) which is an undocumented youth-led network committed to fighting for the rights of immigrant youth and their communities.

“I have been out of the shadows since 2007, but relocating to Colorado almost forced me to digress and hide both my undocumented and queer identity,” Javier said.  ”Instead of taking a step back, my work with the community has empowered me to continue fighting and continue to be voiceful about my identity.  Joining the Campaign for an American Dream is an opportunity to take our message of being undocumented and unafraid to the national level.”

In every space that Javier is a part of, he brings up conversations about identity intersections.  It’s important for him to be part of safe spaces in which all identities are acknowledged without judgement. “As immigrant queer activists we are usually pushed to the side. Talking about being undocu-queer brings up more respect in both communities.”

Previously, Javier volunteered with Bienester Human Services in Pomona, California, as a core group member, group facilitator, and community outreach organizer. Bienestar Human Services provides multi-services that target health disparities among Latino immigrant communities.  As a member of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance he is also actively developing UndocuQueer, a project that attempts to bridge undocumented and queer communities by highlighting stories and experiences of undocumented and queer people to empower and educate.

“I am very excited to have begun my journey with CAD here in Colorado where it is of dire importance for undocumented youth to take control of their lives and lead a movement that is truly ‘UNDOCUMENTED and UNAFRAID!”