SUNY Old Westbury student Manuela Hurtado has been fighting for an equal right to education since she was in kindergarten. Hurtado and her family came to the United States from Columbia to escape the violence and drugs only to fear being punished for having arrived without the proper papers.
There are fewer opportunities for a undocumented family to live the American dream. Hurtado and many other dreamers wish to contribute through hard work and perseverance but the negative portrayal of the undocumented makes it difficult. Hurtado doesn’t blame people for thinking that she is a bad person, “because the media and the government have associated being undocumented with that meaning that you are a ‘criminal.’”
Hurtado stresses that undocumented immigrants are misrepresented in the media. Most people do not know that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients must have a clean criminal background and pay taxes.
Raised with a strong work ethic, Hurtado’s father was granted a work visa in the United States leading Manuela and her mother to cross the border and meet him three years later. Her mother began working as soon as they arrived in the country. Hurtado’s parents had to work the “worst, most dehumanizing jobs due to their status.” This undocumented status makes it much more difficult to move forward in this country.
Hurtado was only three when she came to the United States with her mother. She vaguely remembers an encounter with the Venezuelan police while crossing the border. These corrupt officers robbed them but didn’t physically harm the two women.
Hurtado has shared her story with many people. “I have changed minds and I have heard other sides,” she said. “But regardless, I am representing a huge community of people who just want to be recognized for what they truly are— human beings.”
Manuela Hurtado is an honors student on the Dean’s List with a 4.0 GPA.
News 12 has reported Manuela Hurtado’s story in their coverage of Governor Cuomo’s proposal to offer free tuition to the Dreamers. The News 12 report includes interviews from several SUNY Old Westbury students. Hurtado says this story accurately represented her views but that another Dreamer, Priscila Ortega, was misrepresented. According to Hurtado, Priscila Ortega believes that everyone should be able to afford an education regardless of whether they are DACA recipients or not.
Governor Cuomo’s proposal would give Dreamers a free college education if they met certain requirements such as working in the state of New York following graduation. Manuela Hurtado believes that Cuomo’s plan would offer many students an equal opportunity for a college education.
NY Gov. Cuomo wants Dreamers to attend college for free @NYGovCuomo @FoxNews #Dreamers #DACA #SupportDACA #UoPeople #College #TuitionFree #DebtFree #HigherEd #University https://t.co/D21qwT062O
— Shai Reshef (@ShaiReshef) January 26, 2018
Undocumented immigrants in Hurtado’s community work twice as hard to receive equal treatment. They aren’t criminals, “None of us are here to do wrong,” said Hurtado. “We are here because we love America and we want to contribute to this American dream.”
The Hurtado family contribute to their East Hampton community but there are not many groups for them join. Although there is a strong Hispanic presence in East Hampton, there are few opportunities for the Hurtado’s to participate because of their undocumented status.
Hurtado contributes to her community and school. She recently became the Public Relations chair of the new Undocumented Student Alliance. Hurtado and so many other Dreamers hope to receive equal access to education, work, and the other resources offered American citizens to help achieve that American Dream.
