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Member & Activist Spotlight

Omar Jaimes Rodríguez: I Was Not Going to Give Up.

Omar Jaimes Rodríguez is an educator and graduate student from Biscoe, North Carolina who happens to be undocumented.
Omar Jaimes Rodríguez Member Spotlight
Published: March 22, 2021

I am a first-year educator and graduate student—I also happen to be undocumented.

At 10 months old, I fled México in the arms of my mother and North Carolina became my new home after an uncertain trip across the border.

It wasn’t until Drivers Ed that I realized I did not have a Social Security number—or legal status in this country. My life felt like it was over before it truly began.  I almost dropped out.

But after conversations with my parents, I was convinced I had to finish strong and work towards my goals—regardless of my circumstances.

I was not going to give up.

DACA did not exist when I graduated high school—meaning I had to pay out-of-state tuition.

My parents were factory workers, and they could not afford to help me pursue my dreams. I worked for a year to save up enough money to attend community college the following year.

On June 15th, 2012, my life changed when President Obama introduced DACA. I felt the chains begin to loosen up around my goals and aspirations.

After receiving DACA and a TheDream.Us scholarship, I left my home to pursue my education. I received a bachelor’s in health and physical education and in less than two months I will earn a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). 

I love being an educator, mentor, and coach for my students.  Like many DACAmented, we all have goals and aspirations we look to accomplish. I want to fight for my students’ rights and dreams.

Passing permanent protection for DREAMers, TPS holders, and farmworkers means that our dreams will no longer be a fantasy, but an obtainable reality. 

While the House of Representatives recently passed the Dream and Promise Act and the Farmworker Modernization Act last week, I encourage the U.S. Senate to take up the bills and pass them, too. I also urge my fellow educators to mobilize with us to fight for the bright future we deserve.

Take Action: Create a fair immigration process that upholds America’s values

We need an immigration system that is humane, functional, and just—one that respects all people, no matter their ZIP code, race, religion, or birthplace. Urge your senators to support an immigration process that is humane, functional, and just.

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