PHOENIX, ARIZONA.- Dreamer Belen Sisa did not give up in her fight for a clean “Dream Act”. Although her stay in the country has an expiration date, she is not afraid to raise her voice for the thousands of “dreamers” who have faced an anti-immigrant and repressive political system.

“Since I left the jail where I was held for six days, I feel like I am someone else. When we do something brave that transcends fear, we become a new version of what we can be as individuals,” the activist, native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, said.

Sisa, along with activist Erika Andiola, was one of the seven “dreamers” who was arrested last December in Washington D.C. when they confronted Democrat Chuck Schumer to put pressure on Congress to include a measure of protection for young undocumented immigrants.

“It was very difficult in jail. We began a hunger strike, and even though the situation on the inside was terrible, we never failed to feel everyone’s support,” the dreamer, who’s DACA benefits expire in October 2019, said.

“My future has an expiration date,”  Sisa said during an interview at her home that’s filled with pro-immigrant posters. “It’s definitely a house of activists”, she said smiling. Sisa turns 24 years old in March.

Belen’s mother, Elizabeth, who brought her daughter to the United States when Belen was six years old, stressed how proud she is of Belen but also acknowledges the fear of losing her daughter because of her courageous actions.

Sisa graduated from high school in 2012 in the small town of Florence, Arizona. That was the same year President Barack Obama announced the implementation the DACA program.

“I grew up in a very conservative town, I never met any undocumented immigrants, I never talked about my situation to anyone, but my mother and I were so happy with Obama’s announcement. It was the answer that we were waiting for to achieve the most we could,” she said.

That’s why she became involved in marches, rallies and approached organizations that support dreamers in their fight to stay in the country.

“I knew nothing about politics, nor that there were other young people like me, but when I met the dreamers I could see myself in them. So I said I can’t stand aside and do nothing, they are brave, told their stories, I will too,” she said.

She said that the fear faded, and in December 2013 she went to the Democratic Party and told her story in front of hundreds of people.

“Suddenly I woke up and I realized the fight had to go on because DACA was temporary and our families were undocumented and unprotected,” Sisa said.

Sisa worked as part of the Bernie Sanders campaign.

“I worked with the man who could have been the president of the United States. During his campaign, I visited many states like Nevada, Washington and California. I have always felt this country is my home,” Sisa said.

Then came one of the most bitter days in her life, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States.

“Losing the election was very difficult for me and all the dreamers, it took time to get up and keep fighting. We knew what Trump was saying in his speeches was no joke, it would be a reality,” she said.

Sisa decided to upload a post on social media detailing her contributions to the economy as an immigrant by posting a photo of her tax form. She was tired of the anti-immigrant sentiment that she thought was on the rise throughout the country at the beginning of the Republican administration. The post went viral and she attracted thousands of supporters and detractors.

“I was very angry to see that only the anti-immigrant story was being told, I wanted the truth to come to light, I paid $300 in taxes. All you hear on the news is that we are criminals who do not deserve to live in this country, that we do nothing to benefit this country.”

“So I thought to take a picture of my taxes, to show everyone that this is the truth, we do contribute, we give more than we receive,” she said.

“Then I started getting private and public messages of hate, horrible things. That I should return to Argentina. They were going to call immigration to get me, and all this because I posted a photo where I showed I paid my taxes. They do not care if you are a good or bad immigrant. That means they do not want us in this country,” she said.

Despite all the barriers faced, Sisa is convinced this struggle has made her stronger and more sensitive to the issues facing minorities.

“They attack us in all possible ways, they’re separating families, they went against refugees, against those with TPS (Temporary Protected Status), that’s when I think and say, with everything that’s going, I have the privilege of having a voice to change things,” Sisa said, who is finishing her degree in political science at Arizona State University.

Lea esta historia en español, “Belén Sisa, una soñadora que aprendió a luchar por sus derechos“.