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Bob Miller / for NBC News
Maria Cruz Ramirez, 46, awaits her turn to speak at a press conference near the Nashville Public Library on Aug. 16, 2012. Ramirez came to the U.S. in 2001 with her three children on visas, which they overstayed. They are all undocumented.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- They are in the United States without documentation, and they are tired of hiding.
Over the past few weeks, a group of more than 30 housekeepers, day laborers, students and immigration activists has been making its way across the country in a ragtag caravan, chanting “no papers, no fear” and proudly declaring “I’m undocumented” in public gatherings.
The riders do not have the legal documents to be in the U.S., a point they want everyone they meet to know. They are on the bus tour, dubbed the “undocubus,” to highlight their plight and to challenge their anti-immigrant foes in the ongoing national debate on immigration.
“We want to live in equality like everyone else, and that's why we have taken this risk. We have confronted fear of potentially being arrested, but we believe that it is worth fighting,” said El Salvadorean Jose Mangandi, a day laborer living in Los Angeles who is raising his 3-year-old son on his own after his wife was deported. “We have customs, we have cultures. We want to share this with this country, and those who criticize us and who hate us, we invite you to get to know us.”
Mangandi was one of the group’s members who spoke at a press conference Thursday in a Nashville park across from the public library, where they had just finished hearing a talk on Civil Rights movement protests, such as the local lunch counter sit-ins that led to desegregation.
Their tour, which began in Arizona, has made stops in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Along the way, the riders have met Civil Rights-era activists, some of them have been arrested during protests, and they’ve held talks with immigrant groups to exchange ideas on how to prevent deportation.
“I think it’s important to create dialogue and when I say, ‘I’m undocumented,’ I’m also welcoming others to say their stories, too, and (to) not be afraid,” said Isela Mares, a 29-year-old Mexican living in Phoenix, who noted she was just becoming comfortable using the term “undocumented.” “I feel that it’s our responsibility … to let the people know what we are going through so that they also, you know, find that connection.”
Bob Miller/for NBC News
Jose Mangandi, 50, is an undocumented day laborer from El Salvador living in Los Angeles. He is raising his 3-year-old son on his own after his wife was deported. He spoke in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 16, 2012, about his plight.
Though their flagship bus painted with the words, “No papers, no fear,” on it in Spanish and English broke down in New Orleans, they’ve carried on with vans and a minibus. They hope the bus will soon re-join the trip.
Organizers came up with the concept of a bus tour in the spring. It was born out of the notions that “undocumented people can speak for themselves” and “undocumented people should be able to choose their own risks,” said Tania Unzueta Carrasco, 28, an organizer with the Immigrant Youth Justice League helping to handle press relations on the trip.
“I think that’s … a big change for a lot of us. I think for a long time immigrant rights organizations had been very protective of undocumented immigrants, just the whole idea of … ‘I will get arrested for you, I will take the risk for you,’” she said. “For a lot of us who are undocumented, it’s like, ‘I don’t want you to do anything for me … I want to be able to … choose for myself what I’m doing.’”
The group has their opponents, though they haven’t been turning out in large numbers. One woman showed up at a Nashville event wearing an anti-immigration t-shirt, but she kept her distance, participants say.
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“They’re illegal immigrants advertising the fact and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) needs to pull them over and detain them,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center of Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports tighter immigration controls. “I mean, it’s as simple as that. … you can’t arrest every illegal immigrant but it seems to me advertising your illegality ought to be reason enough for you to be detained and removed from the country as a priority and the fact that they’re not is outrageous.”
The riders met with lawyers before they left to learn what the potential consequences of an arrest could be. For some, it could mean deportation. Eleazar Castellanos, who already was forced to leave the U.S. once before, shortly after he came here 16 years ago, thinks he would be forced out again.
On the group's journey to Nashville from Memphis late Wednesday, Castellanos said he had been trying to find work as day laborer since losing his job putting in countertops years back. At times, he hasn’t even had enough money to get gas to look for work or to put food on the table, he said as he wiped away tears.
Castellanos hid these struggles from his wife and 22-year-old daughter until four days before the trip, which was also the first time he told them he was going to be on the “undocubus.” They were shocked to learn of his decision, but eventually decided it was the right thing to do, despite the risks.
"I don’t care, because anyway, every time I’m exposing myself (while) looking for work, and anytime the police can stop me or the immigration and they can deport me,” he said. “So in case that happens to me I want it to be for something good … I’m not afraid anymore. If I know my rights probably I have the chance to fight back and let the people know to come out of the shadows and not be afraid.”
Bob Miller/for NBC News
Sisters Ireri and Tania Unzueta Carrasco sit outside of the Workers Dignity headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 16, 2012, during a stop on the "undocubus" tour.
When asked about the "undocubus" and whether the riders could be deported, Barbara Gonzalez, press secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sent the following statement via email:
“ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes the removal of criminal aliens, recent border crossers and egregious immigration law violators, such as those who have been previously removed from the United States.”
Nine of the riders are applying for the government's new "deferred action" policy, under which certain young immigrants in the country without documents can get a two-year work permit and a reprieve from deportation. While some are grateful for the initiative, seen as a bid by the president to provide some relief since the Dream Act -- immigration reform legislation -- stalled in Congress, others said it didn't go far enough.
Their ride ends in Charlotte, N.C., at the Democratic National Convention, where they intend to convey this message.
“I think it’s important for people within the undocumented community to find some kind of technique that can have some success in increasing the pressure on the political process and on Obama and on the Democrats,” said Gary Gerstle, a professor of American history and an expert in social movements at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. “I think in order for more to happen there has to be more of an immigrant rights movement and there has to be more of a human rights movement in the U.S., and in thinking about how that might happen, I think the ‘undocubus’ is innovative and has a chance of making a difference and it fits within a broader history of non-violent peaceful protest.”
Though there are more experienced activists in the group, a number of them are for the first time putting themselves out on the front line.
One of them is Maria Cruz Ramirez, who brought her three children to the U.S. for better economic and education opportunities in 2001. Life has been difficult since the tighter immigration law in Arizona was passed, she said, with her husband narrowly evading an immigration raid in Phoenix.
After she saw her youngest daughter and her son get arrested protesting earlier this year, she decided she needed to act.
“They stood up for themselves and fought for their own rights and dignity,” she said, at times wiping away tears. “I’m fighting for them and everyone else ... for the mothers who don’t want to or can’t or don’t know how to support their children. I want to represent all of those mothers and those young people.”
Many spoke of their journey on the bus as creating a family. They share hugs and laughs, dance while some in the group play congas, and play sports together. They clap and cheer after the declarations of their legal status.
“Sometimes, I feel a little nostalgic when I’m alone. But when I’m with the group, I laugh and my whole attitude changes ... because the group gives support and love,” Mangandi said after the press conference. “We know the bus is our house and what we share there is the family we have made.”
Protests erupt in Arizona after Governor Jan Brewer signs an executive order denying key benefits of President Obama's new federal immigration policy. KPNX's Oralia Ortega reports.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the gender of Maria Cruz Ramirez's children who were arrested at a protest. It was her youngest daughter and her son, not two daughters.
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a big problem with those women on the bus is they might have 5 kids already if you sneeze next to one of those brood sows they get pregnant
Ok, I must have woken up in Bizzaro USA.. Reading this is actually quite comical. They want to show they aren't afraid? “We have customs, we have cultures. We want to share this with this country, and those who criticize us and who hate us, we invite you to get to know us.”... Really, so do we and we have laws that you have purposely broken and you want our understanding and sympathy. Sorry not getting that from me. You want to go about it the correct way, I will welcome you with open arms, but until that time, you need to be arrested and sent back to your country of origin... see ya and good riddance.
I think that's fantastic. Stay where you are, wear your shirts declaring the fact you are illegal. You'll be easier to spot, arrest, detain and finally deport. That's good thinking!
Big Mistake
The way things are going with this administration, why don't we just remove the boarder patrol and invite them all in. Sweet mother of Jesus we think we have a problem with economic issues now. Just remember 18 - 30 can get in no problem if they have graduated, are working and not criminals. Aren't they criminals the second they step across that boarder illegally?
deport to africa hows that
Some of those people pay a lot of money to some ass wipe to get them across the border. Not that I want them here.Q. If Mexico was your country with all the killing and you had small children would you try to get out our would you want to live in your country no matter how bad it got or try to leave for the safety of your children not hard to answer. Besides having to hide when they get here. For them to get those papers is not a sure thing you can apply and pay thousands of dollars and I mean thousands just like they paid to the ass wipe and the government keeps all the money and tells them that's the chance they take and turns them down and deports them and keeps all the money. If it was you and your family that would be fair in a cats ass....... Welcome to our world.
if they had thousands like your fairy tale says they could have stayed there and lived like kings
They should do a Million Man Illegal March!! I would love to see what the government would do? They could do nothing and it would show that a change is needed!!
they marched in thousands last year in AZ and the Government stood by and watched.....
I'm just pissed off.
This is something completely different than having undocumented immigrants who were here since they were babies become documented. This group is making a mockery of the United States. If looks can kill the looks on the faces of the people in the photo probably will they look like they are not the nicest people. The woman in the centre of the photo has a look on her like she wants to the person who is holding the camera. This group has to be a little careful here for some hate group will find them on the road and kick the crap out of them. I wouldn't even want this group in our jails.
Would anyone here like to have new residents in our country with looks of hate like that on their faces? I do not think so.
It's funny what you said about the looks on their faces. I see the same look on the faces of fans at a sporting event.
Deport them and all illegal immigrants, even the white people who stole our land...
Back to Europe on your ships, stop looking for religious freedom and freedom from government. You invaded our lands and forced us to change to your christian religious beliefs and speak your language.
NOW!! YOU have an issue with that?
No, only if the brown people who stole this land from the Mastadon's find a land bridge and walk back to Asia.
Your land? Are you Navajo or Apache? No Aztecs or other Mexican or Central American people lived in what is now the US when Europeans arrived.
Every illegal immigrant has the human right to be promptly and humanely deported.
They say they love this country, but they're violating the country's laws just by being here. That's not love, it's disrespectful in the extreme. In fact they only love themselves.
The entire country is a joke. We let people run around and do whatever the hell it is they want, without and regard for laws but somehow we keep making them. What's the purpose if we don't uphold the laws that are already made. If people are illegal then get them the hell out. Come here illegally, get a job paying less money because employers know your illegal and don't have to pay you as much, then don't pay taxes, but want all the benefits of living in this country.
If you're so proud to show us your cultures and customs do it the legal way and go through the correct process of becoming a citizen, and if the country doesn't want to let you in, then stay out, until they let you in. Its as simple as that. I am from India, I didn't highjack some plane or hide on a boat to get over here and cross the border illegally, my family filed the appropriate paperwork, and when we were accepted, that's when we were able to come in to the country. That's how it should work, end of story.
It amazes me that a significantly large majority of Americans oppose illegals in our country.
You would think that this is one issue that should spark bipartisan action. Both parties could actually come out as winners if they would only get together an do what's rigth for America and Americans.
The problem is, neither party wants to the first to suggest this because they know it will not sit well with Hispanics and will cost them the election in November.
And we citizens are tired of taking care of you and we want you to know it.
BMW aka Big Mexican Women
These people come here and have 5 and 6 kids who are all American Citizens thanks to an ancient law that was for freed slaves and should have long ago been put to rest. There is no way you can support a wife and 6 kids delivering sandwiches at the neighborhood deli, these people are soaking up welfare, food stamps, section 8 and any other free money they can find.
I can barely support my one child on my salary so how on earth can they support 5-6 kids without free government aid. Throw the bums out!!
I am nothing if not a contrary rationalist. The United States is suffering from a decline in the ratio of workers to retirees as the baby boomers retire. This fact is placing a heavy burden on Social Security and Medicare. One way to mitigate this trend is to allow young hard working people to immigrate and attain citizenship. Here is a group of people who grew up here, who were educated here, who speak English. We need these people working and paying taxes in support of our retirees. It's foolish to stand on questions of legal purity, wring hands over their ethnicity or political preference. If you have a diploma and a job or if you are college-bound. If you have never been in trouble with the law... I say stay and become what you already think you are... American.
odumbo with his fiat about the "children" just opened the door to mexico, soon we will be the United States of Mexico and the drug cartels will love this. Odumbo wants a 2nd term to destroy the country even more than he has already. We need to build "The Great Wall of America", it will put thousands upon thousands of "Legal" Americans back to work in many fields. Make the wall 20 ft into the ground and 30/40 feet high about12/14 feet wide with sensors in the ground to detect any tunnels being built, if there are sink a tube into it and let the gas flow. This will then become a tourist attraction again putting more money into government coffers, stopping "ILLEGALS, and drugs form coming into our country. My sister in law is tex-mex and her family has been here for over 5 generations, she get pissed because illegal get what she and my brother can not get as legal Americans. They do not want to learn English, they want us to learn spanish, and I blame this on our government for not making ENGLISH the language of the country and even more odumbo because when he was elected he made a speech and told us we need to learn spanish. We the legal Americans are getting tired of all the Illegals and if the government won't allow the states to do what they need to curb it you might just see a revolt by the legals.
it's very simple. If people and companies here didn't hire them, they wouldn't be here.
OOPS. Made a type. This is beyond stupid, not studid.
You want to be treated like "everyone else", BECOME A CITIZEN!! You want the rights and freedoms that citizens of the US enjoy? BECOME A CITIZEN!! Otherwise, you have no legal rights, because you aren't here legally!! WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND????? WHY AREN'T THESE PEOPLE BEING ROUNDED UP AND DEPORTED??? AND WHAT KIND OF CITIZENS CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO BE, IF THEY HAVE NOT RESPECT FOR THE GOVERNMENT NOW????
Obama is one gigantic coward.
He is afraid of the chinese.
He is afraid of the illegals in this nation.
He is afraid to stop congress's war mongering.
He is afraid to stand up to the repugs and use his power of veto, all the while the repubs are stalling everything he is trying to do, which actually amounts to nothing.
Obama got my vote once, but he will not get it a 2nd time around, he has lied and disappointed me enough, not another 4 years of this coward in office.
Hell, he won't even enforce our laws.
Makes me sick!! That's why we need to get obama out of office!!!
US non-enforcement of immigration long precedes the Obama administration.
Bush didnt either and mostly for the same reasons: poiltics and the power of Business.
The problem IS non-enforcement though.
I am a liberal and I support Obama.
However: I will say this:
Immigration laws need to be enforced and everyone on that bus should be detained for deportation.
You should also remember that it is Big and Small business who have the ultimate ressponsibility and when states or feds start to charge the ones who EMPLOY these people, only THEN will things change.
They are robbing the US treasury, the US taxpayer and the US workes by depressing wages for all of us who work for a living.