Prerna Lal created a historic national network of undocumented youth to organize for the DREAM Act and fight against deportations. A social media strategist, her pioneering use of online communications to stop deportations has become standard among organizations across the country. She is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School, and currently works as an immigration attorney.
I saw the majestic Niagara Falls for New Year in Ontario, Canada. It was cold, wet, and dreary, but so worth it. The Niagara Falls are on the list of 29 places people must see in the U.S. before they die. 2014 was a great year. I acquired license to practice law, received lawful permanent resident […]
The system cannot fail those it was never meant to protect. – W.E.B. Dubois Marissa Alexander will spend more time in prison for not killing anyone than the person who shot an unarmed, young, black man, Michael Brown. The grand jury failed to indict anyone, much less Darren Wilson. When does that ever happen? That […]
I went to bed last night mentally doing a checklist of everyone I know who qualifies and does not qualify under the President’s immigration action. As a community advocate and formerly undocumented immigrant, the word that most aptly describes last night is “bitter-sweet.” While the announcement is not enough, we do need to celebrate our […]
For more than a year now, I have worked with the grassroots movement trying to secure broad administrative relief from President Obama on immigration. I co-authored the Not1More Blue Ribbon Commission Recommendations to the President in the Spring. Just a few months ago, we were quite unpopular amongst advocates in the Beltway, who were asking […]
Like someone who has had too little of something too good, I’m savoring these posts because I don’t want it to ever end. That would mean it exists no more. I believe in savoring these moments because at the end of the day, it is all I have left of the place I call home. […]
“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ” ― Thomas Fuller Some days I just want to go somewhere where no one knows me and start over. Start over without the pain, loss, devastation, and grief that marred my journey to the United States. Start over without the trauma. The days […]
Alright, so many if you want to know how it was to be back in Fiji, what we all did, where we went, and curse us for telling you about the wonderful, life-changing times we had while we were there. We landed at Nadi International Airport on Sunday morning. The air was fresh and crisp–though […]
It’s hard to imagine how a fish can survive without water, how a plant can live without sunlight, how a human can survive without air. Actually, it is rather impossible. And I can no longer do it. I went home on August 22, 2014, for the first time in 14 years, 9 months and 9 […]
The statute of limitations on being undocumented is over. As of August 1, 2014, I am a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The actual process was easy, but that is probably because I’m an attorney. Last December, we had a 7 minute interview to prove that we had a bona-fide marriage. After that, I […]
Speaking from personal experience, I’m sensitive to the fact that many of my friends, clients, and community members are practically trapped in the United States, unable to visit their home countries, unable to see loved ones, and even attend their funerals abroad. But going back to Fiji, my home country, is all I’ve ever wanted […]
© Prerna Lal. Undacamented. Unafraid. Unapologetic.
