Introduction to the Story

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In the days before his graduation from the Northwestern University, Bryan Cárcamo had sent his parents in California his photos wearing a black suit covered with a dredit toga and ropes of honor for the ceremony.
"They tell me how proud they are from me," he said.
Seeing Cárcamo through a screen was the closest thing that his parents could be of his graduation. When Cárcamo crossed the stage on Sunday at United Center to receive his Northwestern diploma, they were not in the crowd.

The Reason Behind Their Absence

His parents, who have been living in California without legal status, received notifications to appear in the immigration court in April and were placed in expulsion processes. Since then, Cárcamo said his family has lived in a state of crisis.
His mother and father, who are not being appointed due to their pending case, were authorized to remain in their home in Compton, in Los Angeles County, while the expulsion processes continue. Immigration arrests widely publicized in Los Angeles that caused days of protests throughout the country have increased their fear of being deported to Mexico after living in the United States for more than 25 years.

The Student’s Efforts

In Evanston, Cárcamo has spent his last weeks in Northwestern finishing a 100-page thesis, while also becoming a defender of his parents and tries to navigate through the complex immigration laws of the country. California flew to be with them during their first appearance in the immigration court.
"I spent so much time investigating what the expulsion processes are, what is a notification of appearance, what is the cancellation of expulsion," Cárcamo said.
He also launched a Gofundme page to raise funds to combat deportations. Until this note, there were more than $25,000 collected.

Support from the Community

The Latin exumnos of the Northwestern University have joined him, sharing Gofundme campaign with their contacts, and the members in California are trying to coordinate a graduation visualization party, said Daniel Flores, co-president of the group. The group was trying to find a way to carry out the party without getting too much attention due to the increase in the arrests of the United States immigration and customs control service (ICE).
After knowing about Cárcamo’s family, Flores said it seems unacceptable that they cannot attend graduation.
"For many of us, alumni, those are some of the most proud moments of our life, to have our parents who gave us so many different things, all the sacrifices in so many different ways and that they see us crossing the stage in an institution that was not created with us in mind," Flores said.

The Student’s Future Plans

Cárcamo studied political sciences and Latin studies in Northwestern, and is considering the law school or a doctoral program. In a biography published by the office of the president of Northwestern, many of his achievements are detailed during his four years there, ranging from the Mellon Mays undergraduate scholarship to the Posse summer leadership award. He spent his summers doing practices in non-profit organizations that work with immigrants.
His parents have never stepped on the Northwestern campus because they feared that traveling put them at risk of deportation even before President Donald Trump began his second term, he said.
In Mexico, his parents’ education was limited to primary school for his mother and high school for his father, he said. His experience of living without legal status has influenced the type of work that Cárcamo wishes to perform after graduation.
"I am very interested in immigration right, so that is what my research has focused," he said. "If I decided to obtain a JD (Doctorate in Law) or go to the Law School, I would like to be an immigration lawyer, specifically to defend the most vulnerable undocumented immigrants who face deportations, which do not have the resources to hire lawyers."

Conclusion

The celebration is what keeps us standing," Flores said. "It is the reason we fight, and it is the ultimate goal."
After graduation, Cárcamo planned to fly back to California anticipating the next hearing of his parents in the immigration court, while he also finds out the next steps of his career.
"There are no words to describe what is happening," he said. "I really don’t think it’s fair for families throughout the country to be together, not only in graduations, but in everyday life."

FAQs

Q: What is the main reason for Cárcamo’s parents’ absence from his graduation?
A: Cárcamo’s parents are facing deportation and are in the process of expulsion, which has made it difficult for them to attend his graduation.
Q: How has Cárcamo been supporting his parents?
A: Cárcamo has been investigating the expulsion processes, launched a Gofundme page to raise funds, and has been a defender of his parents.
Q: What are Cárcamo’s future plans?
A: Cárcamo is considering law school or a doctoral program and wants to become an immigration lawyer to defend undocumented immigrants.
Q: How has the community been supporting Cárcamo?
A: The Latin exumnos of the Northwestern University have joined him in sharing the Gofundme campaign and are trying to coordinate a graduation visualization party.