The Dream 9

All nine were Dreamers—meaning they were brought to the U.S. without papers as children, and grew up considering it their home. Many didn’t find out they were undocumented until they were in their later teens, and were applying to college or a job without a social security number.

Six of the Dream 9 had previously left the U.S. because their situation became too difficult in the U.S, and now they wanted to get back. The other three were members of an activist group called the National Immigrant Youth Alliance. They flew into Mexico just to participate.

The nine “dreamers” used the graduation outfits to signify their desire to continue an education in the U.S and walked up to the Morley pedestrian port-of-entry in Arizona asking for asylum to re-enter.

Luis León (left) was brought to the U.S. as a child. He chose to leave in 2011 after graduating high school when he realized he had no avenue to go to college in the U.S. until the Dream 9 action.

Ceferino Santiago was 13 when he first came to the U.S. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and was in Oaxaca, Mexico, before going to the border for the Dream 9.

Claudia Amaro was 12 years old when her parents brought her to the U.S. She grew up in Colorado and California before moving to Kansas at 19.

María Inés Peniche was 10 years old when she was brought to Revere, Massachusetts. She left the U.S. and moved to Mexico City. That’s where she was when she got the call about the Dream 9.

Lizbeth Mateo was 14 years old when she was brought to the United States from Mexico. She lived in Los Angeles for many years. She then spent time in Oaxaca, Mexico, before she chose to leave the U.S. to participate in the Dream 9 action.

Lulu Martínez grew up in Chicago after she was brought to the U.S. as a three-year-old. She was in Mexico City before going to Nogales to become part of the Dream 9.

Marco Saavedra was 23 years old when he decided to return to Mexico for the Dream 9. He was brought to the U.S. when he was three years old and his family lives in New York City.

Adriana Díaz was four months old when she was brought to the U.S. She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and voluntarily returned to Mexico about a year before the Dream 9 took place.

Mario Félix was 23 at the time of the Dream 9. He joined what would have been the Dream 8 at the last minute. This photo was taken in 2013, when the entire Dream 9 was released from detention.