Mohammad Abdollahi
My name is Mohammad Abdollahi, and I am an undocumented immigrant.
I have known for a long time that I am undocumented. I have also known, for a long time, that I cannot return to Iran, the country of my birth. There are many reasons for this- the most important of which is because America is my home- but one major reason is because I am gay. In Iran, capital punishment is the penalty for homosexuality.
After high school I worked to save enough money to pay out-of-state tuition. When I had enough community college credits to transfer, I applied to Eastern Michigan
University. I sat in the counselor’s office, handed him my transcript, and he told me, “Mohammad, you are the kind of student we want at this university.” He then handed me an acceptance letter. I was in.
I looked at this letter and thought of my mother. With this piece of paper, I could go to my mother and tell her that she didn’t have to stay up late crying anymore, that she didn’t have to blame herself anymore, that she hadn’t done her children wrong by bringing them to this country. I could tell her it was all worth it. Then, the counselor brought back his supervisor, who told me that they could not accept me because I “needed to be in a line to get in”. The counselor then reached over his desk and took my acceptance letter from me.
I left. My future was being held hostage. A short time later, the DREAM Act came up for a vote in the senate, and 44 other people decided that they too were going to hold my future hostage. Three years later, my future and many others are still being held hostage as we fight to pass the DREAM Act. Join us.
- Graduate of Washtenaw College, Associate’s Degree, Health and Human Services
- Co-‐Founder, www.DREAMActivist.org
- Co-‐Founder, ONEMichigan, Immigrant youth-led organization
Follow Mo!
Facebook: Mohammad Abdollahi
Twitter: @midreamact
Country of Origin: Iran
Current City: Ann Arbor
Age: 24
Mo!
You are brave as well as bright!
I hope to identify ways to help you, personally, as well as DREAMActivist.org.
No matter what, though, you should know that you are awesome and remarkable! You are a fine example of American courage.
Hey guys! keep it up. I am one of the 65 Fasting students from Kentucky, my prayers are with you all. I am very proud of you, you all are an inspiration and hereos for future generations. God bless you all.
You have my full support Mo. I am undocumented as well and I know perfectly well how it feels when you mentioned “holding my future hostage”. Sometimes I am so depressed that I want to kill myself, but I know if I do that those people who are holding it hostage will prevail and I won’t let that happen. Keep up the fight!!
I am the first time on this site and am really enthusiastic about and so many good articles. I think it’s just very good.
Always yours Mr. Cialis
Salaam,
I am disgusted by the comments made by American politicians that Mo should return to Iran and “fight for freedom”. NO WAY should he be returned to Iran at this time in the political climate of Iran. He would not have a “fighting chance” getting off the plane in Iran. Mo is guilty of behaving like an American; non-violently protesting what he sees as injustice; living as openly Gay, saying what he thinks. Behaving like an American when you happen not to be an “American” in America, should not be worthy of a death sentence in a free country. I have sent my govenmental representatives requests to stop any deportation of Mo.
BUT – the questions have come up – why hadn’t Mo started the process of getting a Green Card or becoming a citizen? (or has he?) Were Mo’s parents deported? Could these points be clearified? It would help making his case. If I have overlooked these things in the information about Mo, please forgive me.
My prayers are for Mo’s safety.
Hodaviz, Stan Bennett
I am proud and glad to see that we are not alone. We shall overcome. God bless