All Videos | Dreamers Adrift

The Bad Jotos Club: Ep. 2 (Privilege Unchecked) 2/3

Six queers. One house. See what happens when six hella problematic queer boys get together to try and pass immigration reform. You’re at the Bad Jotos house now! Part 2 of 3.

The Bad Jotos Club: Ep. 2 (Privilege Unchecked) 1/3

Six queers. One house. See what happens when six hella problematic queer boys get together to try and pass immigration reform. You’re at the Bad Jotos house now! Part 1 of 3.

Undocumented and Awkward: Enlisted Man

Written by Luis Serrano, featuring Isaac Barrera and Jose Sanchez. Problem Addicts. They are all around us. As young fellas growing up in inner city working class communities, a figure that always dotted our horizon as a possible prospect to escape our situation was that of the military recruiter bearing false promises. They would approach [...]

UndocuBreakUp Lines

Sometimes, try as you may, things don’t work out. (Featured by ColorLines here: “This Valentine’s Day, Dump Your Boo the Undocumented Way“)

Undocumented & Awkward: Season 1 (Blooper Reel)

“We’re just human beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeings.”

An impromptu and impeccable performance by Julio, recorded at 3am after a session of shit talking over Ruben Navarrette’s pieces on DREAMers. The format of this piece was inspired by a Nicki Minaj video, entitled “Bossing Up”: Julio is a big fan of Nicki, and has a tendency of quickly adopting catch phrases (“I’m just [...]

The Legalities of Being

written by Yosimar Reyes My grandmother has never used the word “undocumented” to describe her existence. In fact growing up she never taught me about limitations. Most of the folks on my block share this similar experience so there was no dialogue around our status in this country. We all knew where to get fake [...]

E.S.L. – Dreams

I’ve been listenin’ to hella Panamanian records lately. This is an entire Hermanos Duncan production, straight from a record I found (with a clip of The Mozambiques at the end… fucking HEATER track). That groove. What? How can one NOT feel swayed by that sound? This song is kinda… a testament and a reminder of [...]

“I Wanna Be A Citizen” (music video)

This was a fun video shoot. First and foremost, Krsna and Beto got raps. Raps for days. And Ju? WOO!! Who fucking knew? Second: I’ve never heard the original song. Guess I’m pretty out of touch with what’s happening out in the music world. When I first heard this parody joint, I thought it was [...]

UndocuCribs: Episode 2

Dreamers Adrift pays a visit to an Undocupation in Culver City, California, staged by a few NIYA members. As they tour us through their occupation setup, hilarity ensues. But the idea and the reasoning behind their sit-in is a far graver and urgent one. A few hours after this footage was filmed and edited, news [...]

Silhouettes

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 13

A little over a month ago, Julio and I were conducting a small presentation to a group of students about building a narrative, creating media, and addressing intersectionalities in our experiences. Inevitably, a young lady raised her hand and asked shyly, “Why are there no women in your videos?” It’s a question that we, within [...]

UndocuCribs

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 12

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 11

The idea for this video came on the BART very late at night, on the way back to the East Bay from a night of debauchery and a gluttonous intake of tacos in the Mission district. Catherine (from ASPIRE) rode with Julio and me, and we chatted about painfully discomforted situations of our past. Catherine [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 10

When I was in high school, I had a huge crush on a young lady who had bravely started the first LGTBQ support organization in our school (this was back in 1999-2000). She was smart, strong, beautiful, very compassionate, and she didn’t exactly identify as gay. I thought that I just might have a [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 9

… or “Shit White Racist Girls from Arizona Say”

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 8

Sometimes, they’re allies. Sometimes, they’re DREAMers as well.

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 7

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 6

“In the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community, it is very challenging to come out as an undocumented immigrant. Many times, even our own immediate family members perpetuate the “shame” of being undocumented by keeping us silent and in the shadows. This may even go to the extent where our own cousins won’t know about our [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 5

First dates are always awkward. We don’t really know why humans do it. Maybe it’s the romanticized versions that poems and novelists have sold us for centuries. We blame “Garden State.” Whatever the reason behind such strange act, we all do it. Straight, gay, trans, bi, I guess we’re all looking for that person that [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 4

Many “lucky” undocumented folks happen to score office jobs. Finally, a crappy job that doesn’t involve the possibility of stabbing yourself with a kitchen knife or accidently breathing poison. Sure, it might involve serving coffee to a cruel boss or doing mind-numbing data entry, but if you’ve ever had to wash dishes for a living [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 3

As undocumented people, we’re often presented with circumstances in which we try our best to maintain our status out of the conversation. In this episode, we present a moment of awkwardness that many of us have gone through. We’re confronted by old friends (who have obviously moved on with their lives), and in order to [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 2

You’ve been there. Just looking the other way pretending you don’t recognize that old high school or college classmate. Then you guys lock eyes and bang, awkward. It’s not so much the weight you’ve gained. Or the gray hair that has sparkled around the sides of your head. It’s the circumstances that has led you [...]

Undocumented and Awkward: Episode 1

As undocumented immigrants living in this country, there are many instances in our lives which result in awkwardness not experienced by American citizens. Things that millions of others take for granted, such as driving to the grocery store or the ability to go to a bar to enjoy a nice cold beer after a long [...]

Jesus Goes On Trial

Here we have an impromptu moment captured by Mr. Aragon as Mr. Azul takes Jesus to trial for being undocumented, a college graduate, and for being “bad for the environment”. Hilarity ensues.

President Obama: Administrative Relief Now

While President Obama continues to claim his support for the passage of the DREAM Act, over a million undocumented immigrants have been deported under his administration (more than any other president in the same amount of time), and countless DREAMers continue to be arrested and placed in deportation proceedings. What we want is simple: we [...]

Scenes and Sounds From the 9-5-11Wilmington Labor Day Parade

On the last day of the Dream Summer, 102 DREAMers jumped on two buses and made their way down to Wilmington (California) to march in solidarity with Union workers and laborers all from throughout Southern California. Having been there, I must say that it was a beautiful thing to have marched with a hundred other [...]

10 Years and Counting

“Three of us got invites to attend our 10 year high school reunion this year. And it got us thinking about what we would say to our fellow peers whom we graduated alongside so many years ago, many whom are well underway in nurturing careers and supporting their own families. How could they possibly understand [...]

Why?

“When I read hateful words towards the immigrant community, or any community, I can’t help but feel sad for my fellow human beings. I always wonder what life this person has led that would nurture in them such anger and resentment. It’s as if by merely existing, we’re robbing them of something; jobs, education, money [...]

Education Not Deportation! (A Quick Guide)

Our good friends at United We Dream (http://unitedwedream.org) have begun working on a new campaign to help DREAMers currently undergoing the deportation process. They have even partnered with AILA (http://www.aila.org) to provide pro-bono legal support!! If you’re undocumented and dealing with a deportation notice, please consider filling out an application here: http://unitedwedream.org/educationnotdeportationend. All you other [...]

E.S.L. In Los Angeles

“Dealing with city life and the everyday hustle can be frustrating and can oftentimes dampen inspiration. But we gotta keep moving, must continue creating with love and hope. In my case, I rap it out… ’cause if I don’t, I might just snap. Peace to all my L.A. DREAMers.” -Jesus

Dear Obama

A few words to you, Mr. President. Didn’t mean to come off so short and frustrated with ya. We know that you’ve got a lot on your plate. But try and see it our way. We want to see some action and movements coming directly from you. If you truly mean what you say, you’ll [...]

Legalized Fernando!

During one of our video shoots, Fernando finds a very special and important life-altering envelope in his mailbox.

United We Manifest

Another lunchtime rap in the car, courtesy of Jesus. “This is a flow that I wrote on the way up to Sacramento not that long ago. I got into a crammed bus full of DREAMers, and we made a journey through the night to arrive at our state’s capitol to lobby for the California DREAM [...]

The Science of DREAM (2,0)

Redone and re-touched for film festival. Special thank to www.giftedandblessed.com for music.

The Wall of DREAMs

Between March 5th and 6th, Julio drew nearly 100 portraits of the many participants/attendees at the United We Dream congress in Memphis, Tennessee. We want to thank everyone who participated, everyone who shared their stories with us, and special thanks to the U.W.D. team who provided the means and space to make this video happen.

To All My DREAMheads

Jesus spits a lunchtime rap, DREAM Act representin’!! Sorry about the sound quality towards the end! Recording a rap in the car while driving around is probably not a very good idea. ::.A verse for all my peoples, DREAMers and non-DREAMers, allies and haters. I’m thinkin’ a lot of people feel the way I do.There’s [...]

50 Miles to Santa Ana

Sunday, February 20th, 2011. A 50 mile urban odyssey from the streets of Los Angeles, down the San Gabriel River Trail, onto the streets of Westminster, and finally into Santa Ana. 80+ DREAMers pedaled forth in solidarity and in demonstration for the CA State and Federal DREAM Act. My sincerest apologies for the Blair Witch [...]

On Relationships, Marriage Proposals, and Being Undocumented

Inspired by DTLA’s “Undocumented Love” panel (from Dec. 16th, 2010), Dreamers Adrift discuss some experiences and challenges they face being in relationships with American citizens and undocumented significant others.

Dear Senators: DREAM Act 2011

So 2010 didn’t end with a collective DREAM coming true. But the movement breathes! Each year, we come closer and closer to realizing our goal. Last year, a fistful of senators stood between us and the finish line. But they don’t understand that this isn’t a game. We’re determined. The DREAM Act is coming. All [...]

DREAMwalking

DREAMers don’t just dream, they manifest. In spite of whatever obstacles we face, we manage to wake up every morning, ready to face our realities head-on, walking on a tight rope between REM cycles of reality and nightmare. It’s a balancing act of grace, wits, guts, fears, and dreams. But we’re ready.

Make Those Calls In Support of The DREAM Act

Shout out to all the DREAMers and allies across the nation, waking up in the wee hours of the morning to make some phone calls, spending evenings in call centers, putting forth an amazing effort to realize this DREAM of ours. Keep making those phone calls! Hasta la victoria!

The Science of DREAM

A dance between undocumented youth and the federal DREAM Act that’s lasted for the past 10 years. It’s been a long decade. Please call your senators and press for a vote in favor of the DREAM Act this lame duck season. Us DREAMers are counting on you.

E.S.L.

May 27th, 2007. CSULB Chicano-Latino Graduation. c/o ’07. Jesus speaks in all his nervousness.

Julio’s DREAM Act Drawing Frenzy

*note: We know that a lot of college graduates nowadays experience months of uncertainty post-graduation as they continue to search and work their way towards prospective career choices. But our point in this video is that these are our ONLY prospects for the present and future. That is, until the DREAM Act passes.

Dia de los Sueños

November 2, 2010: For many folks, it’s Día de los Muertos, but for us DREAMers, with elections happening, it’s become a day filled with hope and faith. If you’re registered to vote, go out there and make your vote count. Us undocumented folks are counting on you.