We have all suffered a tragic loss this week in the untimely
passing of “Dreamer” Joaquin Luna. Joaquin was an 18-year old senior at Juarez Lincoln
High School in Mission, Texas. He
had aspirations of going to college and becoming an engineer so that he could
improve his family’s life. Because
of the failure of the Dream Act to pass in Congress almost one year ago,
Joaquin had lost hope. On Friday,
November 25 around 9 p.m., he dressed up in a suit and tie, kissed his family,
and shot himself in the restroom with a small handgun. Joaquin left suicide letters
indicating that he was troubled by his immigration status. In the words of his mother, Santa Lerma
Mendoza, “He was saying he was going to do this because he wasn’t going to be
able to continue with his college.”
May we all pause to reflect upon this terrible tragedy and
ask God for ways that we can support the Luna-Mendoza family and dignify the
memory of Joaquin Luna.
Robert Chao Romero
Assistant Professor
UCLA Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies and Asian
American Studies
We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”
We append the following disclaimer on all posts: “Please note that the views expressed by guest bloggers represent their own personal views, and not necessarily those of everyone associated with Loving the Stranger or any institutions with which the blogger may be affiliated.”
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