Young illegal immigrants ‘coming out’

CHICAGO – Tania Unzueta has kept a secret for more than 10 years and finally is ready to come clean: She’s an illegal immigrant.

The 26-year-old University of Illinois at Chicago graduate was among dozens of young immigrants who decided to publicly “come out” about their immigration status during protests in several states Wednesday. They hope their stories will call attention to the plight of an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. and renew calls for federal reform – even at the risk of deportation.

“It’s scary on one hand, but it’s also liberating,” said Unzueta, of Chicago, one of eight people who disclosed their immigration status at a downtown ceremony. “I feel like I’ve been hiding for so long.”

Several hundred people – holding American flags and signs that read “Undocumented and Unafraid” – observed as each of the eight took the microphone and vowed to continue telling others about their status.

Similar events were planned in Detroit, New York and at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Wednesday with others in the coming weeks in Los Angeles. Some activists dubbed Wednesday a “National Coming Out Day” and quoted gay rights activists, such as the late Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials, in their testimonies.

Experts say the public disclosure tactic is on the rise, especially among younger activists. Many have been marching, writing letters and calling legislators since the immigrant rights movement was re-energized in 2006, when more than a million people marched in cities nationwide to fight against a bill that was considered anti-immigrant.

The next step, they say, is public disclosure. Unzueta and others also hope that President Oba­ma makes good this year on his promise to tackle immigration reform.