U.S.-born K-A Serving Immigrants
January 28, 2005
NEW YORK — Young Sook Na clocks in eight-hour days as program director of the Queens-based Young Korean American Service and Education Consortium, but oftentimes work forces her to stay much longer.
This year, the consortium has a lot on its plate and is girding for what it sees as an intense battle with conservative politicians in Congress and the White House over the issue of immigrants’ rights.
The taciturn Na is a 24-year-old Queens resident with model-like cheekbones and visions for the Korean American community that belie her quiet demeanor. Although the nonprofit organization did not endorse any candidate last November, Na is not shy about her disappointment regarding the election’s result. “Bush hasn’t done anything for the immigrant community, and he has had no response to the DREAM Act,” she said.
Na was referring to the bill that would let students pay in-state tuition for college and eventually earn their citizenship status even if their parents are illegal immigrants. The DREAM Act has bipartisan support but not the support of President Bush. APIA Vote considers the bill a primary concern in the Korean American community.
YKASEC also keeps busy holding educational forums on tax returns, city elections and housing issues. For the last elections, the group spearheaded New York City’s first Korean American voter database using information from the Board of Elections. The group, which is run by just seven people, called those on the database and urged them to vote. This caused a 50 percent increase in Korean American voter turnout compared to the 2000 elections.
“I’m really proud to be working at YKASEC,” Na said. “The job makes me tired, but it makes me realize I’m part of American society.”
Na emigrated from Seoul with her family when she was 12. She graduated from college with a degree in accounting but didn’t pursue the field further. “I grew up here in the U.S, but,” she paused, “immigration issues are my issues.”
This year, they are also many politicians’ issues. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is expected to reintroduce an intelligence bill that would set strong security standards for issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Sensenbrenner had said that the provision would stop terrorists from obtaining official U.S. identification. Na’s co-worker, program coordinator Ju Bum, called the provision a “hot issue” this year.
“Since 9-11, national security has become an ideology that destroys human rights,” he said. “Immigrants are treated like terrorists. 2005 is not going to be so easy for us.”
Perhaps the challenge is what keeps the organization going. Na said community feedback keeps her going. Recently, she has been translating letters immigrants received from the Department of Motor Vehicles. According to Na, Koreans sometimes use their middle names and other times omit them when filling out certain applications in English. When the DMV spots these inconsistencies, it sends out letters requiring drivers to bring another form of identification to the department or risk having their licenses revoked.
“If you serve the immigrants, they come back to say ‘thank you,’ but it’s nothing for us to help them translate,” Na said. “Living in the U.S. as an immigrant is a difficult challenge. I am just one person who can help them face this challenge.”
Empowering the Korean American Community
The Young Korean American Service and Education Consortium (YKASEC) is an affiliate of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NKASEC). Affiliate offices are in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Started in 1984, YKASEC’s main goal is to advocate for immigrants’ rights in the Korean American community with a special emphasis on serving new immigrants and low-income residents.
For more information, visit www.ykasec.org.
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