Jessica Colotl

Stories
Jessica Colotl

Jessica Colotl
Immigration Activist
Puebla, Mexico - Atlanta, GA

A Mexican student who migrated to the US seeking the American dream with her family when she was ten, she was discovered to be an undocumented immigrant when stopped by police in Georgia, arrested, detained at a deportation facility in Alabama. Involuntarily thrust into activism, she has since graduated from college and plans to attend law school with a focus on immigration law.

In Mexico With Her Family

White was crowned Miss Albany State in the fall of 1961, but was forced to decide between accepting the title and its accompanying scholarship or continuing her involvement as a civil rights activist. White chose to help end segregation, a decision that led to her suspension and eventual expulsion from Albany State University as well as the loss of her Miss Albany State crown.

PRESS CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA

Colotl speaks to reporters at a press conference in Atlanta on May 14, 2010, shortly after a jury found her guilty of driving without a license. Colotl’s case ignited a national debate over immigration reform that continues today.

ARIZONA PROTEST

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

Colotl and her lawyer listen to the proceedings of her case in court in October 2011.

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

Colotl sitting in a Georgia courtroom in October 2011 before her case is called. Jailed in 2010, she was turned over by local police to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Although her deportation was delayed, it remains a possibility.

DREAM ACT RALLY

Demonstrators rally in support of the DREAM Act, proposed legislation that would protect undocumented immigrants from deportation who came to the United States as minors with their parents. With her national profile, Colotl helped campaign for the DREAM Act in 2010.

COLOTL’S MUG SHOT

Jessica Colotl’s mug shot after her arrest in 2010 for driving without a license and impeding traffic. Her detention set in motion a series of events that changed her life. Once in the system, Colotl worried she would be deported back to Mexico, ending her dream of graduating from college. Instead, she became a high-profile symbol and advocate for immigration reform.

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

Colotl made attending college a priority, despite the roadblocks necessary to overcome her undocumented status. She enrolled at Kennesaw State University, a school outside of Atlanta, in the fall of 2006. She graduated in May 2011 after her college career was interrupted by her incarceration.

COLOTL’S DIPLOMA

Colotl graduated from Lakeside High School in Atlanta in 2006. Recognizing the importance of education, she worked hard to make sure her grades and test scores would allow her to pursue her dream of attending college despite her immigration status. Receiving her diploma made her feel like she “had conquered the world…because I could have just given up.”

IN THE SIXTH GRADE

Sixth-grader Colotl walking to school shortly after arriving in the United States. Because she could not speak English, Colotl’s transition was difficult, but by working hard she learned to adapt to her new surroundings.

WITH FAMILY AT A PARTY

Colotl (far left) with her mother, father and siblings. Colotl’s parents worked long hours at multiple jobs in order to support their family.

WITH HER FAMILY

Colotl (far left) with her mother, father and siblings. Colotl’s parents worked long hours at multiple jobs in order to support their family.

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Jessica Colotl

In Mexico With Her Family

PRESS CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA

ARIZONA PROTEST

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

DREAM ACT RALLY

COLOTL’S MUG SHOT

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

COLOTL’S DIPLOMA

IN THE SIXTH GRADE

WITH FAMILY AT A PARTY

WITH HER FAMILY

Subscribe to Our Email List

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Jessica Colotl

In Mexico With Her Family

PRESS CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA

ARIZONA PROTEST

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

IN A GEORGIA COURTROOM

DREAM ACT RALLY

COLOTL’S MUG SHOT

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

COLOTL’S DIPLOMA

IN THE SIXTH GRADE

WITH FAMILY AT A PARTY

WITH HER FAMILY

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