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Standing up against Immigration Laws

Manuel Guerra Casas (left), pictured in his South Fork High School Junior ROTC uniform. Despite being able to join the military as a result of his undocumented status, he continued to encourage his fellow trainees. 'My encouragement to them was that you guys can do it. You guys can accomplish your dreams. You guys have everything here so go, study, and I'll serve,' he said.

ALEX BOERNER / alex.boerner@scripps.com

Manuel Guerra Casas (left), pictured in his South Fork High School Junior ROTC uniform. Despite being able to join the military as a result of his undocumented status, he continued to encourage his fellow trainees. "My encouragement to them was that you guys can do it. You guys can accomplish your dreams. You guys have everything here so go, study, and I'll serve," he said.

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  • Manuel Guerra Casas, 27, came to the United States at the age of 16 with the intention of working for a couple of years to save up enough money to go to college and seminary school in Mexico. 10 years later, he is still in the United States, living in Indiantown, and is active in the effort to bring about immigration reform. He learned English and completed high school in 2006 but cannot continue his education because of his legal status. 'I'm just a person, a human being who is trying to be a better person every day,' says Guerra. He has been in deportation proceedings since 2006.
  • Santos Sapon, 25, left, and Manuel Guerra Casas, 26, walk down Federal Highway Friday afternoon in Hobe Sound with the group of people walking from Miami to Washington DC as part of the Trail of Dreams project. Casas, an undocumented resident living in Indiantown, was forced to withdraw from Kaplan University and was denied scholarships at a seminary. He is currently involved in a legal case that could result in his deportation.
  • Manuel Guerra Casas (left), pictured in his South Fork High School Junior ROTC uniform. Despite being able to join the military as a result of his undocumented status, he continued to encourage his fellow trainees. 'My encouragement to them was that you guys can do it. You guys can accomplish your dreams. You guys have everything here so go, study, and I'll serve,' he said.
  • Manuel Guerra Casas displays an Air Force pin given to him by a recruiter at a year end Military Ball for participants in the South Fork High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Guerra recalls the ball being very emotional. The Lieutenant Colonel told Guerra's story to the crowd. 'He told everyone 'he (Guerra) really wants to join the military, but he can't. And he wishes that every one of you accomplishes that dream,' and then he started crying,' said Guerra. It was then that he was given the pin by the recruiter, telling him 'this is a symbol of your desire to serve this country,' said Guerra.
  • Manuel Guerra Casas speaks out about immigration reform at a town hall meeting organized by Florida State Representative William Snyder, R-Stuart, regarding the illigal immigration bill Snyder was crafting that had similarities to the controversial illegal immigration bill that passed in Arizona.

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