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In Mexico with her family
Colotl (far right) with her grandfather and siblings in Mexico. Colotl's family left the town of Puebla and settled in Atlanta, Georgia.
From the collection of Jessica Colotl
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.
Associated Press
Arizona Protest
Members of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance march in protest against the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s law allowing law enforcement to ask for the papers of individuals they believe to be illegal immigrants. Colotl believes the law will force undocumented immigrants to “live in the shadows.”
Getty
In a Georgia Courtroom
Colotl and her lawyer listen to the proceedings of her case in court in October 2011.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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.
Getty
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.
Associated Press
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.
Associated Press
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...”
From the collection of Jessica Colotl
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.
From the collection of Jessica Colotl
With family at a party.
A young Jessica Colotl (far right) standing with her father, uncle, and siblings at a party.
From the collection of Jessica Colotl
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.
From the collection of Jessica Colotl