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Jessica Colotl

Civil Action • Human Rights Leaders

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.

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    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

    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.

    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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