Actor Who Came Out As Undocumented Is Fighting For Hollywood To Stand With DACA

Earlier this year, the Trump administration rolled back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era government program that would shield people from deportation if they arrived in the United States as children without the proper documents. The program will end, unless Congress decides to act.

Stories have mostly looked at how DACA student recipients are having a difficult time concentrating on their studies, worrying if they will be able to finish their degrees.

Now, an actor with a familiar face and voice has recently revealed his immigration status. Earlier this week, Bambadjan Bamba — who stars in NBC's The Good Place and will be in the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther — announced he is undocumented and a DACA recipient.

People on social media have begun to show support, posting messages of solidarity reading #StandWithBamba. Bamba is working with Define American, an immigration advocacy organization to place pressure on Hollywood to act in favor of saving DACA.

Bamba spoke with NPR's Michel Martin regarding his immigration status and how DACA has helped him. He is relieved to have come out about his status, but he says, "it comes with consequences."

"I don't know if I'm going to be here or if I'm going to be separated from my family," he says. "I'm a young father now, I have a 1-year-old. I can't be in fear anymore. It's liberating but I'm ready for the fight."

Interview Highlights

On what made him come out as undocumented

When the administration decided they wanted to cancel DACA, I just knew I couldn't sit back anymore and had to join the fight. I just wanted people to know what my immigration status is.

DACA that gave me the work permit to continue working. As we know, we need congressional action right now, or else my status and the status of 800,000 people is going to be in limbo.

On his personal journey as an undocumented immigrant

I came when I was 10 with my parents from Ivory Coast and we were fleeing political persecution. What I do remember is as a kid, we were filing for political asylum. So when I tried to go to college and wanted to become an actor, I realized I couldn't get any financial aid. So that's when I had the conversation with my parents and then they told me. And I was like: 'Oh my god. What am I going to do? Am I going to pursue my dream?'

But I just knew in my heart that it was my purpose to be an actor. So I drove cabs in New York City, hustled, hustled, hustled — all the way to the point where I am today.

On working as an actor with an undocumented status

It's challenging. As an actor the hardest part is booking the role. But for me, I was living with this shame, this fear, this anxiety of being undocumented with an uncertain future. So that is an overwhelming weight you have to carry, on top of trying to be the character and booking a role. Sometimes you book a role and you have to travel, and you're not sure how you're going to come back.

So this whole [campaign] is really to get Hollywood to stand behind immigrants, there are immigrants working at every level in the industry. I just want Hollywood — the studios, people with influence — to stand with us right now because it's so critical.

On how it feels now that his immigration status is out in the open

There's this relief, like: Thank God, I was almost crumbling under this weight. At the same time, it comes with consequences. I do not know if I'm going to continue working at Hollywood, I have no idea. Next year, DACA will end if Congress doesn't pass the legislation. So I don't know if I'm going to be here or if I'm going to be separated from my family. I'm a young father now, I have a 1-year-old. I can't be in fear anymore. It's liberating but I'm ready for the fight.

On how he responds to those who think he does not belong in the U.S.

I'm not expecting anything than what this country has promised me, that I have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So one, it wasn't my decision to come. Two, because the system is so broken and it took so long — eventually when the asylum was approved, I had to be left out because I was older than 21 — to me that doesn't make sense.

America decided to give us a chance, give the Dreamers a chance when Obama passed DACA. And now [Dreamers] have shown that we've gone above and beyond.

And now to say: 'Ok well, you went above and beyond but we're going to take that away from you' — it's unfair. It's not what I believe America is. I believe most Americans, most of my friends, people in my industry want the DREAM Act to pass, want DACA, and want to have a real solution.

You can see Bamba in a recurring role on NBC's The Good Place and in the upcoming film, Black Panther.

NPR Digital News intern Jose Olivares produced this story for the Web.

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