Guatemalan Runner Gets Permit to Compete in Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is the event that’s making the most buzz this Summer. Not only for it being one of the most inclusive ever, but the athletes are making sure their voices are heard. 

Guatemalan athlete Luis Grijalva’s case made headlines this week as it was announced that immigration authorities were not going to give him permission to leave the country and come back as he is a DACA recipient. His story reflects the story of thousands of Dreamers who must put their dreams on hold for the immigration system. 

Grijalva came to the US from his native Guatemala when he was one year old. He grew up in California and studied at the Northern Arizona University (NAU). His passion for athletics made him an excellent competitor, which earned him a place in the Tokyo Olympics, but his immigration status put his dreams on hold… for a second.

Grijalva broke his own record of 5,000 meters at the NCAA track and field championships last month when he crossed the finish line in 13 minutes 13.14 seconds, in this time earning a place to represent Guatemala at the Olympics.

“Even though my roots started in Guatemala, somehow I feel as American as anyone else who was born here,” Grijalva wrote on Instagram Sunday. “DACA takes away my freedom to leave the country and to be able to return.”

However, Grijalva announced in a follow-up post on his social media that immigration authorities had approved his permission to travel to Tokyo after submitting two applications to Citizenship and Immigration Services and paying $1,000 in processing fees.

When he came to the United States, he lived in New York with his parents and his two brothers before moving to Fairfield, California, it was there that he discovered his passion for sports and dedicated himself to athletics, this helped him get a scholarship to enter the University from Northern Arizona, where he won three NCAA cross country championships.

Now we’ll get to see his talent in Tokyo 2020. ¡Que viva la justicia!