DREAMers are undocumented youth meant to be protected under the DREAM Act, which is legislative proposal that offers conditional permanent residency to certain immigrants who: arrived in the United States as minors; live in the country continuously for five years; maintain good moral character; and graduated from college. Jorge Gutiérrez, one of the latest additions to the Brooklyn Nets, is a DREAMer and was once one of the 11,700,000+ undocumented citizens dwelling in the United States. Now, the student, who survived severe poverty in Denver, has just signed a 10-day contract with the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.

Gutiérrez, 25, left his native Chihuahua, Mexico when he was 16 years old in order to pursue his passion, basketball. Dedicated to the cause, Gutiérrez travelled to the United States, roomed with three other undocumented Mexican students in a one bedroom hovel in Denver without his parents, while confronting abrupt racism and poverty.

"I wish I could have stayed in Mexico longer; I wish I could have been a kid longer. But I had to move on," Gutiérrez told Sports Illustrated in 2011.

When engaging in high school games, he was mocked for speaking Spanish; confronted by anti-immigrant protestors who clutched signs and chanted racist language.

Chicanos / Mexican-Americans were also among demonstrators, convinced that Gutiérrez was stealing resources away from their children. He persisted, despite health concerns and confrontations from spectators, and he was able to gain multiple victories --including state championships, and a basketball scholarship to UC Berkeley with a student visa, where he proved himself a vital player.

Gutiérrez was undrafted during the 2012 NBA draft, and then joined the Denver Nuggets for the 2012 NBA Summer League. Later that year, he auditioned for Partizan of Serbia, but joined Pioneros de Quintana Roo of Mexico, though he left after only ten games. He was acquired by the Canton Charge in November of that year; then, signed with the Brooklyn Nets on September 30, 2013; was re-acquired by the Canton Charge during November; and signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets on March 6 of this year.

While he was a part of the Canton Charge, he appeared in 35 games (all starts), averaging 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists (tied for third in the D-League) and 1.2 steals in 32.7 minutes per game. And, when he was signed to the Nets' training camp roster, he appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, before being waived on Oct. 26.

Horacio Llamas, Eduardo Nájera, and Gustavo Ayón precede Gutiérrez as Mexican players in the NBA, making Gutiérrez the fourth. According to the NBA, Gutiérrez will wear #13 for Brooklyn.

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