Articles

On Friday, November 18, 2005 a bipartisan group of senators officially introduced S. 2075, the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act,” of 2005. The “DREAM Act” gives hope and opportunity to a generation of hard-working Hispanic youth who grew up in the United States.

Members of the Líderes network have been particularly active in their support of the “DREAM Act.” Among individuals who have spoken out are four Phoenix-area students from Carl Hayden Community High School: Cristian Arcega, Luis Aranda, Lorenzo Santillan, and Oscar Vasquez. They gained national recognition for winning first place – over MIT – at the 2004 Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s Remotely Operated Vehicle Competition. Even with their proven abilities, these students cannot enroll in some of the top engineering universities in the country. They were brought to this country undocumented by their parents as children.

Undocumented students qualify for neither in-state tuition to public colleges nor for most federal education grants and loans. Many must rely on private scholarships and jobs to help pay their way through college. Since the four Carl Hayden students are not legal residents or citizens, they have been effectively excluded from obtaining college educations. These four promising students have become symbols of a national campaign in support of the legislation. They spoke to NCLR Líderes Summit participants at a rally for the “DREAM Act” in July 2005 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Another member of the Líderes network, Angelly Cardenas,of Nyack College, New Jersey recently wrote a letter to the editors of her local paper, The Record. Angelly called “on all political representatives of New Jersey to take action in passing the ‘DREAM Act’ and to allow these students to pay in-state tuition because this state is as much theirs as it is ours.” She participated in the 2005 NCLR Líderes Summit in Philadelphia and was a Lideres Town Hall panelist. Angelly sought to get the New Jersey Student Adjustment Act passed so that undocumented students brought over by illegal parents, who have the potential, will be able to go to college receiving in state tuition. To get support for this bill, Angelly formed “Students with a Dream” to advocate for this bill.


If enacted, the “DREAM Act” would transform the lives of many young people who were brought to the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. It will apply to undocumented children who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16, who have earned a high school diploma, and who have stayed out of trouble since their arrival. For such individuals who have grown up in the U.S. and are graduating from high school, the “DREAM Act” would provide the ability to apply for six years of “conditional” legal immigration status, which would be made permanent if they continue on to college or serve in the military.

Introduction of the “DREAM Act” comes at a time when the broader immigration debate in the country is becoming more and more politicized and contentious. “DREAM-Act” supporters argue that it deserves to be considered on its own, regardless of other immigration issues. It will have a far bigger impact on education, fairness to children, and American competitiveness than on immigration to this country. Young people facing high school graduation and major decisions about college or work should not have to wait until Congress decides on the rest of the complex immigration debate. Congress should act now and take these young people off of the immigration battlefield. The “DREAM Act” will become law if passed by Congress and signed by the President before the end of 2006.

Action Alert
The senators who sponsored this legislation will be targeted by anti-immigrant lobbyists and their vocal supporters. It is essential to balance such oppositional abuse with expressions of appreciation from those who care about the young people who will benefit from the “DREAM Act.” Please act now to thank the “DREAM-Act” sponsors.
http://capwiz.com/nclr/issues/alert/?alertid=8262911


Reintroduction of DREAM Act http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/35158/