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WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the DREAM
Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) was
introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Richard Lugar (R-IN),
Russell Feingold (D-WI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
Joe Lieberman (I- CT), Mel Martinez (R-FL), and Harry Reid (D-NV) in the
Senate and Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Joseph Cao (R-LA), John
Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart
(R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Devin Nunez (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO),
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in the House
of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation addresses the
situation faced by young people who were brought to the United States
years ago as undocumented immigrant children, and who have since grown
up here but are being denied the ability to fully contribute to society.
The DREAM Act would provide certain undocumented youth
conditional legal status and eventual citizenship, if they attend
college or join the military. It would also allow immigrant
students access to higher education by returning to states the authority
to determine who qualifies for in-state tuition. "This critical
piece of legislation makes it possible for many deserving young people
to realize their dream of a college education," said Marielena Hincapié,
executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, "and thereby
contribute to the future of this country."
For the first time since it was first introduced in
2001, the DREAM Act enjoys strong backing of House and Senate
leadership, all of the relevant committee chairs and President Obama,
who was an original sponsor of the legislation when he was in the
Senate.
NILC commends the strong leadership shown by Senators
Durbin and Lugar and Representatives Berman, Diaz-Balart and
Roybal-Allard. "To be competitive in today's global economy,
America depends on an educated and skilled population," said Adey
Fisseha, interim federal policy director of NILC. "The DREAM Act
realizes the benefit of having a more multicultural, multilingual U.S.
workforce. We urge the House and Senate to pass the DREAM Act and
President Obama to sign this important bill into law," added Fisseha.
To contact immigrant students or educators who are
involved in this issue, or for more information, please contact
Adey Fisseha, NILC's interim
federal policy director (phone 202-216-0261 x. 403).
-
Press statement by
Rep. Howard Berman
- Floor statement by
Rep. Howard Berman
- Press statement by
Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Richard Lugar
- Press statement by
Sen. Harry Reid
THE TESTIMONIALS included
here relate the daily
challenges and inspirational life experiences of undocumented youth who
were brought to the U.S. when they were children. They were
collected from actual students by
Dreamactivist.org and are available at
http://dreamactivist.org/our-stories.
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