Posts Tagged ‘DREAM Act’
DREAM Act Re-Introduced!
Senators Richard Durbin, Harry Reid, and Robert Menendez re-introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act today. The DREAM Act would address the plight of young immigrants who have grown up in the U.S. after being brought here illegally as small children.
The DREAM Act would offer a path to legal status to those who have graduated from high school, stayed out of trouble, and plan to attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.
Last year, the DREAM Act passed the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate. The sponsors of the DREAM Act hope to build on last year’s momentum and finally see this bill become a reality. Call your senators and ask them to support this legislation!
Tags: Congress, DREAM Act, Harry Reid, House of Representatives, Richard Durbin, Robert Menendez, Senate
Posted in Alerts, immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Senate Ruins DREAM, But Obama Promises Reform
On Saturday, December 18, 2010, the U.S. Senate failed to pass the DREAM Act, one of the most important immigration measures to come before Congress this year.
The DREAM Act would have provided green card status to certain undocumented youth who, as children, were brought to the U.S. If the youth completed high school, demonstrated good moral character, and completed at least two years of higher education or served for at least two years in the U.S. military, they would obtain a green card.
In a 55-41 vote, the Senate has prevented the DREAM from being realized for thousands, if not, millions of Americanized undocumented youth who have known only the U.S. as their home.
President Obama told representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus December 21, 2010 that he is not giving up on the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. He reiterated his support, pointing out that we can no longer perpetuate a broken immigration system that is not working for our country or our economy. He said that the issue should remain a “top priority” in the next Congress.
Tags: Congressional Hispanic Caucus, DREAM Act, President Obama, Senate
Posted in immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Call Your Senators! They Will Vote on the Dream Act Saturday
Senators are expected to vote on the DREAM Act on Saturday, December 18, 2010. Senate Majority Leader Reid filed cloture for this Act, which is a process aimed at bringing debates to quick end. The Senate will need 60 votes for DREAM Act to move forward.
The DREAM Act would provide lawful permanent residence (i.e. green card status) to certain undocumented youth who, as children, were brought to the U.S. The criteria to qualify include: completing high school; demonstrating good moral character; and completing at least two years of higher education or serving for at least two years in the U.S. military.
We urge you to call your senators today in support of this important Act!
Tags: DREAM Act, Majority Leader Reid, Senate
Posted in Alerts, Immigrant Visas, immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
House Passes DREAM Act But Senate Delays
On Wednesday night, December 8, 2010, the House of Representatives passed its version of the DREAM Act by a 216 to 198 vote. The Senate was scheduled to vote on its version by this morning at 11AM EST but instead has withdrawn its version by a 59-40 vote and will be focusing on the House version of the bill, which it tabled for now. The Senate will likely resolve other issues first, such as tax cuts, before voting on the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act would provide lawful permanent residence (i.e. green card status) to certain undocumented youth who, as children, were brought to the U.S. The criteria to qualify include: completing high school; demonstrating good moral character; and completing at least two years of higher education or serving for at least two years in the U.S. military.
Please stay tuned for updates on the Senate’s actions with respect to this important and historical legislation.
Tags: DREAM Act, House, lame duck, Senate, Senator Reid
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
DREAM Act to Be Raised During Lame Duck Session
Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has stated that he will bring up the DREAM Act during the lame duck session. A “lame duck” session occurs post-election when Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor’s term begins. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, rallied behind Senator Reid, advocating for the DREAM Act introduction during lame duck.
The DREAM Act is an immigration bill that would provide legal status to undocumented teenagers who have been here almost all their life, graduate from high school and pursue college or U.S. military service. In September 2010, Senate Republicans blocked the Defense Authorization Act, which had the DREAM Act as an amendment.
Many immigration advocates believe the lame duck session is the best chance for the DREAM Act to succeed into law since Democrats still have the House and Senate. Stay tuned for updates about this important bill.
Tags: DREAM Act, lame duck, Nancy Pelosi, Senator Reid
Posted in immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Living a Borrowed Life
A guest post by Vannie Nguyen, law student and Vietnamese immigrant.
While most immigrants come to the United States voluntarily, there are those who come involuntarily as children and infants, cradled by their hopeful parents. These children cross the border without any awareness that they’re breaking the law and trekking onto unwelcome territory. As they grow older and assimilate to the new way of life, they become “real” Americans. They attend American schools, listen to American music and be-friend American children. America is the only home they know.
Unfortunately, immigration law doesn’t see them as Americans. The law treats them as if they were adults who had willfully crossed the border.
Once caught, what are their options? Undocumented immigrants face a lengthy removal proceedings that requires frequent court appearances. They fight to delay the removal process and hope that immigration reforms, such as the DREAM Act, will be realized soon.
The other option is to return to their distant land of birth. Asking immigrants who came to the United States at a young age to return to their country of birth, a place they barely know, is crazy. They are often strangers to the people, culture, language and way of life of their country of origin. The process may be called “deportation” but, in reality, it’s an expatriation, a journey in which they are relinquishing the only life they’ve ever known.
While America stands for hope and freedom, it’s creating uncertainty for this group of immigrants who are as American as any naturalized or natural born citizens. With immense hope, we look forward to the day when the Obama Administration will create reforms that will bring justice and fairness, principles that laid the foundation of this country, to all people rightfully living within our borders.
Tags: deportation, DREAM Act, immigration, removal, undocumented immigrants
Posted in Uncategorized | Read More »
Harvard Student At Risk of Deportation
Eric Balderas is an immigrant success story. Originally from Mexico, Eric grew up in the U.S., graduated as valedictorian from his high school in San Antonio, and now attends Harvard as an undergraduate on a full scholarship studying molecular biology. He aspires to be a cancer researcher one day.
And yet, under our immigration laws, Eric Balderas is deportable.
Eric is undocumented. He came here as a young child with his parents from Mexico, a country which he does not even remember. Recently caught by ICE, he is now in danger of being removed from the U.S.
See: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jnk7spK92rmzC439rdIValXaBvxQD9G9CJJ00 for the full story.
Eric is the poster child for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act, as it is known. The bi-partisan DREAM Act, if enacted, would grant permanent resident status to undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country as minors if they enroll either in school or in the military.
Why the DREAM Act has not yet passed continues to defy logic. What possible good can come from deporting someone brought here as a child, who, by virtue of having been raised here, is essentially American? I have yet to hear opponents of the DREAM Act articulate anything other than mean-spirited and nonsensical rhetoric in response to this question.
Tags: deporation, DREAM Act, eric balderas, immigrant, immigration reform, undocumented
Posted in immigration reform | Read More »
