Students march in support of US immigration reform and DREAM Act

One of the fastest growing unions in North America has thrown their weight behind the Dream Act.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who focus on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services and has two million members in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, hosted a mock graduation ceremony and invited hundreds of students to the protest in Washington DC.

More than 500 students took part in the figurative graduation ceremony to highlight the prospect faced by an estimated 65,000 undocumented young people currently studying without a valid US visa for citizenship.

The National DREAM Graduation was backed also backed by education, faith, business and civil rights groups.
“SEIU congratulates these brave valedictorians, honor students, class presidents and future leaders who have come to Washington seeking reason and compassion so they can achieve their dreams,” said SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina.

“These high-achieving students want nothing more than the opportunity to serve their country and build a stronger America. It’s time to open the doors of opportunity and pass the DREAM Act.”

Many of the young people taking part carried banners reading, “I graduated. Now what?” and “It’s not my fault my parents brought me here 4 a better future.”

“The event highlighted the countless future nurses, leaders, teachers, military heroes and inventors of the next great technological or medical breakthrough who are denied the chance to contribute to building a stronger America because Congress has not passed the DREAM Act.”

SEIU’s 2 million members strongly support the DREAM Act because if you work hard you should have the chance to make a difference and make the world a better place,” concluded Medina.

Where you at the protest, do you support the DREAM Act? Leave your comments below.

An American Dream, shouldn't every kid have one?

On Monday, The Hill reported,  “Senate Democrats might be close to 60 votes on a measure that would represent the first step towards immigration reform under President Obama,” and then today, the most important voice of all emerges from the obscure reaches of media.

“I support the Dream Act 100 per cent, in fact, I am fully committed to education, my administration has raised funds to be invested in education because I want more students to have the opportunity to go to college and have better access to resources such as scholarships and loan,” said President Barack Obama in a student radio interview.

Funny thing is, it’s reported the President stated this a week ago, to NYSYLC.org, a youth-led network representing high schools, colleges, communities of faith, and community based organizations committed to improving access to higher education and creating equal opportunity for immigrant youth and children of immigrants through leadership development and advocacy (as per their website)

- WAY TO GO YOU GUYS!

What a shame the media hasn’t reported on this hot potato of US immigration reform as yet.

For anyone not familiar with US immigration reform in the form of the Dream Act, it more or less proposes giving undocumented students the right to earn US citizenship through a college degree or through serving time in the military – students must have a clean sheet and meet certain criteria for their US visa, so its not like they’re getting a meal ticket.

On the one side you have those who argue awarding illegal immigrants is wrong, on the other, it’s unfair to hold people back who had little or no say at all in moving to the USA in the first place.

“[Asking them] to remain in this country without an education or a right to work without taking advantage of the academic opportunities that this country offers,” is a blatant wrong President Obama apparently wants to put right.

“In these times, these students are sons and daughters of the United States and it’s very likely that they will remain in this country,” he added.

“It is necessary that we obtain at least 60 votes in the Senate and a majority in the House of Representatives. This is something we still have to achieve,” Obama said.

Politicians work for you – make your VOICE, your VOTE and their FUTURE count.

Faust and Napolitano are both vocal supporters of the DREAM Act

Support for the Dream Act has drawn another commanding voice in the form of Drew Gilpin Faust, President of Harvard University.

The President of Harvard University acknowledged the need to address US immigration issues associated with past and present students, who through no fault of their own are stuck in legal limbo as illegal citizens wanting to graduate from college and get a good job.

“I believe it is in our best interest to educate all students to their full potential – it vastly improves their lives and grows our communities and economy,” she wrote in a letter to Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Representative Michael E. Capuano, thanking them for their support for the legislation. “This bill will help move us closer to this goal.”

The latest version of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (Dream Act), which has been floating around congress since 2001, allows undocumented immigrant students who arrived in the US as children and who graduate from US high schools, the opportunity to earn permanent residency by either serving time in the military or completing a college degree.

Faust’s backing is the latest in a growing list. Last month the College Board, the not-for-profit examination board most well known for producing the SAT ‘s, added their clout, followed by Janet Napolitano, the Homeland Security Secretary, who described the Dream Act as ‘a good piece of legislation and a good idea.’

Napolitano supports DREAM Act

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary has again called for comprehensive US immigration reform and offered her continued support to the DREAM Act.

In the latest development of improvements to the failing US immigration system, Janet Napolitano called for reform, ‘from border security and interior enforcement to reform of our visa programs and legalization for illegal workers.’

The statement from someone so high up in the Obama administration is a clear sign of what to expect in the latter half of 2009.

“This is one of those areas that everyone wants the immigration laws enforced, but also deal with the human issues that arise here. … The DREAM Act is a good piece of legislation and a good idea,” Napolitano said.

Supporters such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and America’s Voice hailed the Secretary’s comments as a show of support in line with public sentiment.

Students demonstrate their support for the Dream Act

The College Board has announced that it is supporting the so-called Dream Act, which will give unregistered people living in the US a chance to become citizens through working in the military or studying in the US.

The support is being shown following indications from President Obama that he will look at US immigration reform this year, including providing paths to US citizenship for long-term unregistered immigrants.

The Act would allow students who entered the country illegally at the age of 15 or below, and who have graduated from high school or received a GED, to US citizenship through studying at college for two years or through joining the military for two years. These students would also have the right to request some financial assistance.

A report from UCLA in 2007 says it estimates some 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools in the US each year.

The College Board’s Vice President, James Montoya says that the graduates deserve the chance to become citizens and have proved themselves through succeeding in the schooling system. “These are students who have gone through our K-12 system and have achieved in a very high manner,” he says.

Are you one of the thousands studying in the US without citizenship?What do you think about the ‘Dream Act‘? Do you think two years service in the military or studying to earn citizenship are good options for President Obama’s plans of immigration reform? Leave your comments below.

All American 'Dream' Act

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The DREAM Act) is a proposal introduced to the Senate and House of Representatives allowing undocumented immigrant students who graduate from US high schools, temporary residency for a period of 6 years.

Although at an early stage and not yet passed to Bill status, it seems likely the Act will get a lot of support. It fits in with President Obama’s message that Americans should work and earn their status as US citizens and everyone should play a role in building the US – it will also add an estimated 65,000 undocumented students a year into the American dream.

To be eligible for temporary residency, undocumented immigrant students must:

•    Provide proof of having arrived in the United States before age 16.
•    Provide proof of residence in the United States for a least five consecutive years since their date of arrival
•    Be aged between 12 and 35 at time of bill enactment.
•    Have graduated from an American high school, or obtained a GED.
•    Be of good moral character.

In the six year temporary residency permit, students must complete at least two of the following:

•    Graduate from a two-year community college,
•    Complete at least two years of a 4-year degree,
•    Serve two years in the U.S. military.

During the six years undocumented immigrant students can apply for student loans and work study.
If immigrant students successfully complete the conditions they will be granted permanent residency, resulting in US Citizenship.

Failure to meet these requirements results in deportation as does any criminal activity, other than those considered non-drug misdemeanors.
What are your thoughts on the Dream Act, are you one of the thousands lost in the system, given the opportunity would you benefit from this and work for your US citizenship? Leave your comments below.