the DREAM Act

On Tuesday evening, I went with my Spanish class to a city council meeting where the DREAM Act was being discussed. The advocate group was requesting that the city council support the Act so that the likelihood of gaining the support of the Congressmen and Senators would be increased.

For those of you that do not know what the DREAM Act is:
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is a federal piece of legislation that would provide the opportunity for children of undocumented workers to earn their legal residence. It would not be amnesty for all undocumented immigrants, but it would provide a way for the students who grew up here and have no knowledge of any other home to gain legal residency.
They would have to meet these requirements:

1. Entered the US before age 16
2. At least 5 consecutive years in the U.S. at the time of the Act’s passage.
3. Good moral character (i.e. no criminal record)
4. High School Diploma or GED
5. A college degree or military service.

My Spanish class is actually a class (conducted in Spanish) about immigration issues. Last week an undocumented woman who attended a local college came to talk to us about her story and how she came here when she was six years old and did not realize that she was different until her senior year of high school when she realized she could not go to college because she lacked a social security number. She ended up being accepted into a private college, but could not get a job or use her degree once she finished because of not having a SS number. Hearing her story first hand made me realize how close to home this really is, and how much it would change (for the better!) the lives of so many young people that live nearby. This young woman has tried even to be a volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program but they cannot accept her without and SS number. Obviously, the communities would also benefit from the passage of this act. As my teacher said, this is a humanitarian issue!

The exciting part is that it seems to be making progress. The last time this bill went up for vote at the federal level (in 2007) it was only 8 votes short of passing. So we’re hoping this time it will go through. After presentations from several individuals who would be beneficiaries of the act, and hearing an overview of the Act itself, the city council of Harrisonburg voted and unanimously decided to support this proposition.

Obviously the fight is far from over. This is just one town in one county in one state. But it is hopeful. If you are interested in helping out (Sign the petition!!!) or learning more, go to:
www.dreamact.com