Stuck Between a DREAM and Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:13:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:03:00 +0000

Don't Deport Taha!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:59:00 +0000

UPDATE (7/24/09): Taha has been granted deferred action by DHS!!

From DreamACTivist.org:

Its heartbreaking how often we hear this story over and over again. Last month it was Walter Lara in Florida and this month it is Taha in New Jersey.

Update – Senator Menendez signed a letter asking DHS to defer Taha’s deportation.

TAKE ACTION NOW!
*We ask that you support us in KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE by:

Calling DHS comment line and asking them to not deport Taha: 202-282-8495, to make it easier just go here http://call.seiu.org/9/calldhs
Calling Congressman Sires’s office in D.C.at 202-225-7919 to urge him to submit a private bill for Taha!
Calling Senator Menendez’s office in D.C.at 202.224.4744 to urge him to submit a private bill for Taha!
Calling Senator Lautenberg’s office in D.C.at (202) 224-3224 to urge him to submit a private bill for Taha!

Taha is 18 years old and just graduated Dickinson High School in Jersey City, NJ. In November of 1993, his parents brought him to America from Bangladash, when he was only 2 years old. He has lived in Jersey City for more than 16 years.

On July 29, 2009, he will be deported to Bangladesh – a country that he has no memory of or connection to.

If Taha return to Bangladesh, he will never have the chance to complete the education he has worked so hard all of his life to acquire.

Taha doesn’t read or write Bengali. He does’t even know its alphabet. Moving back there will mean moving to a foreign country where he’ll have to start his life again from scratch.

Taha has been educated in America, K – 12. He achieved many awards in high school such as Academic Author Award, Principal’s Award, Honor Roll and Merit Wall.

His teachers opened his eyes to so many great opportunities in this country. His career dream is to be a pediatrician, working in a clinic or hospital environment, and giving back to our great country that has given him so much.

Taha hopes to attend St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ to study Marketing and Pre-Med.

Picture yourself in Taha’s shoes. All that he needs help with is getting permission to continue living in the country he loves and calls home so that he can complete his education and spend the rest of his life giving back to the country – the only home he can ever remember living in.

-Also, we request that anyone with a connection to a local church, mosque, temple or synagogue to get a letter of support from them and send to mo@dreamactivist.org

DHS Secretary, Janet Napolitano, supports the DREAM Act!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:04:00 +0000

As many of you know, the DREAM Act has been gaining strength as more senators and representatives join in the efforts by co-sponsoring this legislation. And now, we have even greater news, as the Secretary of Homeland Security adds herself to the list of DREAM Act supporters.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Oversight of DHS, Senator Richard Durbin asked the Secretary if she supports the DREAM Act.

Here is the actual exchange (Thanks Matias!):

DURBIN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Secretary, thanks for being here. As a former governor of a border state, the story I'm about to tell you may sound familiar. Two weeks ago, I had a meeting in Chicago with student from one of our leading high schools. I met a young woman who was valedictorian of her class and was on a winning team in a science competition who had been accepted at an Ivy League university and was looking forward to pursuing a degree in biology which may lead to medical research or becoming a medical doctor.

But she had a problem. She same to the United States when she was two years old. She was brought by her parents from Mexico. Her parents sold corn on the street corners. And she grew up here. She speaks perfect English. She's never known another country in her entire life. And she's undocumented. I've introduced a bill for eight years now called the Dream Act. My co-sponsors this year include Senators Lugar and Menendez. And it says, for young Americans -- or young people living in America in her circumstance, that they be given a chance through either two years of service in the military or the completion of two years of college, to move toward legal status. I'm hoping, praying, for so many young people who are counting on this that we will have a chance to consider and pass that this year.

Could you tell me your opinion of the Dream Act?

NAPOLITANO: Yes, Senator.

As a governor of a border state, this is one of -- this is one of those areas where everyone wants the immigration law enforced. We must enforce it. It's part of our national sovereignty, among other things. On the other hand, we have to have the ability to deal with some of the human issues that arise here. And the one that you have identified is one of the most acute.

I supported the Dream Act when I was governor. I support it now. One of the most moving things I've been privileged to do as secretary is to administer the oath of citizenship to men and women in our military who have been serving in Iraq, who were not citizens, who have elected to become citizen. In a way, it kind of mirrors what you're talking about in the Dream Act.

But it seems to me that the Dream Act is a good piece of legislation and a good idea.

Let's keep working together to pass the DREAM Act this year!

DREAM Act in the New York Times

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:16:00 +0000

To accompany the final article in a Times series on immigration, Room for Debate examines the situation of young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children with their parents and were raised and educated here. The article on the topic will appear over the weekend.

A series that examines the impact of immigration on American institutions.

Legislation (called the Dream Act) sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, would give some of these young immigrants a chance to become permanent residents. It would extend to those who have stayed out of trouble, graduated from high school and either finished two years of college or two years of military service, and there would be a six-year conditional status period.

We’ve asked three immigration specialists what to do about this particular immigrant population, which is estimated at one million people. The discussion also includes the perspective of two young immigrants, Prerna and Nick, who were brought to the United States by their parents and who have been here a decade or more. They asked that their last names not be used because they do not have legal papers.

Please join the discussion in the comments section here.

Tamar Jacoby, ImmigrationWorks USA
Mark Krikorian, Center for Immigration Studies
Nick, Dream Act Portal
Prerna, promigrant.org
Hiroshi Motomura, U.C.L.A. law professor

Let's pass the DREAM Act in 2009. Take action now!

College Board Comes Out in Support of the DREAM Act

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:58:00 +0000

College Board has released a report in support of the DREAM Act, in which it listed many economic benefits that would arise from passing this act.

Undocumented students in the United States are currently trapped in a legal paradox. They have the right to a primary and secondary education and are generally allowed to go on to college, but their economic and social mobility is severely restricted due to their undocumented status. The DREAM Act, which would provide a path to legal residency for undocumented youth, is one way out of this legal predicament. Besides the moral and humanitarian reasons for opening the door to college for these students, there are also strong economic arguments, such as ensuring that the investment already made in the K-12 education of these students is realized and that the country benefits from the rich potential of productive, educated and U.S.-trained workers.

Numerous studies demonstrate that legal status brings fiscal, economic and labor-market benefits to individual immigrants, to their families and to society in general. Over time, given a chance, young men and women who are now undocumented will improve their education, get better jobs and pay more in taxes. Given their relatively small numbers as compared with public college and university enrollments, they will make up only a tiny fraction of the total population and will not displace other students. Yet their numbers are sufficient to contribute significantly to the growth of the higher-skilled labor force in the years to come. In school we encourage our students to aspire, yet we deny undocumented children the opportunity to share in the American Dream. As we think about the potential contributions of Cory, Steven, César, Rosalba, Shirley and others, we must seriously consider what happens not just to a dream deferred but also to a dream realized.

Download the full report

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) released a statement after The College Board's report in support of the DREAM Act:

The College Board’s nonpartisan, independent report sends a very clear message: allowing more people to get more education is in America’s best interests.

Education is the foundation of the 21st century economy. It’s the path to a new prosperity. And it’s a keystone of human dignity.

This report makes it clear that we’re failing to fully harness and develop the talent that our young people have to offer. There are men and women who came to this country when they were very young, who worked hard in high school, who are ready to study or wear the uniform of the United States of America—but who see those doors slam shut in their faces because their parents were undocumented.

These students love the United States, the only home they’ve ever known—so they’ve followed the rules and worked hard in school.

But thousands of young men and women are kept from enrolling at colleges and universities, preventing them from achieving their full potential, ultimately reducing the amount they pay in taxes, reducing the amount they invest in the economy and reducing the probability they’ll become employers and create jobs.

If this country is going to stay on the apex of the curve of innovation and intellect, it’s time to stop holding down our rising stars, time to prepare them to contribute so they can best harness their talents in the service of our economy and our communities.

That’s what the DREAM Act is all about. It allows young people who came to this country as undocumented children, and who meet very specific criteria, to enlist in the military or attend college.

The DREAM Act is about creating the best-educated American workforce possible. These men and women are future doctors, teachers, businesspeople, nurses. They are an economic resource we can’t afford to waste.

But let’s be clear: this isn’t an open door or a free ride. Students have to pay tuition, pay taxes, and follow the law when it comes to applying for citizenship. It’s only for people who came to the U.S. at age 15 or younger, who aren’t criminals or terrorists, and who graduate from high school. They have to prove a lot of responsibility from start to finish.

At the end of the day, the DREAM Act is a straight-ahead test of what America is all about. The fundamental question is, Do we punish children for the sins of their parents?

When their parents came to the U.S., they didn’t have a choice to stay behind and wait for their papers to come through. It’s hard to fill out immigration forms when you’re in a stroller. Punishing children for the sins of their parents is as un-American as it gets.

The barrier separating undocumented children from college and from fully contributing to the economy is one more historical barrier that has to fall. There was a time when we were told educating women was unhealthy. There was a time when we were told educating African Americans was dangerous.

There was a time when limiting the number of students of a certain religion who could enter a university was normal. We’ve put those horrible myths to rest, and it’s hard to think of too many times in history when allowing someone to pursue an education turned out to be a bad idea. It would be a clear demonstration of the true character and goodness of America to allow her future citizens the same chance to develop their talents and pursue their dreams.

It’s in the interest of every American to stay true to our founding ideals, and watch these young people’s dreams become reality.

But I have more exciting news to share,

University of Michigan has passed a resolution in support of the DREAM Act.

Oregon considers in-state tuition bill.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announces his support fot the DREAM Act.

Keep up with the DREAM Act movement over at DreamACTivist.org

Family Unity Event in Philadelphia

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Today I attended the Family Unity event held by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Philadelphia, PA. The event was attended by Rep. Luis Gutierrez [IL] and Rep. Chaka Fattah [PA], as well as other members from the state’s legislature. As part of the event, I was able to hear testimonies from people who have been and continue to be affected by the unfair and unjust immigration system of this country.

There were three testimonies in total. The first one came from a U.S. citizen who is married to an undocumented immigrant, originally from Mexico. Jill began telling her and her husband’s story by informing us how they met; she was a teacher of the English class her now husband attended. They now have 2 children together, but they live in fear everyday as a result of her husband’s immigration status. Jill fears the day she might have to choose between staying in this country without her husband and being forced out of her own country in order to keep her family together.

The second testimony came from a woman from Trinidad who is a legal resident in this country. She has been living in the United States for 4 years, and has four children. Unfortunately, two of these children are still in Trinidad waiting for their visa to come through to finally reunite with their mother. As I was listening to her story, I could feel the pain she was going through; to be separated for four years from two of your kids must be an agonizing experience. The good news came after her testimony, when one of the hosts presented her with the $600 she needed to continue her legal battle to finally reunite her family.

The third testimony really touched me, because it came from a fellow DREAMer who we call “Anita.” Unfortunately, Anita was too afraid to attend the event, but a girl from the church was able to read us her story. Anita is originally from Argentina. She came to the United States with her parents at the young age of 10. She is now 18 and wants to be the first person in her family to attend college. Unfortunately, she is faced with the struggle that many of us are very much aware of, we lack the papers necessary to make this possible. Anita is an exemplary student, having graduated high school with 3 AP classes under her belt, one of them being AP English Literature. The fact that she faces this huge obstacle which prevents her from attending a higher learning institution is not only detrimental to her, but also to the United States. Anita is just asking for the opportunity to prove herself to his country; why are we preventing her from doing so?

After the three very powerful testimonials, Rep. Gutierrez came forward and talked about the importance of passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform this year to give humanitarian relief to undocumented families in this country. He called for consistency in the Obama administration between what now President Obama campaigned for and what his policies are now. He called for an end to raids and deportations that cause children, wives, and husbands to be separated from their loved ones. He also mentioned how unfair the system is, when we have a solider fighting in Iraq, but the federal government at home is trying to deport his wife; how unfair it is that the government focuses on deporting hard-working individuals instead of the real criminals living in this country. All in all, he called for the community to stand up and let their voices be heard in favor of immigration reform so that the Obama administration and Congress respond to this fundamental civil rights issue.

Rep. Chaka Fattah of the 2^nd District of Pennsylvania also spoke about the need for comprehensive immigration reform, to be on the “right side of history.” While he is not my representative, it was great to hear him speak about the obligation we have to provide law-abiding people with a pathway to citizenship.

And then it all ended with four mariachis coming to the stage to sing us a couple of great songs. And while there was no talk of the DREAM Act in particular, it was still inspiring to see people from the community come together and support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

The DREAM Act Has Been Introduced!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:58:00 +0000

It’s finally here!

The DREAM Act has been introduced in the Senate (S.729) by Sen. Richard Durbin (or Papa Durbin) of Illinois and in the House of Representatives (H.R.1751) by Rep. Howard Berman of California yesterday March 26^th.

But wait! Before you start celebrating, let me tell you that the battle is not over yet. The introduction of a bill is only the first step toward success. You NEED to call your senators and representatives and urge them to support and co-sponsor the DREAM Act. Make your voice heard!

In addition to that, everyone should make an appointment to meet with their senators and representatives or their aides. It’s not as scary as it may seem, and you make a better impact by talking to them face-to-face. If you’re interested in doing this, visit DreamACTivist.org 's Taking Action page or shoot me an e-mail and maria@dreamactivist.org and I’ll help you through this process. It’s very simple, trust me!

Our friend Kyle over at Citizen Orange has listed 5 simple steps you can follow right now to be a part of this great cause.

1. CALL - The National Council of La Raza has a page to help you call your congressional representatives in support of the DREAM Act.
http://capwiz.com/nclr/callalert/index.tt?alertid=12988601

2. FAX - America's Voice has a page to help you fax your congressional representatives in support of the DREAM Act.
http://americasvoiceonline.org/page/speakout/DaretoDream

3. EMAIL - Change.org has a page to help you email your congressional representatives in support of the DREAM Act.
http://www.change.org/ideas/932/view_action/ask_your_congressperson_to_support_the_dream_act

4. PETITION - Dreamactivist.org has the official petition in support of the DREAM Act.
http://dreamact2009.com/

5. TEXT - Text "Justice" ("Justicia" for Spanish) to 69866 to be the first to know when the DREAM Act is introduced. FIRM's Mobile Action Network is an excellent way to stay connected and have maximum impact at just the right moment.
http://fairimmigration.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/action-join-the-fight-for-immigrant-rights/

And now I leave you with a quote by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chairperson of the Immigration Subcommittee, who stated:

"As a nation, we face an increasingly competitive global market. To effectively compete in this new interconnected global market, we must ensure that we have the most educated workforce in the world. Whether in college or in the military, we must give all qualified young people the opportunity to get an education. These determined and dedicated young people need the chance to become productive members of our society. Penalizing them hurts us all"

GO DREAM ACT!

Immigrants Face Long Detention, Few Rights - (Update on Sarjina Emy)

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:35:00 +0000

An MSNBC article, "Immigrants Face Long Detentions, Few Rights," gives us an update on Sarjina Emy; a 20 year old honors student who was brought to this country at the age of 5 from Bangladesh and spent nearly 2 years in a detention facility.

"We're immigrants, and it makes it seem like it's worse than a criminal," said Sarjina Emy, a 20-year-old former honors student who spent nearly two years in a Florida lockup because her parents' asylum claim was denied when she was a child. "I always thought America does so much for justice. I really thought you get a fair trial. You actually go to court. (U.S. authorities) know what they are doing. Now, I figured out that it only works for criminal citizens."

Emy, who was raised in Orlando, Fla., spent 20 months in a detention center even though she had no criminal record. She traded her Baby Phat clothes for a gray uniform and window-shopping at the mall for a law library behind razor wire.
Her only crime? Her parents, who feared her father's political affiliations endangered the family, brought her and two brothers to the United States from Bangladesh in September 2003 — when she was 5, according to court documents.
She doesn't speak Bangla and never imagined a future without college. No one in her family realized her father's work certificate from the Labor Department didn't equate to legal immigration status.
Family members were rounded up in July 2007, treated as fugitives on a dated but active deportation order.
Her parents were deported first. Emy languished in custody while continuing her fight to stay.

But because the asylum application had been filed on behalf of the entire family, only the parents got a hearing. Emy never saw a judge, according to Emy and her attorney.
"Justice is not being served," she said from a prison pay phone.
In January, a federal appeals court denied her petition to stay in the U.S. Fearing she'd celebrate another birthday behind bars, Emy agreed to be deported and left the country Feb. 18.
Immigration law "is the only United States law where we punish the children for the actions of their parents," said Emy's attorney, Petia Vimitrova Knowles.
Immigration violations are considered civil, something akin to a moving violation in a car, so the government can imprison immigrants without many of the rights criminals receive: No court-appointed attorney for indigent defendants, no standard habeas corpus, no protection from double jeopardy, no guarantee of a speedy trial.
"You're locking up people without even a hearing," said Judy Rabinovitz of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants Rights Project. "That, to me, is the outrage: basic due process. Since when do we allow the government to lock up people without even giving them a bond hearing?"

This is our tax dollars at work. Imprisoning honors students for 20 months, without even a hearing, and deporting them back to a country they don't know or remember. When will people wake up and realize we need people like Emy in the United States? She did nothing to deserve the unfair and inhumane treatment she received, let alone getting deported from her country. I hope she's doing well.

My name is Maria and I am an American

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:53:00 +0000

From Change.org Immigration Blog

I have decided that a tiny little piece of paper and a 9-digit number are not going to decide what I am or what I am not. I don't define myself by my undocumented status. Yes, I am undocumented, but I am an American first.

I am an American because of the pride I feel when I hear The Star-Spangled Banner and the pride I felt when I saw our first black President take the oath of office; only 45 years after Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I am an American because I love this country and what it stands for. I am an American because this is my home.

I was born in Lima, Peru and lived there for the first 12 years of my young life. My parents had lost their business and only source of income due to the economic situation of the country. As my parents struggled to find jobs to keep our family afloat, they were left with no choice but to keep me out of school for a year as they could not afford it. This is not what parents want for their kids, and this is not what my parents wanted for me. This is why they finally decided to seek a better future in "the land of opportunity;" to provide my siblings and I with the tools necessary to build a good life.

October 2000 marks the day I stepped foot on U.S. soil for the first time. My parents had told me and my siblings that we were going to Disney World for vacation. Part of me knew better, but I wasn't going to argue with them...I was going to go see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! Little did I know that would never happen. I haven't been to Disney World to this day. Despite the disappointment, I was thrilled to be in America, a place I had only seen in movies and television shows. It was more beautiful than I had thought.

My first year in the U.S. was difficult as I began to adjust to a different culture and a new life. My parents enrolled me in 9^th grade a month or two into the school year. Not only was it nerve-racking because I was the new foreign kid, but also because I hadn't been to school in more than a year. The first class I took was ESL, but it became boring after a few months as I began learning the language and carrying conversations without difficulty. The rest of my classes were regular classes, which were both exciting and challenging. I remember my first time reading Romeo and Juliet and learning about the Civil War. While I wasn't aware of my undocumented status yet, I knew my parents had abandoned their life in Peru to provide me with a better education and future, and I wasn't going to disappoint them. I finished my freshman year with top grades.

Sophomore year flew by and without thinking I began to identify myself as an American more and more. I had become fully assimilated to the American culture and I loved learning about the history of this country, starting with the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, to the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for equality. Then junior year began and my hopes and dreams came crashing down. It was the time to start applying for college and I had my mind on a few already. I took as many college applications from the guidance office as I could and was ready to fill them out. It was then when I realized I couldn't go to school because I didn't have the magic 9-digit number. Disappointment does not even begin to describe the way I felt when I found out I couldn't continue my education. My parents wanted a better future for me and I was going to let them down. It was heart breaking watching my friends get accepted to the schools of their choice while I was stuck in neutral. I tried not to let this get me down and I was able to graduate high school with top grades, despite an uncertain future.

A year went by and I was getting more and more frustrated about my situation. I wanted to go to school; I wanted to be a normal 19 year old. My frustration led to determination to find a college that would let me study. I researched and called several schools until I was accepted as an international student at the community college in my area. I knew paying international rates for classes would be a challenge, but the truth is I didn't care. I was finally able to attend school and I wasn't going to let money stop me. Thankfully, I was able to save up enough money during my year off to take two classes. I am still attending community college taking two to three classes per semester, and paying for them is still difficult without any financial help but I am not giving up. I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and I am three classes away from finishing my two years of college. My plan is to transfer to Penn State University to finish my four years as a political science major. My dream is to one day work for an organization like the American Civil Liberties Union and fight to defend the rights and freedoms of those who need it, to always be politically active, and to help make the average citizen feel like they can truly make a difference.

Just like me, there are thousands of students facing the same obstacles. We consider ourselves American, but are denied the opportunity to attend college and work legally. We don't want or expect "freebies." What we want is a chance to prove what an asset we can be to this country we call our home. We want to be the future nurses, doctors, teachers, and engineers that will shape this country's future and continue to make it great.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would give students in the same situation conditional legal status if they meet certain requirements. This bill would give us a chance to attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years and help us toward a path to citizenship to finally have that piece of paper that is so needed in this country.

Despite all of these obstacles, I am thankful to be living in this country and my patriotism has not wavered. We, DREAMies, are not asking much; just the opportunity to give back a little of what this country has given us. We won't give up hope and will continue to work hard to finally make our dreams a reality.

If you want to learn more about the DREAM Act and ways you can help, please visit www.dreamACTivist.org

It's Been a While..

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:23:00 +0000

So, what has happened since my last blog post? I think the most important thing is, we now have a new president. How amazing and inspiring that day was, I pretty much spent it glued to my T.V. wishing I was there. Since the inauguration, President Obama has not focused much on immigration which is understandable with the hard economic times this country is going through. However, I'm really hoping the DREAM Act gets introduced during the beginning of this year. This will not happen without us pushing him, though.

Anyway, I am taking Political Science at school this year and apparently, there's a wannabe ICE agent in my class. Well, to be fair, he didn't say that but he said he is very much against illegal immigration. Ironically, he sits next to me. I wish I would have been brave enough to stand up and say something, but for some reason, I think that people will realize I'm undocumented if I do so. Completely ridiculous, I know. Maybe if I lived in a more liberal state, but PA is not exactly immigrant-friendly. That does not excuse the fact that I kept quiet, and if the topic ever comes up again (which I'm sure it will), I will make sure to shut him up. I wonder what he would say (or do) if he knew he sits next to one of those "illegal immigrants," though. Would he change his mind? Or would he become one of those "you're taking a U.S. citizen's college seat!" kind of people?

Probably the latter. I'm not feeling optimistic today.

Take Action!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:46:00 +0000

We are continuing to make progress on Change.org. We recently moved from the 15th to the 14th position on the website and are one of the ideas with the most endorsements! Please, don't forget to e-mail your friends and family asking for their support and vote. Also, contact your local organizations and ask for their endorsement and support as well!

Visit DreamACTivist.org for more information on how to get involved!

DREAM Act 2009!

Vote for the DREAM Act on Change.org!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:13:00 +0000

From DreamACTivist.org

The problem: Many American students graduate from college and high school each year, and face a roadblock to their dreams: they can’t drive, can’t work legally, can’t further their education, and can’t pay taxes to contribute to the economy just because they were brought to this country illegally by their parents or lost legal status along the way. It is a classic case of lost potential and broken dreams, and the permanent underclass of youth it creates is detrimental to our economy. Former Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch has said: “In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our society.”

The solution: The federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), is a bipartisan legislation that would permit these students conditional legal status and eventual citizenship granted that they meet ALL the following requirements:
–if they were brought to the United States before they turned 16, are below the age of 30,
–have lived here continuously for five years,
–graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED
–have good moral character with no criminal record and
–attend college or enlist in the military.

Why should you care? There is no other pathway to citizenship for these students. Besides the injustice of punishing children for the alleged transgressions of their parents, throwing away the talent we have invested in from K-12 and accruing losses in human and financial capital by deporting talented students is bad public policy. The Social Security Administration has recently stated that we need a net increase of 100,000 immigrants each year to ensure Social Security solvency. Passing the DREAM Act would actually help solve the Social Security crisis by creating a larger taxable base of educated Americans that are already in the United States. It would also free some of the backlog that currently plagues the legal immigration system. Also, the DREAM Act in its latest form, does not grant in-state tuition to any student.

Endorsements: Since 2001, almost a 1000 organizations have officially endorsed the bill. Barack Obama has stated that DREAM Act beneficiaries are “American children for all intents and purposes” and has called this a top priority.

Tell President-Elect Obama to pass the DREAM Act in 2009. See DreamActivist.org to get more involved.

From Jan 5 to Jan 15, Change.org has resumed the final round of voting
for ‘Ideas for Change.’ The Top 10 Ideas get presented to Barack Obama
at an event co-hosted with The Case Foundation at the National Press
Club in Washington, DC on January 16th.

Links to vote for the Top 3 ideas in Immigration
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/pass_the_dream_act_now
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/equal_immigration_rights_for_same_sex_binational_couples
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/provide_relief_for_families_of_immigrants

Important - You have 10 votes as a person and as a non-profit /
blogger, it is alright to endorse more than one idea.

ENDORSEMENTS
For bloggers and non-profits, endorsement is quick and easy and you
also get to advertise your site. Click on the “Click Here to Endorse
this Idea” on the right side of each idea you want to endorse, fill in
the details, and submit.

WIDGETS
The code for the widgets is the same — please put those up on your
site.

What I'm Thankful For.

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:31:00 +0000

Being undocumented.. well.. sucks. There are many things that have been denied to me because I don't have that little piece of paper. I can't find another job because I know I wouldn't be able to find one legally. I can't drive a car because I'm unable to get a driver's license. But most importantly, I can't go to school full-time because of the super expensive international tuition I have to pay. And let's not forget the awkward conversations that arise from these such as "Why don't you drive?" "You're still in school? Aren't you 21?" "You've been working there for HOW long??"And while all of these things should make me not want to get out of bed in the morning, I can't help but feel optimistic of what next year will bring.

You see, being a DREAMer is not only about being an undocumented student. It is also about being a fighter. Every day, DREAMers across the country are faced with obstacles because of their status. But instead of giving up, we fight. We fight for our right to be considered American. We fight for our right to an education, for our right to live a normal life. Because we deserve it. We've earned it. And while some people believe we shouldn't be in this country, they will never be able to take away the fact that we are Americans. They can't take away the fact that this is our home.

And while this may shock some people, some good things have come out from being undocumented. This is not to say that I'm glad I'm undocumented, I'd much rather be legal. But I am not ashamed of being a DREAMer. As a result of my status, I value education in a way many U.S. college students don't. Instead of wasting my money on going out and partying, I save it in order to pay for school. I study and work hard to make sure I keep my 4.0. And even though I'm going to have to wake up bright and early next semester, I can't wait to go to school because I love learning. I love homework, I love lectures. But not only has being a DREAMer helped me appreciate school, it has also helped me appreciate life. It has helped me appreciate the things I have; a roof over my head, food to eat, a bed to sleep on. Simple things that many people across the country and the world don't have.

Perhaps I would feel the same way if I wasn't a DREAMer, but there's no way of knowing. Being a DREAMer has made me a better person, and for that I am thankful.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Senate Poised to Act Quickly on Key Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:04:00 +0000

According to Paul Kane from the Washington Post, the DREAM Act seems to have a very good chance of passing next year.

Civil rights: After the failure of sweeping immigration overhaul, Democrats scaled back their effort to focus on the DREAM Act. The legislation would have halted deportation efforts of children who are here illegally, giving them citizenship opportunities if they entered the country before age 16 and have lived here for five years.

That bill was blocked after receiving 52 votes, but four supporters were not present. For the 111th Congress, seven Democrats will replace Republicans who voted against the bill. Barring a push for broader immigration restructuring by Obama, Senate aides said this smaller measure should have enough support to pass.
Source

Let this provide us with enough motivation to keep fighting to make our DREAMs a reality. Yes, we can. Yes, we will!

Fighting Misinformation - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:23:00 +0000

This is the first installment of the "Fighting Misinformation" series I decided to embark on.

As I mentioned in one of my posts, there is a lot of false information regarding the DREAM Act. This information has been mostly spread by the anti-immigration/anti-DREAM Act crowd. I realize that their minds cannot be changed; however, there are people (U.S citizens included) who would support this piece of legislation if they were aware of the facts surrounding it. One of the goals of this blog is to inform the few readers I might have about DREAM, and I thought this was the best way to do it.

Enough talking. Let's begin.

1) The DREAM Act is not amnesty.

Amnesty (n): an act of forgiveness for past offenses, esp. to a class of persons as a whole.

The idea of amnesty does not apply to DREAM Act beneficiaries. Amnesty, as shown above, implies that the person has committed a crime or offense. Students eligible for the DREAM Act did not commit a crime by coming to this country. They were children and infants, brought to the U.S. by their parents. The only "crime" they committed was to follow them.

Furthermore, DREAM Act students will not be "granted" citizenship after the enactment of the act. They will have to complete at least 2 years of college or 2 years in the military in order to be eligible for citizenship. They will also have to continue to show good moral character and have no criminal record in order to qualify. Furthermore, the DREAM Act legislation states that students will only be eligible for citizenship after 6 years have passed since the enactment of the law.

Another easy way to contribute to the passage of the DREAM Act:

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:58:00 +0000

Go to Ideas for Changing America and vote for the "Pass the DREAM Act Now" idea. And don't forget to comment on it!

Why is this important?

The "Top 10 Ideas for America" will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day. We will then build a national campaign to advance each idea in Congress, marshaling the resources of Change.org, MySpace, and our dozens of partner organizations and millions of combined members.

Yes, you will need to create an account but it takes literally 30 seconds to do so! So to summarize this long post: visit, register, vote, comment, make a difference. Easy enough.

Update: We currently have 143 votes and are #1 on the whole site! Keep up the good work, everyone!

Obama-Biden Immigration Transition Team

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:58:00 +0000

The Obama-Biden transition team has released the names of two leaders working as part of the Policy Working Group on Immigration. The goal of these policy groups is to develop policy proposals and plans for the new Obama-Biden administration. This is good news for the pro-migrant movement as they are both in favor of Comprehensive Immigration Reform and seem to be very intelligent people, especially when it comes to immigration. Here's are their bios, taken from The Obama-Biden Transition Team website.

T. Alexander Aleinikoff has been Dean of the Georgetown University Law Center and Executive Vice President of Georgetown University since July 2004. He has been a member of the Georgetown faculty since 1997. Dean Aleinikoff served as General Counsel and Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs at the Immigration and Naturalization Service for several years during the Clinton Administration. From 1997 to 2004 he was a Senior Associate at the Migration Policy Institute, where he now serves on the Board of Trustees. He has written widely on immigration, refugee and citizenship law and constitutional law. Dean Aleinikoff is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Yale Law School.

Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar is Professor and Deane F. Johnson Faculty Scholar at Stanford Law School. His work focuses on how organizations manage complex regulatory, migration, international security, and criminal justice problems. During the Clinton Administration he served at Treasury as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Enforcement, where he worked on countering domestic and international financial crime, improving border coordination, and enhancing anti-corruption measures. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Asylum Access and the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation. He has testified before Congress on immigration policy and separation of powers, and was appointed to the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute.

Arizona Will Head Homeland Security

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:59:00 +0000

Arizona Demcratic Gov. Janet Napolitano has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Barack Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security’s myriad functions.
Napolitano brings law and order experience from her stint as the Grand Canyon State’s first female attorney general. One of the nation’s most prominent female elected officials, she made frequent appearances on behalf of Barack Obama during the campaign. She was reelected to a second four-year term in 2006.

Transition insiders have long expected that she would be offered a Cabinet slot, although she had also been mentioned for other posts, including attorney general.

Napolitano, 50, endorsed Obama in early January, just as the primaries were kicking off, and the female up-and-comer's decision to back the Illinois senator got widespread coverage.

In 2005, Time magazine named her one of America’s five best governors, calling her “A Mountaineer on the Political Rise.”

Time wrote: “The one issue Republicans think they can use against the popular Napolitano is illegal immigration, because the huge number of border crossings have left many Arizonans feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Her critics claim she came to the problem late, but she seems to have navigated it deftly. … Napolitano opposed … several bills that targeted illegal immigrants. Instead, she looked to the systems and people that make illegal immigration possible: She ordered state contractors to ensure that their employees are legal [and] set up an undercover unit to catch forgers of identity documents … In mid-August she declared a state of emergency in Arizona to direct more funds to protecting border areas from illegal crossings.”

The Democratic officials said Napolitano has not been officially offered the job but is likely to be named and to accept. The selection was first reported by CNN.

Her official bio says: “Janet Napolitano was sworn in as Arizona’s 21st governor on January 6, 2003. She is the first woman in the nation’s history to serve as U.S. Attorney, State Attorney General and Governor in immediate succession. Prior her election as Governor of Arizona, Napolitano served one term as Arizona Attorney General and four years as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. Born in New York City and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she is a distinguished alumna of Santa Clara University and the University of Virginia Law School. She has lived in Arizona since 1983, when she moved to Phoenix to practice law.”
Source

In-State Tuition and the DREAM Act

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:33:00 +0000

There has been a lot of talk about in-state tuition and the DREAM Act over at Dream Act Portal.

It seems like there's a lot of misinformation floating around, which is to be expected from the anti-immigration crowd trying to scare U.S. citizens into opposing the DREAM Act. What I'm worried about is that they will actually believe these lies without getting better informed about it.

When it comes to in-state tuition, the DREAM Act leaves it up to the state to decide whether the student will be paying in-state tuition or out-of-state tuition. Just to clarify, this is only for students who reside in that state. For example, if a student resides in PA, it is up to this state to grant the student in-state tuition or not. If, however, that student decides to go to school in TX, they will have to pay out-of-state just like any U.S. citizen.

There are some anti-immigration people who still hate the thought of an undocumented student receiving in-state tuition, regardless of where they reside. There is an excellent post by RahmanIV over at Dream Act Portal that argues this point much better than I ever could.

The argument against offering in-state tuition to undocumented children has serious flaws. First, consider all of the 10 states that offer instate tuition to undocumented students. All of these states require graduation from instate high schools and some of them actually ask for a minimum number of years of attendance. I know NY requires at least three years of attendance in a NYS-approved high school. These states also ask for residency within the state for at least six months, with some mandating a minimum of 12 months.

Why do these requirements exist? In order to answer this question, we must consider why different tuition rates exist for public schools? The reasoning behind a lower tuition for state residents is to encourage a state's educational investment in its own residents. People who have lived within a state all their lives or for long periods of time are an asset to a state's tax rolls. Such behavior is also indicative of a resident's desire to continue remaining in the state for long periods of time. Since education is the gateway to an improved standard of living, higher earnings and thus higher taxes, the state has an implicit and explicit benefit for educating these long term residents. In-state tuition is both an incentive and a reward for a long-term resident. Yes, the state taxpayer subsidizes the in-state tuition but the state has recognized that these subsidies provide a higher rate of return in increased tax rolls.

The residency and high school graduation requirements, statutorily, satisfies the state's concerns that a person will be a long-term resident within the state. Undocumented students who have lived in a state for many, many years (as many of you have), who have paid taxes (sales taxes & property taxes are the state's largest revenues) satisfy a state's concerns of a long term resident. The 10 states have formalized this understanding in offering in-state tuition to undocumented students.

Our opposition likes to argue why their children are not offered in-state tuition. If your child has been educated, long-term, in the state and attends a public university within the state, then he/she definitely qualifies for in-state tuition. States don't offer tuition subsidies to out-of-state students because they haven't proved or satisfied concerns that these students will be long term residents of the state. Additionally, you, as a out-of-state taxpayer, haven't contributed to the other state's tax rolls. And your federal taxes don't count. A state's education system is almost exclusively funded by its own tax rolls. Federal educational spending is only a small percentage of a state's educational funds.

So ALIPAC, ask yourselves this. As a taxpayer in your state, would you be willing to allow out-of-state students, who haven't lived in your state, who haven't paid taxes in your state, who haven't graduated from high school in your state, the same subsidized tuition benefits at public universities? I believe the answer is no. And if you don't believe me, then consider Americans who have second homes in other states. Do you think they like to pay taxes for the school districts of their second homes? Why should they, their children are not attending school in those districts. Would you like to pay higher taxes for the school districts of a second home?

Immigration status and in-state tuition benefits are completely irrelevant. A person's immigration status doesn't satisfy a state's concern nor is it indicative of a person's potential to be a long term resident. Past behavior, namely continued residence within the state, provides the answer. This is why, the National Council of State Legislatures and the American Federation of Teachers support the DREAM Act.

Since in-state tuition has been excluded from the DREAM Act, ask your Senators and Representatives to go further and mandate that all states provide in-state tuition benefits to all citizens, regardless of their residence in the state. We'll just sit back and watch the national fury over why an American taxpayer should subsidize the education of another state's resident.

Thanks RahmanIV!

Crossing Over: Movie Draws Attention to DREAMers

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:46:00 +0000

Crossing Over - Theatrical Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

For those lucky enough to have some money left over to go to the movies, I highly recommend Crossing Over.

Crossing Over is a multi-character canvas about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film deals with the border, document fraud, the asylum and green card process, work-site enforcement, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the clash of cultures.

The movie follows several people, one of them being an undocumented high school student. I know this will hit close to home for thousands of students in the same situation. And maybe it will shed some light into this issue that is often forgotten amid the immigration debate. This movie also has an all-star cast; including Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, and Ray Liotta. Hopefully it will change some minds!

Peter Thiel: Billionaire Facebook's Investor's Anti-Immigrant Heresy

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Insiders at Clarium Capital, the $5.3 billion hedge fund run by Facebook investor Peter Thiel, are buzzing about their boss's $1 million donation to NumbersUSA, an anti-immigrant group. The donation is an open secret within Clarium, and it has enraged several staff members who joined Clarium because they believed Thiel shared their libertarian ideals. When I asked Thiel if he'd made the donation, an underling passed on a nondenial saying the company didn't comment on "gossip and heresy." A typo — he meant to say "hearsay" — but a suggestive one. Thiel has fallen under the sway of Robertson "Rob" Morrow III, a Christian right-wing thinker who has personally donated to NumbersUSA, and persuaded Thiel to make his own, much larger donation. Source

A Facebook group has been created calling for Thiel's removal from Facebook's Board of Directors. Join the group and invite as many people as possible. Everyone should be aware of the type of people that are in charge of running this social network and hold them accountable for their actions.

Migrant Students Still Pursue American Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:27:00 +0000

TEMPE — Diego Medina found himself studying for one of the toughest semesters in nursing school yet.

“I knew it would be hard, but never thought the stress would be like a shot of adrenaline,” Medina says.

Medina, a nursing junior at ASU, was raised in Phoenix since the age of 8, when his parents brought him with them from Mexico. He went through the Arizona K-12 educational system and graduated high school with a 3.5 grade point average.

Medina was admitted into Arizona State University before he graduated from high school and was awarded a full ride scholarship to ASU along with a $500 scholarship from the Phoenix Union High School District.

But after November 2006, undocumented students like Medina were denied financial aid. That’s when voters passed Proposition 300, which restricts access to all public monies for undocumented aliens to continue their college education.

At Arizona State University alone, more than 200 students who were unable to show documentation proving legal residency in Arizona dropped out without the assistance of financial aid.

Prior to the passage of Prop. 300, undocumented students in the state of Arizona did not have access to federal financial aid. Prop. 300 further restricted accesses to state monies, such as merit-based scholarships and discounted in-state tuition.

Medina’s immigration status had never been thought of as more than an inconvenience on his daily life.

“Your immigration status wasn’t something that just came up during lunch hour,” he jokes.

Students like Medina were left without funds substantial enough to cover the $12,000 tuition difference between in-state to out-of-state status.

“I thought to myself, ‘my salary is nowhere close to enough to pay for tuition as a full-time student,’ so I just decided I would have no choice but to take once class per semester,” Medina says.

His dreams of becoming a dentist and making his parents proud soon became blurred in the light of the controversial referendum.
“I didn’t think the law would actually pass,” Medina says. “I thought this was only going to be a scare to the state for more rigid regulations in the system, but I never really thought it would go through until it did.”

In 2007, after the law was enacted activists who opposed the law created a program to help those students now illegible for scholarships they previously held. The new scholarship for undocumented students was called the Sunburst Scholarship.

Continue reading this article

Diego Medina is a perfect example of the kind of people we want and need in this country; hardworking, studious, perseverant. Just like Diego, there are thousands of students in the same situation. And even though we're going through this, we are truly some of the smartest and most dedicated students out there. We just want a chance to study and contribute to the only country they call home, The United States.

Don't Just DREAM.. Act!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:38:00 +0000

As I said before, the DREAM Act is something I have been a sponsor of in the past. Dick Durbin, my senior senator from Illinois and I have worked diligently on the issue. I was a supporter of the DREAM act when I was in the state of Illinois and we were able to get it passed. I think it is the right thing to do. I think it is something that I will continue to work on. -Barack Obama
Source

After this historic election, we now have a democratic president who is an outspoken supporter of the DREAM Act. We also have 57 democrats in the Senate, along with 255 democrats in the U.S House of Representatives. While the odds are certainly in our favor, this does not mean that the road to victory will be easy. We still have our work cut out for us and we should not, in any way, stop fighting for DREAM's passage now. On the contrary, it is now when we need to work harder than ever to make our dreams a reality.

One extremely easy way to help is to go to Change.gov - Of the People, By the People and take a few minutes to let them know that passage of the DREAM Act should be a priority for 2009. Don't let the President-Elect forget about his promise to undocumented students.

Write letters, make calls, e-mail your senators and representatives, help combat the many lies that are spread about the DREAM Act, get informed, etc etc. There are many ways to get involved and do your part to make this happen. Now is not the time to sit around and wait for it to pass on its own. Now is the time to act!

Chancellor's Message to the President-Elect

noreply@blogger.com (Maria M.) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:04:00 +0000

Dear Mr. President:

As America awakens this morning, you will already be taking on the heavy mantle of leadership. You will be looked upon to solve, among other things, the problems of our faltering economy, failing health care, increased global warming and an uncertain energy future, and the war in Iraq. In the midst of all this, I want to remind you of a precious resource that is ready to help and one that is outstandingly good America's higher education system.
Higher education in the United States, both private and public, is the envy of the world. We lead the world in education, research and innovation. We have a National Academy of Sciences formally charged with advising government. The National Academy of Sciences pointed out in a report that we must bolster science and engineering if we are to retain America's global leadership in innovation. The Department of Energy supports almost 50 percent of all federally funded research in the physical sciences and the National Institutes of Health is paramount for support of research in our health and life sciences. These investments are critically important for the nation not only to provide support to faculty to carry out basic and applied research but to attract and train graduate students who will be the next generation of discoverers and innovators. We must also broaden support for humanities and social sciences as part of a strong research ecosystem. Today's great global challenges cross many disciplines and require solutions that bring perspectives that are social and humanistic as well as scientific.
There is much incontrovertible evidence of the benefits of higher education both to individuals and to society. According to the US Census Bureau, the national median annual income of college graduates without advanced degrees is $51,700, while those with only a high school education earn just over $30,000 and those without a high school diploma earn less than $20,000 a year. Those with only a high school education are twice as likely to be unemployed and three times as likely to require public assistance as college graduates. Better-educated people are more likely to vote and to participate in the civic life of their communities. Education helps with the development of the critical thinking skills that are necessary to succeed in a global society. To give every qualified student the opportunity for a college education, we must look at significantly increasing financial aid for those with need. This must be done through increasing grants, not loans. Students who are already financially disadvantaged as they enter college should not also graduate disadvantaged with high debts. Programs that offer loan forgiveness to encourage college graduates to go into public service positions, which are often low-paying, should be aggressively implemented.
There is one group of students in particular who need your immediate attention-undocumented students. Our failure to give these students a path to success and to citizenship is a terrible waste of young talent-talent that this country desperately needs. Each year across the nation, 50,000 to 60,000 undocumented students graduate from high school after having spent at least five years in this country. The Dream Act, which provided access to financial aid and a thoughtfully mapped-out path to citizenship, became entangled in the failed immigration bill. It is time to revive and pass the act on its own merits.
Finally, you should know that universities genuinely want to provide the best education possible to our students. We value our autonomy and understand that with that privilege comes responsibility to those who support us. We have always been and will continue to be fully accountable. Proposals to tax our endowments and to impose upon us highly bureaucratic measures of accountability will take us in the wrong direction. We should preserve the policies that have made it possible for our higher education system to be the envy of the world. In that way, we can pledge our help to you, Mr. President, to bring the power of our unparalleled system of research and education to work in support of a better America and a better world.
Robert Birgeneau is the chancellor of UC Berkeley

Source