A letter to DREAMers and Advocates:
I am so disappointed - again -about the votes in the Senate yesterday. I am so sorry for the students who have worked so hard.
THE DREAM ACT IS NOT DEAD. It still exists as S.729. It has NOT been voted down.
We all knew it was risky to bring it up now. We knew we probably did not have the votes. And we were dealt an expected blow from the Republicans in the Senate.
Please note that two Democrats failed to vote for this first procedural motion: Lincoln and Pryor. Also - some senators continued to speak for the DREAM ACT after that vote.
What is the strategy now? Have heard from two national groups with suggestions. There will be more tomorrow.
NILC reported over 100,000 calls made to senators, but they still knew the vote might fail. They are already working on strategy.
It is possible that the senators may not bring this up until the lame duck session. But it will come up, one way or another. Reid can call them back for extra sessions until he gets a vote.
As CADENA we do not want to do anything too quickly until we have direction.
I think we need to wait for instructions from Senator Durbin as well as all the national organizations that supported the DREAM ACT.
We just need to be sure everyone knows that the DREAM ACT IS NOT DEAD - in spite of what some news anchors said today.
Please do not be too disappointed.
Let's continue supporting the DREAM Act and the young students and professionals.
Genie Zavaleta,
Chairwoman, CADENA
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Dream and the Military Component
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's initiative to attach the DREAM act to the defense authorization bill is appropriate due to the strong military component of the DREAM.
There are many successful ROTC trained young persons, willing to sacrifice, defend the country they consider theirs and serve honorably on the armed forces of the USA. They are just happen to be here since childhood, undocumented and without a path to a legalization.
Senator McConnell's assertion that the DREAM act attachment to the bill as "extraneous" is a disservice to the many members of the armed forces that choose to serve, some even died, without the benefit of the citizenship for themselves or/and their families, or many in the past that have served even as undocumented immigrants, before more strict laws and scrutiny was passed.
Right now only persons who are legal residents can enroll.
The young persons affected only need a chance to access a process of legal status only provided by legislative change trough the DREAM, because the" line" for them never existed.
Joe Arvizu, an ROTC member who died tragically after being medically deported is a great example of the aspirations of these dedicated youth. Honoring his dreams of service with the passage of the bill will be a great homage.
There are many successful ROTC trained young persons, willing to sacrifice, defend the country they consider theirs and serve honorably on the armed forces of the USA. They are just happen to be here since childhood, undocumented and without a path to a legalization.
Senator McConnell's assertion that the DREAM act attachment to the bill as "extraneous" is a disservice to the many members of the armed forces that choose to serve, some even died, without the benefit of the citizenship for themselves or/and their families, or many in the past that have served even as undocumented immigrants, before more strict laws and scrutiny was passed.
Right now only persons who are legal residents can enroll.
The young persons affected only need a chance to access a process of legal status only provided by legislative change trough the DREAM, because the" line" for them never existed.
Joe Arvizu, an ROTC member who died tragically after being medically deported is a great example of the aspirations of these dedicated youth. Honoring his dreams of service with the passage of the bill will be a great homage.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
DREAM Act: Myths and Realities
Not even seasoned journalists get it right all the time. The DREAM Act is a small legislation of less than 10 pages but most of the time I read an article about it I cringe. It often contain some time of misconception or mistake in it's description, information that can be used by the critics to distort the message of hope for undocumented immigrants. Here are some of the Myths and Realities of the DREAM.
Myth: The DREAM Act will give citizenship to "illegal aliens".
Reality: It creates a conditional path to legal residency. There is not automatic citizenship for anyone. The road to citizenship is long, it can take more than 6 years and some may decide to stay as legal residents permanently.
Myth: The beneficiaries are only the College super-stars.
Reality: Any good kid that fulfill the requirements of:
1.-Good moral Character
2.-Finishing High School
3.-Have arrived to the USA before the age of 16 years
4.-Have being living on the USA 5 continuous years since the implementation of the legislation, may be a beneficiary IF he or she commits to two years of post-secondary education or two years in the military.
Myth: The DREAM Act is way to turn Hispanic in war mercenaries.
Reality: Young persons will have to clear options: commit for two years of service on the armed forces OR two years of post secondary education. There is not forced militarization.
Moreover, there are youth longing to belong to the USA military service and we respect and support their personal choices.
Myth: The DREAM Act should not be attached at the military authorization bill.
Reality:The DREAM Act has a strong military component. It is one of the options given to the students to advance on their participation on the community along with post-secondary education. It is a complete disservice to the generations of minorities and immigrant that had honorably served in the USA armed forces, many times without the benefit of legal residency or citizenship, that the military component on the DREAM Act does not matter and it is downplayed by the Republican leadership.
There are many undocumented students whose DREAM is precisely to belong to the military as Joe Arzivu. Read his story here.
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