RI Immigration Attorney posts recent article regarding Immigration reform in the United States and what this means for those who are students here in this country. The article discusses the proposed reform that would allow hundreds of thousands of undocumented students in this country to remain to finish their educations.
The full article follows below.
Vote on DREAM Act is scheduled soon
December 8, 2010
While Democrats struggle to find enough votes to make a federal immigration reform bill a reality, members of the Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California gathered on the steps of San Bernardino City Hall last week to urge local elected officials to support a proposal that would legalize hundreds of thousands of undocumented students.
Despite the fact that the proposed bill faces long odds, supporters hope the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) will pass in order to allow thousands of people who arrived to the United States as minors a path to legalization and eventual naturalization.
"We call for Congress not to betray the hopes and dreams of thousands of young people across the nation who are counting on their support," said Emilio Amaya, executive director at the San Bernardino Community Services Center.
Supporters of the DREAM Act also ask legislators to not support amendments that would deny young permanent residents or citizens the right to petition for family members, deny them in-state-tuition, and mandate the use of E-verify, a "flawed and costly system which would cause numerous workers, immigrant and non-immigrant alike to lose their jobs."
"We expect our senators and members of Congress to do everything in their power to move the DREAM Act forward in its present form, without amendments that would harm thousands of families and exacerbate the pain caused by an already broken immigration system," said Moises Escalante, chairman of the Coalition.
Many Republicans and some Democrats have opposed the DREAM Act, saying it would amount of amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Among the estimated 825,000 persons that would benefit from the DREAM Act is 23-year-old Veronica Briones, who arrived in the United States 20 years ago together with her mother as they escaped a violent and abusive father from Mexico.
Briones, a Riverside Community College student, is one of 553,000 possible candidates who live in California. A mother of a little girl, Briones hopes government gives her an opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty to the nation by allowing her to finish her upper education.
"Let us demonstrate that we are here to work and be good citizens. Let us demonstrate that we are not criminals, as some people portray us. Give us the chance and we would use it to finish school. We could be the next doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, nurses, and teachers," Briones pledged to both the Senate and House of Representatives. "Don't close the doors on us ... don't kill our dreams."
The DREAM Act has some support in the House but faces a much bigger hurdle at the Senate, where, as of Dec. 7, it did not have the 60 votes required to pass.
According to reports, the Senate was set to vote on it on Wednesday. If the bill is signed into law by President Barack Obama, who supports it, it would allow legalization and a path to naturalization to those undocumented residents who either attend or enlist in the military; those who arrived to this country before the age of 16 and are under 35; and those who can demonstrate good moral standing.
While some people call the DREAM Act a form of amnesty that would drain government funds and throw American students who are citizens off universities and colleges, others see it as a way to bolster the economy. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said on a letter to Congress that the DREAM Act would allow current students to fulfill their goals in life and possibly create the new Google or Intel.
Local legislators, including Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) and Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs), among others, will not vote in favor of the DREAM Act as it stands, their offices said. Other legislators, such as David Dreier (R-San Dimas), have not announced a decision yet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Divorce, Immigration, or Estate Law in RI or MA contact Massachusetts and Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Rui P. Alves at 401-942-3100 or CONTACT him via email.
No comments:
Post a Comment