Elections and Immigration

Election Day has come and gone and most of us are asking ourselves what’s next? With the shift in power in Washington that we have seen, what can we expect regarding Immigration Reform? It seems like Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a long shot at this point. We should, without a doubt, continue our fight for justice and fairness, and hope for a change in the near future.

But while Comprehensive Immigration Reform may not be possible right now, there is another very real possibility through the DREAM Act.

As you know, the DREAM Act would provide a path for citizenship for immigrant youth brought into the United States by their parents while undocumented before they were 16; young people that have stayed in school and have exhibited good moral values, just like US citizens.

The DREAM Act would allow these immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the military. It would also eliminate the ability to penalize states for providing in-state tuition to undocumented students.

If passed into law, the DREAM Act would have a life-changing impact on the students who qualify, and their families, increasing dramatically the professional potential of young immigrants and in turn, the U.S. would benefit from their contributions in the form of more taxes.

And the best news for us all is that the DREAM Act is up for a vote on November 29th. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put it up for a vote one more time, with a real chance of passing.

But we cannot just sit and wait to see what happens, there are lots of things that we can do, and we should. You need to call on your congressional leaders and tell them that passing the DREAM Act is important to you. It does not matter if we are undocumented, we can still participate. You can also share information about the DREAM Act with your peers, family and friends, and ask them to participate, through making calls, faxing, or sending e-mails.

There are tons of young people involved in this movement. Find them on facebook by searching the dream act. Get involved in your community organizations or find an organization near you where you can contribute with your time and talent. There can never be too much help or support.

Now that we have talked about the DREAM Act and where it stands, what do you think about it? Is there someone who you know might benefit from it? Is it you? Or, are there people you might know wanting to get involved and not knowing how? If so, you can refer them to this page. Below are some links that you can visit, explore and share with those who may want to know more.

One thing to keep in mind is that if the DREAM Act is enacted into law, it would be a great first step in the right direction towards Comprehensive Immigration Reform. In the next few blogs we will talk about why Comprehensive Immigration Reform makes sense, morally and economically and what we all can do to push for it.

If you care to learn more about the DREAM Act and what is happening around the issue, visit these websites. You may even find the perfect opportunity to participate.

http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/index.shtml

http://icirr.org/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1119664532#!/nuestra.voz

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1119664532#!/Student.Immigrant.Movement

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1119664532#!/williamperezphd