Because it’s the right thing to do.

 

Don’t you wish it were that easy? There are rights and wrongs and here we have a right to a wrong.

 

The DREAM Act (or Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) of 2009 is a bill that would allow young people who entered the country illegally a path to citizenship (keep in mind that this illegal act is often times a decision of parents). The nuts and bolts are this simple. There are four requirements. You must:

If you pass these criteria, you have six years to get a two-year college degree or complete two years of military service as a permanent resident. Once that is complete you will be given the chance to become a permanent resident.

 

It’s that simple.

 

So why is it taking so long for this bill to move anywhere? A version of the DREAM Act has been introduced to congress for eight years and still not passed. President Obama supports it. As a senator, he was a co-sponsor. He even regularly mentioned it at speeches on the campaign trail (especially if it was a brown event…just sayin’).

 

It’s time we get more communities on board supporting this bill and push it through congress NOW. If they aren’t down with the “it’s the right thing to do” argument, let me try to sway thoughts with this information.

 

So here is my pitch to the sexual and reproductive health community:

A recent study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and the National Council of La Raza showed that (shock) Latino teens have the same goals as their peers. 84% of Latino teens and 91% of Latino parents believe that graduating from college or university or having a promising career is the most important goal for a teen’s future. So if young people are unable to attend college or obtain a decent career because of their immigration status, how do you think that impacts their choices and their goals?

 

Here is my pitch to everyone else:
 

I used to be a teacher. As teachers, we treat our students the same. We don’t know how long they’ve been in this country and frankly we don’t care. As educators, we are there to educate all of our students. We are there to empower all of our students and work with them to reach their dreams and goals. But there is nothing worse than hearing a story like my former student told me last month. 

 

She had been in this country for six years. Her family brought her here with her brother and sisters for a better life. Within three years not only was she out of English as a Second Language classes, she was in Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement classes. By graduation day, she ranked 24^th in her class of over 500. She should have attended college in Houston on a full ride soccer scholarship, but was too afraid because she did not have her papers. Coaches even went as far to obtain a high school diploma from Mexico (so she could be an “international” student), but she was too scared to even write down her family’s contact information on her school forms. She was afraid that her family would some how get caught for her going away to college which would ruin their chances at applying for citizenship later on (yes, her family does plan on applying for citizenship but it takes many, many years and a lot of money). Telling her soccer coach she had to turn down everything she worked so hard for was heart wrenching. While she told me this story, we were both fighting back tears. 

 

She said, “Miss, this is the price of dreaming big.” 

 

That is not what teachers want to hear from our students. We tell them work hard and they’ll reach their dreams. She worked hard to reach her dream, but because her family made the choice to fight for a better life for their family, she is being held back. 

 

But that is only one of many stories. Many of my other students are in similar situations. There are valedictorians, student council presidents, varsity athletes, members of the National Honor Society, band nerds, and cheerleaders by the thousands located across the country. And thousands are about to start their senior year and afraid of what happens next. 

 

So to any organization or any person who cares about young people, this is something we must act on now. Young people are being deported every day. In fact, Walter Lara from Florida, who only found out he was in this country illegally when he was applying for college, has a deportation date of July 6^th. He came here when he was three and has no recollection of Argentina, the country where he was born. (To learn more about Walter’s story and work to stop his deportation, go here)

 

Benita Veliz  is also in removal proceedings. Here is her story from the DREAM Act National Graduation held in Washington, DC in June.
 

 

So please, call your representatives and tell them to support and move this bill forward NOW. It’s that serious.

 

And just as an extra plug, many others (and some surprising) have become vocal in their support for the DREAM Act. Here are a few:
 

The College Board (they administer the SAT)

 

 

How could youth organizations not jump on board???? They’re making us look bad.

 

Links about and how to get involved with passing the DREAM Act:

For educators: http://educatorsforthedreamact.org/
For young people and everyone else that wants to get involved: 
www.dreamactivist.org