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Chasing their DREAMsRally backs measure that would provide legalization path for kids of illegalsPeter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterWednesday, June 24, 2009 |  | | Students held a rally yesterday at the state Capitol in support of the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. Denver Daily News photo by Peter Marcus. |
A seventh-grade Denver charter school student says Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform so that he can follow his dreams.
“As kids, we dream about becoming doctors or lawyers, but it is very hard for undocumented students to make these dreams come true,” said Jesus, a seventh-grade Cesar Chavez Academy student who declined to give his last name because of the controversial nature of the topic. “They go to school from kindergarten through eighth grade. But once they get to high school they realize how hard it is for undocumented students to go to college. Many of them lose hope and give up on going to school and end up dropping out. Their dreams cannot come true.”
Wearing caps and gowns yesterday and holding a mock graduation ceremony, student members of Metro Organizations for People stood on the west steps of the Capitol to display their support for federal legislation that would grant undocumented students up to six years of legal residence to pursue a college degree. The rally was also backed by Padres & Jovenes Unidos. Following completion of a two-year college, or two years towards a four-year degree, the DREAM Act would allow for students to obtain permanent residency.
It is estimated that around 50,000 undocumented students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions across America — they would all be eligible for the DREAM Act.
Colorado lawmakers this year attempted to pass legislation that would have offered in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants. But the Tuition Equity bill failed in the Senate just as it has on three previous occasions.
Supporters want pathway
Supporters of immigration reform are encouraging Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. President Barack Obama has signaled his support for such reform, but acknowledges that it will be difficult to achieve reform this year.
Some lawmakers, however — including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — believe they can have legislation ready for debate by the fall. The question is finding floor time to advance such comprehensive reform.
Obama tomorrow will host a group of lawmakers to discuss reform efforts.
In a recent interview with the Denver Daily News, former Congressman Tom Tancredo — an outspoken critic of illegal immigration — pointed out that there already exists a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.
“There is a pathway to citizenship, we’ve had it for a long, long time,” he said last week. “It’s called, ‘Come in the door marked immigration, legal immigration.’”
Meanwhile, DREAM Act supporters stood at the Capitol yesterday holding signs and chanting, “Sí, se puede,” Spanish for, “Yes, we can.”
Boasberg backs DREAM Act
Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg also spoke in support of the legislation.
“Everything we do in our schools emphasizes college and the importance of going to college, and yet we say to our students who work for it, who graduate from high school — in some cases who graduate from honors — we don’t give them the right to go to college that we give to other students and that’s not fair, and that’s not right,” said Boasberg.
Elisa, a recent Denver high school graduate, said that out of the 800 students in her original class, only 300 graduated. She blames a lack of comprehensive immigration reform for those alarming statistics.
“Many of those 500 students were the ones who once had dreams and goals to be the best that they could be, but, at some point, faced with hardships and negativity, were forced to turn off the light that made them who they were and lost the hope of who they could be,” she said. “It is devastating to see people who were once so cheerful and positive go through their lives continually asking why should they continue to work so hard when faced with the storm of a broken immigration system if they will never get to see the rainbow after the storm … they will have to reminisce all their life of what could have been and what will never be.”
| Comments: |
| @ 2009-06-24 08:12:15 | I believe everyone should folllow the current system we have in place for obtaining legal citizenship. We have a process in place already many friends of mine have worked hard to become legal citizens int eh United States. they feel proud. Why do we not make exceptions from other countries. We have a current process already that has worked for so many. |
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| Bob Mateski @ 2009-06-24 21:26:41 | Wait just a minute here, I do NOT support this and here is why, my grandparents immigrated to this country back in the early 1900's and did it in a legal manner.
If we do allow this we will just reward illegal behavior and we will never get it stopped, I do feel sorry for the kids but they should be blaming their parents not pushing for a reward system.
My grandfather would be extremely angry if he were alive and read this story, he would probably start cussing in Polish and pacing in his back yard or kitchen.
If the state really wants to serve the majority of the people in this state, STOP pandering to people who break the law and then ask to be rewarded.
I promiss you that the voting public in this state will be watching our elected officials on this and similar junk they want to push thru.
If the lawmakers in this state want to save face on this, then send it to the voters of this state and you will get your answer! |
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| MaryJ @ 2009-06-25 12:17:58 | Notice how they respect our country so much, they put their demands for hand-outs in Spanish! If you are asking for a hand-out from English-speaking people, the least you could do is ask for it in our language, not yours. |
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| Linda D @ 2009-06-26 17:37:33 | Both of my parents immigrated to the US, one from Germany in the 1930s and one from France right after WWII. Yes, they were both "legal" but they would NOT oppose the Dream Act. On the contrary, they would applaud helping motivated but undocumented students who have proven their commitment by completing two years of post-secondary education. My father got his chance at college via the GI BIll. Let today's kids get their via the Dream Act. |
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| Carlos Hernandez @ 2009-06-26 18:18:17 | As a new and proud U.S. citizen from Texas, I had the opportunity to travel across the country to advocate for the DREAM Act at the National DREAM Graduation in Washington D.C. The DREAM Act is a proposed legislation that if passed will result in many associated socioeconomic benefits like an increase in tax-revenues, the promotion of an educated and competitive workforce and additions to our armed forces. The beneficiaries of this proposed law would be those brought to the United States as minors, have been educated in the American system with some already holding professional degrees and have no criminal records. They are the children all states invest so much in educating from K to12 and as a tax paying citizen it baffles me that after such a large investment we are reluctant to bring them into the tax paying system and collect the state’s due return on investment. Many cry that “they are already taking so much from our nation;” yet those same critics refuse to give them a viable venue to pay back. Being from Texas and working in the oil field I understand the importance of tapping our resources and DREAM Act beneficiaries are just that, untapped resources. They are the untapped resources that our U.S. labor market and U.S. armed forces needs; therefore we must allow them to contribute to the country, as they so desire.
I am a strong advocate of this bill because like all DREAM Act beneficiaries I was brought to this country as child and because four years ago I was a University of Texas graduate and a would-be-DREAM Act beneficiary. Unlike most DREAM Act beneficiaries my fate took a turn for the better when I met my wife and thus adjusted my immigration status. Today I am a full contributing member of society working as a Petroleum Engineer for an international oil & gas operator while pursuing my master’s degree at the University of Texas. I am a responsible tax payer and home owner of two properties, however, had I not met my wife in college I would have either continued to mow yards for a living or gone back to Mexico to put my degree to use; neither which would have been of benefit to the U.S., the country that educated me.
With that in mind, not all students are as fortunate as I am and the only hope for many students to become recognized contributing members of society is through the DREAM Act. Our country needs to deal with healthcare, the economy and immigration; the DREAM Act is one venue that tackles all three issues. In regards to healthcare, the DREAM Act would help our country meet its need for healthcare professionals brought about by the aging baby boomers. The economy would greatly benefit in the long term from the tax-revenue that all of the beneficiaries would contribute as professionals and no longer as low-wage employees. Finally in regards to immigration, this proposal will not completely eradicate the flaws in our immigration system but it would be an important first step to reforming it in a feasible, realistic and profitable manner.
Endorsements from American icons of capitalism and education, Microsoft, College Board and flagship universities have highlighted the DREAM Act’s direct impact on our nation’s human capital. With such endorsements of the DREAM Act it would only makes sense for U.S. congress members and the President to take the leadership in supporting this bill as well. Every day this first step is not taken is one more day the U.S. is losing out on its investments so to expedite our country’s due return on investment we have to move forward with the DREAM Act.
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| Joe @ 2009-06-26 23:02:13 | They should be sent back to their own County and made to apply for citizenship like my grandparents had to do. The LEGAL way. Why do we reward illegal behavior? That just breeds more illegal behavior, |
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