| DREAM ACT Club |
"Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) (S. 2075)."
BACKGROUND
Under current law, there are very few means, if any, for undocumented students who were brought here as children to legalize their immigration status and go to college. This is true even for those who have lived most of their lives here, speak English fluently, and have excelled in school. Moreover, federal restrictions slow down states from providing in-state tuition or other benefits to these students. The results are tragic, both for the children and for the rest of us, who will be deprived of the future these students could have led.
The DREAM Act (S. 2075) represents efforts to provide a path towards citizenship to undocumented young people who have spent most of their lives in the United States, who have graduate from high school here, and who can demonstrate good moral character.
CURRENT ISSUES
The DREAM Act includes two major provisions:
(1) Restoration of State Right to Determine Residency for Purposes of Higher Education Benefits
The students will have the same rights, as their peers to in-state tuition, and their residency status will not influence in that decision.
(2) Immigration Relief for Long-term Resident Students
The DREAM Act would also make possible for undocumented students in America's junior high schools to apply for legal status if they have good moral character and have lived in the United States for at least five years. With legal status, these students can go to college and eventually become United States citizens.
SPONSORS and CO-SPONSORS
DREAM Act (S.2075) - From Illinois, Sen. Durbin is an original sponsor and when Obama was senator he was a co-sponsor. there are a total of 18 co-sponsor in the Senate.
A bill has not yet been filed in the House for this session. However, in the previous Congress, the Student Adjustment Act, a parallel bill was co-sponsored by seven members from Illinois. those members were: Reps. Gutierrez (4th dist.), Schakowsky (9th dist.), Emanuel (5th dis.), Jackson, Jr. (2nd dist.), LaHood (18th dist.), Shimkus (19th dist.) and Weller (11th dist.). There were a total of 147 co-sponsors in the House.
For more information, please contact Alheli Herrera, Youth Organizer, at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at (312)332-7360, ext. 18 or alheli@icirr.org
The DREAM Act Club is a club in which students help the community, raise funds for scholarships, and stay update with the immigration news!!!
In this club are three committees, they are: The DREAM Act Committee, The Community Service Committee, and The Scholarship Committee.
- The DREAM Act Committee is about getting update with the immigration news, and sending letters to the senators of Illinois. The members of this committee is planning to write a letter to the President Obama.
- The Community Service Committee is about searching ways how we can help the community. For example: Last year we helped a lot of people to fill out the citizenship forms.
- The Scholarship Committee is about making fund raises to get money for the scholarships that the Dream Act Club gives away to its members.
Do you want to join the club? If so, the meetings are every Thursday, after 8th period in room 359!
VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE
When? Friday, February 20, 2009
Where? Restaurante Los Girasoles, 3661 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL
Need tickets? Tickets cost $10. You can buy them from a DREAM Act Club member or at room 116.
"LUCHANDO POR UN SUEÑO"