by Alex Meneses Miyashita
The DREAM Act, an uphill battle Activists and students show support for DREAM Act, while other students endure a week-long hunger strike in the San Francisco Civic Center. (file photos by Marvin J. Ramirez)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D-Nev) has stated the intention to bring the so-Galled DREAM Act to the floor of the Senate by mid November.
The legislation would offer a path to legalization to certain undocumented students who finish high school and then attend college or join the military.
The bill, which supporters expected was going to be voted on last week as part of the Department of Defense authorization | bill, was blocked by | Republican lawmakers Sept. 26 and removed by Reid from I further consideration. Bill sponsor Sen. Dick Durbin (D-111.) stated afterwards, “I am disappointed that the Republican leadership has blocked my efforts to offer the DREAM Act as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill despite the fact that it would help to solve the military’s recruitment crisis “
Students on hunger strike.
The legislation has the support of some national Hispanic, immigrant rights and education groups.
“The Dream Act is really a question of educational opportunity for young people who have been brought up in this country,~ said National Council of La Raza vice president Cecilia Munoz.
According to supporters, an stand to benefit from the bill.
However, some Latino activists are coming out against it so long as it contains the military provisions.
Among them was the Association of Raza Educators, based in Los Angeles, which called the legislation “a ploy by the United States government to create a de-facto military draft for undocumented students.”
Hispanic Link.
