This weekend, students across the country spoke out on an issue that has sparked hot debate among the public and politicians since the passage of Arizona’s most infamous immigration law earlier this year. Immigration reform has been a priority of the Obama Administration and Congressional leaders and a part of comprehensive reform will be revisited today when the Senate considers moving forward on a vote on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (the Dream Act).
College students have voiced their support of the law, which would give a path to citizenship to students who were brought into this country as children and are not citizens or do not have legal status and have resided here for at least five years. On Sunday, students in Florida spelled out a life-size message with their own bodies on South Beach: Call LeMieux! Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL) has yet to publically comment on his position on the bill.
California immigrants wearing caps and gowns staged a public fast, while students in Utah organized a call-in campaign and sit-down vigil to voice their support. In Phoenix and Boston, Republican Senators John McCain and Scott Brown received a visit from dozens of students performing military drills outside their office buildings. These students wish to enter the military under the terms of the student bill, but cannot due to their immigration status.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) attached the Dream Act as a rider to the defense appropriations bill that is scheduled to come up for a preliminary hearing this afternoon; though it’s unclear whether there is enough support to overcome Sen. McCain’s threatened filibuster.
Tags: Dream Act, Florida, Sen. George LeMieux
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Amanda Pagay Bio: Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
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