Group Rallies To Keep "Dream Act" Alive
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Undocumented students and their supporters in the City Council vowed Wednesday to continue the fight to make the Dream Act a reality.
The group rallied outside City Hall where they expressed their frustration that the Senate did not consider the legislation.
The Dream Act would provide a path to citizenship to students who arrived in the United States before the age of 16 and complete a college degree or serve two years in the military.
The City Council Committees on Education and Immigration held a hearing, urging the Senate to pass the bill, saying an educated workforce benefits the entire economy.
"The United State of America is a country of immigrants. New York City has always been the place where immigrants become citizens and the Dream Act will enable the immigrants in New York City to become educated citizens," said CUNY Vice Chancellor Eduardo Marti.
"An immigrant is someone who has sacrificed, whose family or themselves, has sacrificed everything they had and knew to come to this country and work really hard for better opportunities. And it's really up to us to offer those opportunities so that people can excel and achieve their dreams and make sure that they bring the biggest benefit to this country," said student Walter Barrientos.
The legislation was attached to the defense bill that was blocked from debate by a Republican-led filibuster Tuesday.
Opponents of the bill say it could encourage illegal immigration.