As the immigration debate heats up, advocates for immigration rights took to Hayden Lawn on Monday, looking to continue pushing for student support of the DREAM Act, proposed federal legislation that would provide a path for undocumented students to become U.S. citizens.
ASU student group Arizona Dream Act Coalition hosted the event, showcasing speakers and live entertainment along with a handful of tables set up as information booths.
The coalition’s focus was raising awareness of the DREAM Act.
Known as S.729 in the Senate and H.R. 1751 in the House of Representatives, the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act has received bipartisan support in its goal of providing a legal pathway for an estimated 1.2 million undocumented students.
The act would provide a legal pathway for undocumented students to gain conditional residency if they were brought into the U.S. before age 16, graduated from high school, have not left the country in their time here and demonstrate good moral character.
Under the act, students would be able to seek permanent status after completion of two years at a community college or university or two years of military service.
The organizer of Monday’s event, called Opportunity Fest, was German Cadenas, a 2009 ASU graduate with degrees in psychology and business administration.
Cadenas is a member of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition.
The event was a celebration of the opportunities and diversity that immigration has brought to the country, he said.
“We are pushing for the DREAM Act ... that will allow for students who were brought here by their parents, it wasn’t their choice,” Cadenas said. “They are bilingual, they’re educated, they have good moral character and if they were given the chance they would contribute to this country.”
The act was introduced in Congress on March 26, 2009, but has not been voted on. Coalition social chair of events Marina Acosta said supporters of the bill are waiting for enough backing before going to a vote.
“In Congress right now, or in politics, DREAM students don’t have a voice right now,” Acosta said. “If ASU students can agree with us that this is a piece of legislation that is feasible, that can be passed and will benefit the country, then we need their help in making sure Congress knows this and that it gets passes as soon as possible.”
A similar act was brought forward in 2007 but was defeated in the Senate after not reaching 60 votes, leaving the issue open to filibuster and eliminating the bill’s chances of passing without rigorous debate.
Acosta said she thinks the bill will see a vote before the end of the year.
“These students are already contributing to the economy, to society,” Acosta said. “They volunteer, they do as much as they can to incorporate themselves into this society and I want students to know that it is just that nine-digit number that keeps them from reaching so many goals and dreams.”
Event volunteer Leah Carnine, 26, said she considers herself an ally of the act and of the coalition.
“I’m here to just put some elbow grease in to support their work because I think the struggle for immigrant rights is one of the most crucial struggles of our time,” she said.
President of College Republicans at ASU Jessica Bolitho said the DREAM Act should not be supported on all sides of the table.
“I’m not really sure who calls the legislation win-win or bipartisan, but that’s not exactly the case across the board,” Bolitho said.
“There may be some Republicans that support it, but there are more that aren’t in support of the legislation.”
Bolitho said the act would undermine current federal law by creating incentives to break the law and would be a slap in the face for U.S. citizens who pay out-of-state tuition versus undocumented students who would, under the act, pay in-state costs.
Reach the reporter at kpatton4@asu.edu
