Dream and Promise Act of 2019

https://www.clasp.org/press-room/press-releases/dream-and-promise-act-provides-needed-solution-immigrant-families#.XIfyPn3TqXE.email

Dream and Promise Act Provides a Needed Solution for Immigrant Families

Washington, D.C., March 12, 2019—More than two million people with long-term roots in the United States who are key supports to their families and communities are one step closer to a clear, attainable path to citizenship thanks to today’s introduction of the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) in the House of Representatives by Members Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Yvette Clark (D-NY). The bill addresses the crisis faced by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) beneficiaries and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as a result of the Trump Administration’s actions.

The bill provides a permanent solution for immigrants whose lives have been turned upside down by the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to terminate protected status for more than 800,000 DACA young adults and more than 400,000 people with TPS or DED. It comes at a critical time as DACA, TPS, and DED beneficiaries are caught in limbo while the federal court system grapples with the future of their protections. (see full article)

LULAC On Dreamers and the Trump Proposals

nd | Subscribe |  |  |  For Immediate Release January 31, 2018 LULAC OPPOSES TRUMP IMMIGRATION FRAMEWORK CALLS UPON CONGRESS TO PASS A CLEAN DREAM ACT Washington, D.C. – The League of United Latin American Citizens has long supported the passage of a clean DREAM Act that would provide a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants who were brought to this country as children by their parents and have graduated from high school. The issue has taken on even more urgency with LULAC since the election of Donald Trump and his decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by March 5, 2018. Our position on the DREAM Act has been clear: we believe that passing the DREAM Act is the right thing to do for the DREAMers and in the best interest of the United States who will benefit from their talent and work ethic. This position has been adopted by the National Assembly of LULAC on multiple occasions and remains in force today. We do not believe that the DREAM Act should be coupled with any additional border enforcement measures or the elimination of family visa categories, since the bill by itself represents the best of American values, and gives blameless young people the chance to succeed and contribute to our country. Not surprisingly, eighty-six percent of the American public agrees with us and supports the passage of the DREAM Act.

Call Congress- Demand a Clean Dream Act

See post  and photo below:  Undocumented and Unafraid.

 "I am doing this because we need change in our immigration system and we will no longer be ignored. We are not victims, we are warriors.

Now more than ever I need you to be in this fight with me. Call your Senators, call your Representatives, and demand a Clean #DreamActNow! Do it for the thousands of undocumented youth who don’t know what is going to happen to them in the next few months.

Send me your love and your rage.

Abrazos,

Belen

#UndocumentedUnafraidAndUnapologetic"

Are you inspired by Belén’s example? By her courage and clarity and commitment to her cause? Are you ready to contact Congress now? Send them emails and then call the Congressional Switchboard 202-224-3121 to tell your elected officials to pass a Clean DREAM Act.

Call these people:

Paul Cook (CA-08) 

Website	https://cook.house.gov
Contact	1222 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-5861

Darrell Issa (CA-49)

Website	https://issa.house.gov
Contact	2269 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-3906

Devin Nunes (CA-22)

Website	https://nunes.house.gov/
Contact	1013 Longworth House Office Building (202) 225-2523

Ed Royce (CA-39)

Website	https://royce.house.gov/
Contact	2310 Rayburn House Office Building (202) 225-4111

Mimi Walters (CA-45)

Website	https://walters.house.gov/
Contact	215 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-5611

Sent to you by the Immigrants’ Rights Committee of DSA.

Also:  See Democratic Left post today.   It is an introduction to a piece by David Bacon.   http://www.dsausa.org/migration_labor_and_u_s_policy

 The linked articles are left analysis of migration and the role of U.S. policy.

Clean Dream Act Now

Nancy Pelosi Press Conference Derailed by Dreamer Protesters in San Fran...

SAN FRANCISCO — Protesters shouted down House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, on Monday morning, denouncing her for negotiating with President Donald Trump as she tried to hold a news conference advocating for the Dream Act.

About 40 young protesters, including undocumented immigrants, surrounded her as she started an event at College Track, an education nonprofit in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, shouting at the top of their lungs for 30 minutes straight.

The protesters harangued Pelosi for using Dreamers as “bargaining chips” in negotiations with Trump, and for being “complicit” with stepped-up deportations under the eight years of the Obama administration.

“You met with Trump and you call that resistance?” they chanted. “This is what resistance looks like!”

In recent weeks, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have held several meetings with Trump, and last week announced that they were making progress toward a deal that would involve passing the Dream Act — which would protect young undocumented people brought to the U.S. illegally as children — in exchange for some border security measures.

Many of the protesters said they opposed that deal, and others said that they opposed the Dream Act because it didn’t cover enough undocumented immigrants. The bill would essentially replace provisions of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program put in place by Obama.

Pelosi, who looked on uncomfortably from the middle of the protest, tried several times to talk with the demonstrators, telling them, “I totally agree with you.” But she barely got a few words in as they continued their call-and-response chanting

Dick Durbin Challenges Ted Cruz To Tell The Truth About Immigration

DACA.  Sen. Cruz
thanks to Latino Rebels for finding this video. 

Oct 5, Immigration Reform Marches

Rallies took place in more than 150 cities across the U.S. on Saturday in an effort to restart the push for comprehensive immigration reform led by a group of bi-partisan lawmakers earlier this year.

Organizers of the "Day of Dignity and Respect" events in cities from New York to Los Angeles hope to draw fresh attention to an issue that was at the forefront of the national dialogue in July when the Senate passed an immigration bill that would have included a path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented individuals in the U.S., but House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has refused to put to a vote.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the House introduced a similar measure Thursday, which will likely also face opposition from House Republicans, many of whom are wary of supporting anything that could be perceived as "amnesty" for individuals who broke immigration laws to get to the U.S.

House Republicans have also let it be known that they prefer a more step-by-step approach to the immigration issue in contrast to the broader measures in the Senate bill.  

A Great Day for Activism- and for America

by Randy Shaw

Beyond Chron- August 16,2012

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=10406

For the estimated 1.2 million young undocumented immigrants
who began signing up for President Obama's "Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals" legalization program, August 15, 2012
will forever signify the power of grassroots activism. Those
eligible under the program will be able to legally work and
live in the United States but will not gain permanent
legalization status or a path to citizenship. Obama
implemented his "most ambitious immigration initiative" in
response to both growing Latino political power and the
courageous and inspiring grassroots pressure from young DREAM
ACTivists. It is these young people, not the fake,
billionaire-backed Tea Party Republicans, who represent the
true power of grassroots activism to create meaningful change.

When we look at the progressive movements that have made real
gains since President Obama's election in 2008, only two stand
out: marriage equality and immigrant rights. Both have a way
to go, and the lack of comprehensive immigration reform
coupled with increased deportations has left many disappointed
with progress in this area.

But the ability of DREAM ACTivists to win tangible gains for
over one million young immigrants remains an historic
achievement. And they accomplished this almost entirely with
the type of true grassroots activism that many previously
doubted could still make a difference.

National Network IRR on the change in Immigration Policy

We Welcome Promise to Stop the Deportation of (Some) Young Immigrants

Safety and Security for All Immigrants Still a Dream

We welcome President Obama’s decision to stop the deportations of over a million immigrant youth who may be eligible under terms described today. We hope this will be a first step towards ending the punishment of all undocumented immigrants and the separation of families.

We congratulate the tens of thousands of youths, their families, friends and allies who have fought for over a decade for relief from deportation, initially through the proposal of the “DREAM Act” and more recently with calls for an executive order by President Obama. Without a doubt, the very visible actions of undocumented youth and students in recent years “coming out” as undocumented, and leading nationwide actions and mobilizations, has been critical to this evolution of policy. Only yesterday, the TIME magazine cover story focused on young undocumented immigrants: “We are Americans – Just not legally.”

Not lost is the fact that Obama’s announcement comes as news polls are showing that Latino voters may not be as eager to cast their vote for him this November as they overwhelmingly did in 2008. The news also comes as we await the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s SB1070 -- a ruling expected to further bolster state-level policing and racial profiling of immigrants.

California Dream Act

Uncertainties Hover Over California DREAM Act

By Edgardo Cervano-Soto

Despite the announcement of Gov. Jerry Brown signing into law the California DREAM Act last October, students applying for colleges at Richmond High School’s College and Career Center showed a muted response towards legislation that may benefit undocumented students in the next two years.

The California DREAM Act-- so-title from the acronym, Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors--actually consists of two State Assembly Bills. AB 130, which went into effect on Jan. 1, allows colleges to make private scholarships available to undocumented students. AB 131 will, starting Jan. 1, 2013, make state funding, such as CalGrants, accessible to undocumented students.

But some high school counselors are hesitating to promote the act’s benefits enthusiastically because of major problems with the law.

No Celebration of DREAM

Republicans try to stop the Dream Act

Opponents of a new law that allows illegal immigrants to receive college financial aid were given the green light to begin collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn the measure, Secretary of State Debra Bowen's office announced today.

Led by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, referendum backers hope to halt implementation of the California Dream Act. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the measure Oct. 8.

Donnelly's group has until Jan. 6 to collect valid signatures from 504,760 registered voters. Donnelly has said he hopes to wage a largely volunteer effort fueled by social media and talk radio.

Assembly Bill 131, written by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will allow undocumented immigrant college students who already qualify for in-state tuition rates to receive state-funded financial aid, including Cal Grants. Qualified students must have attended California high schools for at least three years and graduated.

Signing of the Dream Act in California

Comments by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo upon the signing of Assembly Bill 131, the second half of theCalifornia Dream Act

I first want to express my gratitude to Governor Brown who has today given hope and opportunity to thousands of current and future students and their families by signing Assembly Bill 131. The signing of now both parts of the California Dream Act will send a message across the country that California is prepared to lead the country with a positive and productive vision for how we approach challenging issues related to immigration. Today, Ana and Maria Gomez, Jaime Kim, David Cho, Pedro Ramirez - and thousands of other students who are some of the best and brightest in California, have been told by our Governor and legislative leaders that you are welcome here, that you have something to contribute, that you can be proud of what you have accomplished and that your talents and ambition will not go to waste.

The passage of the California Dream Act did not come without struggle. It emerged out of the desire for opportunity and inclusion, but it was initially stymied and vetoed out of an impulse of political fear. The lesson that we learn today - the insight that Steve Jobs expressed in that Stanford commencement address that has been featured so prominently this week - is that fear

California Dream Act, Farmworkers bill signed

Assemblymember Gil Cedillo, activists student organizers, and the California Legislature, and Governor Brown passed the Dream Act.

  The legislation allows  undocumented immigrant college students to receive public financial aid, marking California's relatively liberal ground in a bitter row over immigration nationwide.

The California Dream Act allows access to public financial aid, including Cal Grants, for undocumented students who came to the country before turning 16 and attended California high schools. Those students already are eligible for in-state tuition, and Brown in July signed a companion measure affording them access to private financial aid.

Obama on Immigration reform - Facebook

Source; Whitehouse.gov

   So Cesar Fernandez (ph) and Elisa Rectanas (ph) are participating in one of those roundtables, and they wanted to ask you this:  “Mr. President, in your deficit reduction speech last week you spoke of the need to not only reduce government spending but to also increase federal revenue.  In light of our nation’s budget challenges, will your administration consider revisiting policies such as the DREAM Act, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion and increase the government revenue by $2.3 billion over the next 10 years?”  (Applause.)

     THE PRESIDENT:  Let me talk about not only the DREAM Act but about immigration policy generally.  And I want to thank -- Sheryl Sandberg actually participated in a discussion that we had yesterday, bringing together business leaders and government officials and faith leaders, a broad cross-section of Americans together to talk about how do we finally fix an immigration system that's fundamentally broken.

     For those of you who aren’t familiar, the DREAM Act is -- deals with a particular portion of the population, kids who were brought here when they were young by their parents; their parents might have come here illegally -- the kids didn't do anything.  They were just doing what kids do, which is follow their parents. They’ve grown up as Americans.  They went to school with us or with our kids.  They think of themselves as Americans, but many of them still don't have a legal status.

Students Arrested in Georgia- Dream Act

Atlanta (CNN) -- Seven students were arrested Tuesday after staging a sit-in at an Atlanta intersection, blocking traffic in a symbolic effort to raise awareness about a controversial immigration issue.

Georgina Perez, Viridiana Martinez, Jose Rico, Dayanna Rebolledo, Andrea Rosales, David Ramirez and Maria Marroquin were arrested nearGeorgia State University. [IRN Note: Check their website for live streaming: http://www.livestream.com/tdic ]

"We want to show the people that we are undocumented and we're not afraid," Marroquin said.

All are [SIC] illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as young children, they said, and were protesting the lack of support for the Dream Act in Congress.

The bill -- which was defeated in December 2010 -- would have given children who have grown up in the United States an opportunity to earn citizenship despite their family's immigration status.

Georgia's public colleges have adopted policies that officials say will prevent [SIC] illegal immigrants from attending five high-demand schools and from being admitted ahead of legally and academically qualified residents at the rest of the state's public institutions of higher learning.

Dolores Huerta letter on Dream Act

The following is Dolores Huerta's open letter to Arizona's Senator John McCain:

Dear Senator McCain:

You stood shoulder to shoulder with me and Cesar Chavez’s family at the

unveiling of the official commemorative postal stamp in honor of Cesar Chavez.

We need you to live up to the legacy of justice you represented in that press

conference. Vote to bring the DREAM Act to the Senate floor, and vote to pass

DREAM Act into law.

Seventy percent of the people in the United States support the DREAM ACT. Do

the will of the American public. As Cesar Chavez often said, “It Can Be Done.” .

Throughout your distinguished career, Senator, you have continually identified

with the legacy of Cesar Chavez, a native son of your own state of Arizona.

As sponsor and chief spokesperson for SB164 the “Cesar Estrada Chavez Study

Act” for the past decade. You invoked Cesar Chavez’s passions for justice and

education as if they were your own. You continuously identified with his legacy.

You said:

“Mr. Chavez’s legacy is an inspiration to us all and he will be

remembered for helping Americans to transcend distinctions of

experience and share equally in the rights and responsibilities of

freedom. It is important that we honor his struggle...”“Cesar Chavez, an Arizonan born in Yuma, was the son of migrant

farm workers.... His efforts on behalf of some of the most

oppressed individuals in our society are an inspiration, and through

his work he made America a bigger and better nation.

And quoted Cesar’s words:

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and

prosperity for our community... our ambitions must be broad enough to

include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our

own.”

The young DREAM Act students with whom I am fasting believe that you can

once again stand tall with independence and conviction, and that you will

continue Cesar Chavez’s legacy by bringing justice to the DREAM students.

The benefits of this bill for our country are great. There will be educated

professionals contributing to the American economy. They will bring in billions

of revenue from taxes and will help us create jobs. The Congressional Budget

Office reports that DREAM Act students would help cut the federal deficit by

$1.4 billion over 10 years and would generate $2.4 billion in revenue. A UCLA

study estimated this revenue number would be $3.6 trillion over a forty year span.

For children whose only home has been the United States and never committed a

crime, you can offer your hand so they can contribute their talents to our society.

They are students—Dream Act students—with a passion for the service of others

and this great country. You must not turn your back on them.

Senator McCain, you are aware of this hunger and this passion, because you are a

father who cares about providing opportunity for your children. You are a

decorated veteran who cares about protecting our country. You are a

distinguished leader in the U.S. Senate who cares deeply about the future of our

nation.

The fasting DREAM Act students (Dulce Juarez and Celso Mireles, as well as the

mother of a DREAM Act student Rosa Marta Soto) outside your office are hungry

for knowledge and eager for the opportunities to learn and to serve our great

country. But they are not alone. Joining them in this fast and in this fight for

justice are students from Illinois, California, Washington, D.C., Texas, Georgia,

Iowa, Florida and New York. They are looking to you for leadership, Senator.

With your past support of the DREAM Act, you have shown this leadership.

They need you now.

You are in a unique position to make the difference and bring justice for these

students by exerting your leadership in the Senate. Please continue your

commitment to honor Cesar Chavez’s legacy by voting YES for the DREAM Act.

¡Sí Se Puede!

Respectfully,

Dolores Huerta

President

Dolores Huerta Foundation

House passes Dream Act

Last night, the House of Representatives voted to pass the DREAM Act. It was a big victory, but now we keep up the fight to get it passed in the Senate^[1].

The DREAM Act is just one step away from becoming a reality, but we must keep pushing. Call your Senator now and ask them to vote YES on the DREAM Act.

Dial 866-996-5161 or click here to call your Senator.The Senate is expected Thursday to vote on whether to advance similar legislation, but it's unlikely Democrats can muster the 60 votes needed to advance it past opposition by Republicans and a handful of their own members.

"It's an uphill struggle," Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat, acknowledged.
The Senate was unable to block a Republican fillabuster.  The vote was put off for the future.

Please stop what you're doing and call your  Senators as soon as possible and ask them to support the DREAM Act. U.S. Senate:  202-224-3121

Debate on the measure was fraught with politics. Obama has made an intense public push in recent days in favor of the measure, eager to demonstrate his commitment to Hispanic voters, a key voting bloc that's been alienated by his failure to push broader immigration legislation.

With the GOP taking control of the House and representing a stronger minority in the Senate next year, failure to enact the legislation by year's end dims the prospects for action by Congress to grant a path toward legalization for the nation's millions of undocumented immigrants.