House Passes DREAM Act to Senate

Here's a bit of good news if this bill passes the Senate. If Yes, think of the thousands of undocumented immigrants in America who will begin paying income taxes!!

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House Passes DREAM Act to Senate

Immigrant Youth thank Mass delegation, ask Senator Brown not to crush DREAM

BOSTON -- Late Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, a bill enabling undocumented youngsters who were brought to the U.S. as children to enlist in the military or attend college on their way to becoming citizens. The bill passed by a vote of 216 to 198, with all ten representatives from Massachusetts voting in favor, minus retiring Congressman Bill Delahunt, who did not vote. Supporters noted that DREAM will create billions of dollars in tax revenues and integrate hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth into the economic and social fabric of the nation they were raised in.

The DREAM Act now moves to the U.S. Senate, where a filibuster by Senate Republicans seeks to stop DREAM from coming to consideration on the floor. Sixty votes are needed to end the filibuster, and as of this morning an effort was underway to circumvent the vote by introducing the House version to the Senate next week. Starting today a concerted effort by Massachusetts immigrant youth and their allies hopes to move Massachusetts' junior Senator, Scott Brown, from his apparent opposition to DREAM.

"We want to thank everyone who has supported the DREAM Act for the House vote," said Jose Palma, Lead Organizer of the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM). "But we can't stop now. We ask everyone to take a moment to contact Senator Brown and let him know that youth in Massachusetts and the nation need him to support DREAM."

Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), strongly supported Palma's sentiments. "We at MIRA also give our heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, including Representative Stephen Lynch here in Greater Boston, whose ultimate yes vote demonstrates his attention to the extraordinary diversity of his district.We also thank Senator Kerry for his unflagging support in the Senate.

"But we also ask supporters here and in Washington to keep moving forward," Millona continued. "Please contact Senator Brown and ask him to support DREAM "

You can contact Senator Brown by calling a switchboard at 866-996-5161, or by calling the senator's offices directly at 202-224-4543 or 617-565-3170.

For more information, you may contact SIM by calling Deivid Ribeiro at (508) 292-5163 or Jose Palma at (781) 244-3357, or contact MIRA by calling Frank Soults at (617) 350-5480 ext. 204.

In partnership with its members, MIRA works for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees through policy analysis and advocacy, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, and strategic communications.

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