Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Durbin Speaks

Durbin's appearance was a surprise to me. I was pretty much thinking nothing would happen today. But this afternoon was a chance for the Senators to speak regarding certain amendments. There are so many pending, only a few could be discussed.

He spoke for about 20 minutes and talked about the determination committment, and significant contributions of DREAM ACT students.

He said they would be America's future soldiers,nurses, doctors, teachers, senators and congressman.

He spoke of Oscar Vasquez, one of the kids from the robot team that won the award in Canada. His team was stopped while coming back to the U.S. and detained. Because Oscar is undocumented, now that he completed high school his job is to hang sheetrock.

He talked about a U.S. Marine named Jesus, from Chicago. He met Jesus in Iraq. When they spoke, Jesus asked him for a favor. He said he was glad to have become a marine. Jesus said "one of the things I'd really like to do someday is vote."I'm not a citizen, I'm hoping you can help me become a U.S. citizen."

Durbin mentioned Senator Jeff Sessions in particular, who on a regular basis critizes the DREAM ACT and calls it amnesty.. Durbin asked "do you think that those who would volunteer for the military and risk lives for the U.S. going to so they can get amnesty. They are a gift to America....to say the DREAM ACT is amnesty is to denigrate the fantastic sacrifice these young people would make to become citizens."

Between the recruitment issue, he mentioned college a couple of times. I wish he would have said more, but guess he knows what he has to do. Its an uphill battle with the anti-immigration senators.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

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