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Reno: U.S. must educate all its kids
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said education should be offered to every U.S. child -- including undocumented ones.
Posted on Sun, Sep. 16, 2007
BY YOLANNE ALMANZAR
yalmanzar@MiamiHerald.com
Janet Reno told fellow Democrats Tuesday that one of the highest priorities for candidates in the upcoming presidential election -- ''one of the most important in American history'' -- should be providing educational opportunities for all children.
''We're going to have to make sure that from early childhood and on, all children of America have the opportunity to get the best education they can,'' Reno, the nation's former top law enforcement officer, told about 80 people who attended a Democratic POWER club meeting.
Among the attendees was Juan Gomez, 18, a Killian High graduate who has garnered national media coverage in his efforts to keep his family from being deported back to their native Colombia.
The Gomez family was ordered deported in July because of their illegal immigration status, but an intensive lobbying effort by Juan's friends caught the attention of the media and legislators. U.S. Reps. Lincoln Díaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are sponsoring a private bill on behalf of Juan and his brother, Alex, that could block deportation proceedings until 2009. Immigration officials also granted the family an extension until Oct. 14.
''This is a nation of immigrants and it has a tradition of rewarding hard work,'' said Reno, the former U.S. attorney general and Miami-Dade state attorney. ``We cannot educate a segment of our population, we've got a responsibility to educate all of our children.''
Reno also cited state-mandated budget cuts in education as an ``an example when we must get together and say we cannot afford this.''
Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended the cuts in an effort to balance a $1 billion budget shortfall attributed to Florida's housing slump. In the meantime, Reno advised local districts to demonstrate that they can ''spend education money wisely'' before demanding more.
''Be concerned about the reduction, but also be concerned with what you do with the money once you get it,'' she told the crowd gathered at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Miami, 7701 SW 76th Ave.
Gomez also spoke, advocating for the DREAM Act, which would grant U.S. permanent residency to undocumented immigrants who complete two years of college or military service.
''The fact that thousands of students like me can graduate high school with honors without an opportunity for future success speaks volumes about our unique self-motivation,'' he said. ``Just imagine what we could accomplish with a legal status.''
He asked for the club's support to ''stop the daily deportation of great minds,'' saying that ``the United States of America will benefit greatly from our accomplishments and achievements in the future.''
After the speeches, Reno and most of the attendees signed petitions in support of the DREAM Act that will be distributed to members of Congress.
''[Juan and his friends are a] splendid example of what American schools can do,'' Reno said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/pinecrest/story/238539.html
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