Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Video - Advocating for the DREAM Act

Immigration Prof Blog posted this video on their site.  


Please Watch - click here


DREAMers Arrested at Senator Hutchison's Office

from Immigration Prof Blog:


Senator Kay Baily Hutchison

15 DREAMers Arrested Outside Hutchison's Office

From the San Antonio Express-News:
Fifteen college students and activists, including former City Councilwoman Maria Berriozabal and a Methodist minister, were arrested on criminal trespass charges Monday night at the local offices of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison after they refused to leave. 

The demonstrators supporting the DREAM Act wanted to speak to the senator and get her support for the bill that would provide a path to citizenship for immigrants brought to the country Illegaly
 [undocumented] as minors if they complete two years of college or military service.

They camped out inside the office for more than nine hours, refusing to budge and singing, “We shall not be moved.” Read more...
bh
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this is from November 29  UTSA DREAM Act Blog



San Antonio- After initiating a state-wide hunger strike in support of the DREAM Act,  San Antonio DREAM Act supporters have escalated their actions and staged a sit-in at Senator Hutchison's San Antonio office.  The students, which include DREAM-eligible youth and U.S. citizens, will not leave the office until Senator Hutchison commits to voting for the DREAM Act in the lame duck session.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," said My Le.  "I wish it didn't have to come to this, but we don't have any time to waste."

"I wish I had celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and friends," added Felipe Vargas. "But we'll have our  Thanksgiving celebration when the DREAM Act passes."

Lucina Martinez added, "We know that the Senator understands our plight, that she is sensible, and compassionate.  She voted for the DREAM Act in 2007, and her constituent responses were always favorable.  She's only recently changed her tune.  We hope to remind her that our futures, that our lives depend on her support."

Below are the profiles of the four individuals sitting in at Senator Hutchison's office:

Julio Lopez: His hometown is San Antonio. He is in his last year of undergraduate study at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is taking a double-major in Anthropology and Mexican American Studies and is an active member of  the Mexican American Studies Student Organization.

Lucina Martinez: Born in Mexico City but moved to Dallas, TX with her parents at age 6.  She is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio where she is double majoring in Women's Studies and Mexican American Studies. She's a DREAM Act beneficiary and is on her 20th day of the Hunger Strike.

Felipe Vargas: Currently finishing doctorate in History, Philosophy and Education Policy from Indiana University Bloomington. He is on the 20th day of the hunger strike.

My Le: Hometown is Saigon, Vietnam. She moved to the United States at the age of 5. She is not a DREAM Act beneficiary but a committed ally. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio and is double majoring in Art and Psychology with a minor in Women's Studies.

Not too long ago, Senator Hutchison was a supporter of the DREAM Act.  In 2007, the Senator made a compassionate floor speech in favor of the DREAM Act.  In June 2010, the Senator's constituent responses in regards to the DREAM Act were positive.  Below is an excerpt from a June 2010 constituent response from Senator Hutchison on the DREAM Act:

"Among our immigrant population, there are young people who were brought to this country as minors and have not yet attained legal status. These young people have attended and graduated from American high schools. They wish to attend or are attending American colleges and universities in order to enjoy prosperity. Their inability to garner employment following college graduation leaves them in an unfortunate position. I believe that we must find a way to help assimilate these college graduates into our country. In addition to the economic benefit of retaining college graduates in our country, there is a compassionate reason for us to try to work this out."

For updates, visit the UTSA DREAM Act blog here: http://dreamactutsa.blogspot.com/

###

In Spanish: La Opinion on the DREAM Act


Inmigrantes indocumentados piden que se apruebe la ley DREAM.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- El líder de la mayoría en el Senado, Harry Reid (D-NV) dijo hoy que invocará un voto de cierre de debate sobre el proyecto de ley Dream Act "hoy por la tarde". Luego de este procedimiento parlamentario, se esperan 30 horas hasta la votación.


Este es el primer paso que la propuesta legislativa debe superar, para lo que se necesitan 60 votos. No existe claridad aún, respecto al número de votos que se han logrado congregar hasta el momento.


Fuentes cercanas al liderazgo demócrata aseguraron a La Opinión que durante la reunión semanal de bancada celebrada hoy, Reid habló del tema con los legisladores, donde "encontró diversas voces de apoyo".

Temas Relacionados

Personas:
Lugares:
Organizaciones:

Minute to Minute DREAM Act Coverage


go to the DREAM Act Portal's

DREAM Act News Room - Scraping Across the Web

From Immigration Prof Blog:

DREAM ACT STUDENTS DEFY DEPORTATIONS, TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE By David Bacon

112810-1
Photo Courtesy of David Bacon
In DREAM ACT STUDENTS DEFY DEPORTATIONS, TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE, David Bacon gives us the latest on the growing political activism on college campuses and elsewhere on the DREAM Act, which may be considered in Congress this week.  "For seven years they've marched, sat-in, written letters and mastered every civil rights tactic in the book to get their bill onto the Washington DC agenda."
For photographs and stories by David Bacon, click here.
 KJ

NY Times Endorses the DREAM Act

Editorial - New York Times

Dreaming of Reform

Published: November 29, 2010 
...The Dream Act will not fix immigration from the border to the workplace to the future flow of Americans-in-waiting. It’s just a down payment on future reform.


But Republicans won back the House in the recent election, so immigration hard-liners are coming. The Obama administration has the deportation machinery expelling 400,000 people a year. Victorious Republicans have vowed to tear the country apart until they find and expel the last of 11 million undocumented.


The question then becomes, whom don’t we deport? Let’s start with college students and soldiers who didn’t ask to come here without papers, who want to better themselves and serve their country... link to complete article     

Oh Those Nasty Comments

A few days ago dreamacttexas received a comment from someone who said if we wanted to speak Spanish, we should go back to Mexico.  It was not a nice thing to say and came from someone who is really angry about immigration.
It reminded me of something that happened when I was about six years old (1958).  It was Halloween night.  I went trick or treating with some friends in my neighborhood, which was around 4th St. and Avenue I -  in Rosenberg, Texas.  I lived in the Anglo side of town.  My Dad moved us there in 1956.  We were the first Mexican American family to move to the "white side" of the tracks.  Someone even told him later they were surprised the KKK didn't try to burn him out.  My friends lived in the Mexican/Black side of the tracks.  They were children of my parents friends and of my piano teacher.  The grandfather of two of them was the "Patron" of the Mexican neighborhood, a very powerful and wealthy man (by the way his skin was "whiter" than most white people I know- his own family was originally from Nueva Rosita Coahuila).
The kids and I approached a woman's home and yelled "trick or treat."  She came out said that we should go back to our own [Mexican] neighborhood.  I felt very confused since I was in my neighborhood.  I'm sure she thought she was a good Christian woman (most of the white people in the town were identified as such), but she didn't connect "Christian" with "ethical" or "fair" or "nice."  
I don't remember where the house was, and I didn't know her name.  Being six years old you don't think about things like that.  As an I adult I would have certainly tried to figure out who she was.... maybe even go back and talk to her again.
I guess she thought she could talk to us that way because we were little kids, because we were "anonymous" little kids in costumes.  She didn't know who we were.  She just saw brown skin and thought "yuck!" -  Considering her age at the time, I don't think she's alive anymore.  If she is in heaven, I hope she thinks about that day.... maybe she regrets it now.
As far as nasty comments sent to the blog.... maybe the anonymity is good.  At least we learn about what people are really thinking.  Otherwise they just fake us out, making us think they respect us as human beings, but inside they are full of hate.....
Things haven't changed that much since the Jim Crow days in Rosenberg, Texas.  We go about our lives and (mostly) don't say nasty things to little children.  But when we can put on our mask of anonymity on, we let it all out... at least those of use who have the fire of hate inside...  I wonder how many are out there?
MTH
image by Jennifer Daniel  & Sandi Daniel
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Halloween is everyday on the internet

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Op-Ed Contributor - New York Times

Where Anonymity Breeds Contempt

How Web sites can put an end to inflammatory comments from “trolls.”        

Monday, November 29, 2010



Immigration reform



A plan to legalise those with higher education or a record of military service is a small step well worth taking

The Economist - November 25, 2010 




IT WAS always meant to have been one of Barack Obama’s big priorities. But along with saving the planet from global warming and closing down the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, immigration reform has slithered down the White House’s to-do list as health care turned from triumph to liability. With the House of Representatives due to pass into Republican control at the beginning of next year and the Democrats’ majority in the Senate due to be slashed at the same time, Mr Obama looks set to end his second year in office without having brought forward a plan for immigration reform, let alone getting one enacted. Even climate-change legislation has fared better than that...link to complete article





Dream Act National Day of Action - November 29th

Hello fellow DREAM Act supporters from Cesar Espinosa,


Re:  National Day of Action


We will be holding a Vigil this Monday November 29 2010 at 7:00pm, outside of the Mickey Leeland Federal Building (1919 Smith St. Houston, TX 77002)


The DREAM Act may come up for a vote as early as Monday or sometime this week. We need to put as much pressure as possible during there time. We will send out another email shortly with other actions people can take to promose the DREAM Act. Please be on the lookout for future updates.


P.S. thanks to all the people who have come out and supported our banner drops for the last 3 weeks! We will be doing more of those this week at the same location (mandell and 59) once again we will send out a seperate email with more details.


Please invite your friends and other DREAM Act supporters to the VIGIL on Monday.


When:  Monday, November 29
Where:  Mickey Leland Federal Bldg., 1919 Smith St., Houston, TX
What Time:  7:00 pm


Thank you,


Cesar Espinosa


FIEL
Executive Director
Phone:(713)364-FIEL
Fax: (281)225-4037
E-mail: cespinosa@fielhouston.orgWeb:www.fielhouston.org
America Para TodosCommunity Relations Specialist
6601 Hillcroft #125
Houston, TX 77081
Phone: (713)271-9703
Fax: (713)271-9704
E-mail: americaptodos88@yahoo.com
Web: www.americaparatodos.org
Cell and texts: (832)497-5035

Small Steps of Protest

illegal


The articles being published in national newspapers on the DREAM Act continue to freely use the word "illegal."  As a  protest regarding this form of identification, I am marking out the work illegal when it comes up in an article posted on this blog.  I then put in brackets:  [undocumented] or [without papers] or [not regularized].

Most editors are aware of the offensive nature of the word, after all, undocumented people are not illegal... their offense is a misdemeanor, meaning it is a civil law that is broken - NOT a criminal law -although you would think it's criminal with such a rampant use of the word illegal....



Congress eyes DREAM Act: Fair to illegal [undocumented] immigrants or back-door amnesty?

Senate majority leader Harry Reid has said he will take up the DREAM Act next week. The bill would open a path to citizenship for some young illegal [undocumented] immigrants.


Newscom
By Gail Russell Chaddock, Staff writer / November 23, 2010/ Christian Science Monitor
Washington 


 If compelling human stories counted as votes, the DREAM Act would breeze through the lame-duck session of Congress, which resumes on Monday.


Take Pedro Ramirez, the student body president at California State University, Fresno, whose illegal status recently was leaked by an anonymous tipper. In response, hundreds of Fresno State students rallied to support him last week.


“It’s time to pass the DREAM Act,” said university President John Welty, who urged students to call members of Congress.


The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, first introduced in August 2001, creates a path to citizenship for children under the age of 16 brought to the US illegally [without documents] and who attend college or have joined the military. It’s a top priority of Senate Democrats in the waning days of the 111th Congress. Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada says he will take the measure to the floor as early as next week.


It’s also a flash point in an ongoing partisan fight over whether and how to reform the nation’s immigration laws. Republicans have pressed for stronger enforcement of existing law – including beefed up border security and more reliable identify documents to help employers screen applicants – as a confidence-building measure.
In anticipation of a floor fight over this bill, Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are circulating a position paper that describes the DREAM Act as a gateway to a broad amnesty for millions of people and their extended families now in the US illegally [without documents]


 "It is highly likely that the number of illegal [undocumented] aliens receiving amnesty under the DREAM Act will be much higher than the estimated 2.1 million due to fraud and our inherent in ability to accurately estimate the alien population,” concluded a report released by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.


After criticism that the bill included no age limits – and therefore was a potentially broad amnesty measure – sponsors capped eligibility at Age 35.


The US Department of Education estimates that there are some 55,000 students about to graduate from high school who could qualify for help under the terms of the act...more

God and the DREAM Act

It seems that some people don't think that God wants DREAMers to become U.S. citizens.  Be sure to read the comments on the article below:
--

November 23, 2010




TEXAS FAITH: What's the moral argument for passage of the Dream Act?

10:43 AM Tue, Nov 23, 2010 |  | Wayne Slater/Reporter
Dallas Morning News
Congress is considering the Dream Act, which would allow children of undocumented immigrants to go to U.S. universities. If it becomes law, each year some 55,000 youngsters who came to the United States illegally as children or who were born here to undocumented immigrant parents, would be allowed to go to university after completing high school. Currently, the children of illegal
[undocumented] immigrants can't enroll in college even if they went to elementary, middle and high school in the United States.



The issue of whether the children of undocumented workers should be admitted to universities and, if so, at in-state tuition rates is a hot one. On one hand, the youngsters had no choice in coming here. On the other hand, why should children here illegally
[without papers] get spots at state universities that might otherwise have gone to someone else? And why should they get tuition rates denied to an American-born student born in another state?



Critics call it amnesty. But that's a political argument. The more fundamental question is this: Is it fair? Is there a moral argument for Congress to pass - or not pass - the Dream Act?


Our Texas Faith panelists weigh in with thoughtful and provocative ideas. After all, said one panelist, "Moses was anillegal
[undocumented] immigrant whose Egyptian education equipped him to change the world." Read all the entries after the break.
Slightly Altered by MTH

The American DREAM

10:17 AM ET, 11/28/2010
One of the many bills being debated in the upcoming lame duck session is the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (aka DREAM) Act which allows for undocumented (aka illegal) children to receive a path to citizenship (aka amnesty) who sign up for two years of college or military service. On the surface it’s not an entirely bad idea but would need some major tweaking before I would go along with it. Here would be my conditions:

1) Instead of 2 years it should be 4 years of college or military service. If the college route is taken then a degree in a technical field (i.e. engineering or science) must be pursued.

2) Signing up is not enough, completion is necessary. For the college route, a degree at an accredited university must be achieved even if it takes more than 4 years. For the military route, service must be completed without any dishonorable discharge.

3) After satisfying #1 and #2, the person will receive a H1-B visa and must find employment for at least 1 year.

4) After satisfying #3, as long as there is no criminal record and no credit card debt of $5K+ for 90+ days, then the person will receive a green card.

I’m sure some will say the conditions are too harsh while others will say they are too lenient. Given some of my family’s and friend’s experiences, I would say it’s just about right.

AddThis

Sunday, November 28, 2010

In Spanish: Nov 29th, the DREAM Act this week?


Religiosos, estudiantes y activistas pro inmigrantes arreciarán en los próximos tres días la campaña para pedir al público que llame a los congresistas en apoyo a la moción de ley conocida como DREAM Act.

El miércoles, dentro de los tiempos de la sesión legislativa de fin de año llamada "Lame Duck", el Senado votará esta propuesta que de aprobarse daría oportunidad a estudiantes indocumentados a regular su estado migratoria y obtener residencia permanente.

Hoy, en los servicios religiosos de iglesias de Los Ángeles se estarían dando a conocer los números telefónicos adonde la gente puede llamar a sus representantes en el Congreso para pedirles votar por la medida.

"El lunes vamos a poner a disposición del público los teléfonos de la oficina para hacer llamados al Congreso", dijo Gloria Saucedo, directora de Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional...mas

Three articles on the DREAM Act from the LA Times

Students outing themselves - is it safe?  Will the Democrats really follow through on the DREAM Act this time?

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Students want the Dream Act to become reality


Dream Act: Should  [undocumented]-immigrant college students have path to citizenship? (check out the comments)


"on the House agenda is a last-ditch effort by Democrats to show they have not forgotten immigration policy. Legislation known as the Dream Act, which has stumbled once in the Senate, would provide a path to legal status for the children of illegal
[undocumented] immigrants who either go to college or join the military."


Friday, November 26, 2010

Tips for Those Wanting to go to College

DREAMers should still read this.  As Luis Perez at UCLA Law School shows, DREAMers can go to college.... it's when you graduate that the test will really come.  Let's see if Obama and Reid are true to their word - its time for them to get tough with the likes of Steve King and the re-invented anti-immigration John McCain.

As for everybody else wanting to go to college....  DEADLINES are super important.  Did you know that those with lower SAT's can get into the University of Houston if they apply before December 1?  After that you will be lucky if they pay attention to you...  This is the new form of "college selectivity."  -- They don't tell you "no" based on qualifications, you are told "no" based on when you sent in your application.  So get moving HS seniors... take control of your future.



----------Posted at 9:59 AM ET, 11/25/2010

Five Thanksgiving thoughts for the college-bound

By Craig Powell - Washington Post
Today's guest blogger is Craig Powell, a Brown graduate and CEO of ConnectEDU, a Boston firm chiefly known for helping high schools send application materials to colleges electronically.




As we reflect on the Thanksgiving holiday, those of us in the education field know that it is a week of thanks. We also know that with college deadlines looming in early December, many students are scrambling to get their applications in on time. Or, worse, they have already thrown in the towel on higher education, at least for the time being....link complete WAPO article

In Spanish: DREAMer from San Francisco Saved from Deportation


Steve Li en conferencia de prensa. Francisco Barradas/El Mensajero

SAN FRANCISCO.— La mañana del 15 de septiembre, Steve Li se preparaba para ir a la escuela —estudia enfermería—. Eran las 7:00 a.m. Escuchó que llamaban a la puerta de su casa. Eran agentes de inmigración con órdenes de arresto para él y sus padres; tras catearlos y esposarlos, los llevaron a un centro de detención...mas



In English:

Released, Steve Li urges passage of Dream Act

Why Black Friday is Really Black

"Conspicuous Consumption" by Melanie Deal
People lined up at Walmart before the sun came up.  My daughter asked me if I wanted to go shopping with her today so I could have the experience of Black Friday.

I said no thanks.  We can spend quality time some other way.

Economists may say that by shopping we can help America out of the Recession-Depression.  But what else do we lose if we are constantly shopping?

The biggest loss for us is that we remain stuck in this mind set that we have to acquire so many things.  Things we don't need.  Things that will get tossed out when we die.  Things our descendants will fight over (and then find reasons to hate each other).

If you are 20 and you are thinking, what does this have to do with me?  Well..... becoming an real American consumer does a number of things to you.

1.  You buy things before you need them.  Example:

family members are telling us we need to buy a new flat screen TV.  Its great they tell us, no glare, takes up less space.  Well maybe so.  But the gigantic Sony we bought 5 years ago (for $850.00) is still working wonderfully.  We don't need Blue Ray.  And I tell you, I'd rather spend the 700-1000+ plus going to visit my new grandbaby. A friend may tell me, well just charge it!  No, I don't want more debt.  I have enough as it is with a car note, a mortgage and a few credit card bills (I read once that credit card debt is the new form of indentured servitude).

2.  Buying and buying leads you to think more about having things than about what is going on inside of your mind and your heart.  (ever heard of Shop Therapy?  --- that is what happens when buying makes you feel better - the "thing" becomes a form of artificial medicine and cocaine for the soul).

3.  Eventually you own so much clutter you have to rent a storage room for for all your stuff - or have a garage sale (if your neighborhood association lets you).  So all that time and money you spent buying things is all gone (or hidden).


Enjoy Black Friday - do it the old fashioned way - spend a day thinking, reading, or actually having conversations with people you love.  You will have more money in your checking account (or a lower credit card balance) at the end of the day and you may add a few more quality days to your life (they say satisfying relationships are what make our lives longer and happier not owning a newer and bigger TV)

Luis Perez - DREAMer - (almost) Lawyer


Undocumented UCLA law grad is in a legal bind

Hector Tobar - Los Angeles Times


"Luis Perez, who in May became the first undocumented immigrant to graduate from UCLA School of law, came to L.A. from Mexico at the age of 8 and made getting a good education his top priority. But because he's not in the country legally, he may not be able to practice law even if he passes the bar. (photo by Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)" 




'"Most students experience law school as a trade school," said Saul Sarabia, an administrator at UCLA School of Law. "They learn doctrines, rules and apply them to a set of theoretical situations. But in Luis' case, his entire future turns on whether a law can become reality."

The great hope for Perez, and for thousands of others like him, is the Dream Act, a bill that would grant a path to legal residency for undocumented immigrants who graduate from college or serve honorably in the military.

President Obama has called on Congress to pass the Dream Act before the end of the year.

Unfortunately, there are also many media commentators, and an army of Internet scribes, dedicated to slurring the name of people like Luis Perez. They want to convince you that the Dream Act is a bad idea.

For them, no insult is too extreme, no stereotype too crude, because of the single word they can attach to Perez's name: illegal. They make up false statistics, and focus on the crimes of the few to taint the many'...more 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

In Spanish: McCain on the line about the DREAM Act



TUCSON, Arizona.— Un grupo de estudiantes, muchos de ellos inmigrantes indocumentados, acudió hoy a las oficinas del senador John McCain en el sur de Arizona para solicitar su apoyo para la aprobación de la ley DREAM (por sus siglas en inglés: Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act )...mas

The Advantages of a Poorly Educated Population

hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil 

Reasons why the country benefits from a poorly educated populace:


1.  More people vote for the TEA Party -  the less you know, the more conservative you generally are.  You won't want change because you don't know what change would cause, you generally would not be aware of all the nuances inside our political system. 

2.  Our national leaders can lead us more easily.  We are more likely to be influenced if we are less educated. The less you know, the more you will go along with the program - because you won't be aware of the bad part of what your politician is trying to sell you.

3.  The populace will ask less questions when a new law comes in.  A great example is the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" story - there weren't enough people to demand the truth... so the President and his people (Bush etc) were able to tell us whatever they wanted and we went along with it.  The less educated you are the less likely you will ask questions.  Its easy to believe a lie if you don't have all the information - or the skills to figure out what people are really telling you...

4.  The rich will get even richer.  The rest of the people will not question why the rich get so many tax benefits because people who are less educated as less questions!


5.  It would be so much easier to vote Sarah Palin into office.  She would find a Dick Cheney clone for VP and we would have the Bush Years all over again!  

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Retention rates worry, push community colleges

By Shivam Purohit, Daily Texan StaffPublished: Wednesday, November 24, 2010
If current higher education trends continue, the current generation of college-age Americans will be less educated than their parents for the first time in U.S. history, according to a report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement...link to article 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010


Rally For The Dream - HOUSTON
You are Attending · Share · Public Event
-- 
Time
Wednesday, November 24 · 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location1919 Smith St. Houston, TX 77002

Created By

More InfoRally outside of Kay Bailey Hutchinson office to urge her to support the Dream Act. We need all the support we can get! Together we can make a difference!!


Cesar Espinosa

FIEL
Executive Director
Office: (713)364-3435
Fax: (281)225-4037
Cell and Texts: (832)497-5035
E-mail: cespinosa@fielhouston.org