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Press Release

LULAC Calls on the Congress to Support the DREAM Act
Bill Would be an Investment for Tomorrow

Washington, DC— The League of United Latin American Citizens urges congress to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act this year. The bill, sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), would allow U.S.-raised undocumented immigrant children the opportunity for in-state college tuition as well as provide them with an opportunity to regularize their immigration status.

 More specifically, the DREAM Act would allow states to determine residency to give in-state tuition to such students.  Similar state legislation has already been enacted in several states including Texas, Illinois, Utah, Oklahoma, Washington and California.  The DREAM Act would be of critical importance to such students who frequently have no choice but to turn away from higher education because they are typically charged much higher out-of-state or international tuition fees.

 “The DREAM Act provides an opportunity to thousands of very bright children in this country who have the potential of being tomorrow’s professionals,” said LULAC National President Hector M. Flores.  The Act would also permit long time resident immigrants, of good moral character who have stayed in school to receive conditional status, which will be lifted after completing college, two years of military service or 910 hours of community service.  It is only after completing one of these three requirements that the conditional relief would become permanent.

 Many of these students drop-out of high school prematurely because they believe they will not have a future without a college education. The passage of the DREAM Act will increase the educational attainment among Latinos in the U.S., and in turn, our nation’s economy will thrive.  “Brought here by their parents, having grown up in America, most of these students consider themselves American,” added Flores.  This legislation is an investment in our future and will actually help the economy through higher tax revenues in the long run.  “If more students go to college then that means a stronger workforce which can only help our nation,” concluded Flores.

 These motivated students cannot wait another year to start their path towards realizing their dreams. Currently immigrant students throughout the country are collecting petitions to President Bush urging his leadership to make certain that this bill becomes law this year. The DREAM Act has strong bipartisan support in both the Senate and House, ensuring enough votes for passage.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs run by more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide

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