Make the Dream a Reality - For Everyone

by: Alicia Menendez

Tue Mar 31, 2009 at 02:37:11 PM EDT

Originally posted at AliciaMenendez.com, and promoted by Rosi 

Growing up in Union City, NJ, and going to public school, it never occurred to me that some of my brightest and most able classmates were in the US without legal status. It wasn't until we started applying to college that status became a real issue, and then some of those friends - who were ready, willing and able to work - found themselves trapped.

 There are thousands of people who came to America as children, have spent most of their lives in the United States, but who don't have legal status and live in constant fear of deportation to a country they have never known. These people - for many of us, friends and family- would be helped by an important piece of legislation called the DREAM Act that was re-introduced on the Senate floor last week. It's a critical component of comprehensive immigration reform that will help young people who have grown up in the United States and graduated from school here (or served in the military for two years) a chance to legalize their status. Extremists talk about "the rule of law" - but are they really against allowing children-- brought to this country through no fault of their owns-- a chance to go to college, contribute to American society, and to dream the American Dream? They are. How about you? Today, please join me in taking action.