Aug 03 2010
Hunger Striking Students Pressure Sen. Feinstein on Dream Act
A leaked memo to the head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services reveals that the Obama administration is considering helping certain categories of immigrants through administrative procedures instead of through comprehensive immigration legislation. Among the groups identified for assistance are those who have what is called Temporary Protective Status, as well as students who are children of undocumented parents. Undocumented students around the country have been rallying intensely for many months to push for the passage of the so-called DREAM Act that would enable them to get permanent residency. While DREAM Activists as they call themselves expressed joy at the details of the memo, anti-immigrant activists are busy using the memo as evidence that President Obama is moving forward with blanket amnesty, an anathema to the right wing. Here in Los Angeles, a number of undocumented students have been holding vigil outside the Santa Monica offices of Senator Dianne Feinstein urging her to vote for the DREAM Act. The students have been on hunger strike for nearly two weeks, risking even deportation to speak out.
GUESTS: Jorge Gutierrez, Carlos Amador, undocumented student activists on hunger strike to pass the DREAM Act
The students plan to end their hunger strike on Wednesday evening at 8 pm with a Press conference and candlelight vigil on the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica.
Find out more at www.thedreamiscoming.com.
6 Responses to “Hunger Striking Students Pressure Sen. Feinstein on Dream Act”
Any move to improve immigration is a mere drama. Dont believe the senators and congressmen, wasting of time.
I am very supportive of the DREAM Act, but I question why the advocates are pressuring Diane Feinstein. She is already a cosponsor. Why use our political capital being used on someone who already supports the DREAM Act?
They are pressing her and Reid to get the bill up for a vote. She is a cosponsor but until the bill gets to the floor it doesn’t mean a thing.
I honor the efforts of these bright students to make things happen. Until congress steps up their efforts to pass the DREAM Act this year, we the students will keep on making actions and make our voices be heard. We the students of this nation, documented or not, believe in the opportunity to better ourselves through education. The DREAM Act will no only benefit those who are “undocumented”, but rather it will benefit our nation as whole.
I agree with you, (Markg) their support doesn’t really mean much when the bill is not on the floor. The bill needs to be push and Reid has the power to do it. If the bill doesn’t get to the Senate, then it won’t pass (because they won’t even have the opportunity to vote for it). This is very simple… We need the DREAM Act and it cannot wait anymore. We cannot keep all these young motivated students in the limbo. They’ve been waiting for a long time. America needs the DREAM Act, and it needs it now.
The bill needs to get on the floor and was it is Congress should seriously consider the benefits of granting undocumented students a higher education. Most of these students have been in the United States for most of their lives and no other home. They should be granted their wish to give back to their communities.