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DREAM Week of Action Kicks Off!
A National DREAM Week of Action kicks off today! Students across 16 other states are organizing in support of the Federal DREAM Act, a piece of legislation that would provide a pathway to legalization for U.S.-educated undocumented students.
Every year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools, but these students face serious barriers to higher education. First, they are not eligible to receive any state or federal financial aid; this includes work-study and student loans. Basically, these students and their families have to pay dollar-for-dollar what it costs to attend an institution of higher learning. So what, you say?
Undocumented students and their families DO PAY TAXES! They pay sales tax on everything they buy, they pay property tax on anything they own, and they pay income tax. Ironically, the IRS does hand out what is called an "ITIN" number to enable folks to pay income taxes even if they are not eligible for work in the U.S.
The second issue is what happens after graduation. Those exceptional students who do make it through school and graduate with a degree, can not put their degree to use or obtain a job if they have no legal status. Worst of all, there is oftentimes no legal pathway for them to even obtain legal status.
The Federal D.R.E.A.M. Act would grant qualified undocumented students a pathway to legalization. These students would have to meet the following criteria:
1) Go to a U.S. high school for at least 3 years and graduate or obtain equivalent GED
2) Have entered the country before the age of 16 and live here consecutively for the past 5 years
3) Demonstrate they have "good moral character" (i.e. no criminal record)
4) Enroll in an institute of higher learning or enlist in the armed services
If the student meets this criteria, they are granted six years temporary legal status. This means they do not have to worry about getting deported, they will have access (possibly) to work-study and student loans, and they can apply after the six year temporary period for legal permanent residency.
By no means is this a "quick fix" and it certainly doesn't fix our broken immigration system, but it does allow undocumented students equal access to pursue higher education and be able to incorporate into our society.
This week, students at UC Santa Cruz have organized the following events:
TEACH IN: UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT STRUGGLES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Wednesday, 2/24 from 7-9pm, Oakes Rm. 105
PAN DULCE FRIDAY FILM: Short Films on AB540 and Undocumented Student Stories
Friday, 2/26 from 12-1:30pm, Cervantes/Velasquez Conference Room
Free pan dulce (sweet bread) and drinks!
For more information, click on the link.
Undocumented students and their families DO PAY TAXES! They pay sales tax on everything they buy, they pay property tax on anything they own, and they pay income tax. Ironically, the IRS does hand out what is called an "ITIN" number to enable folks to pay income taxes even if they are not eligible for work in the U.S.
The second issue is what happens after graduation. Those exceptional students who do make it through school and graduate with a degree, can not put their degree to use or obtain a job if they have no legal status. Worst of all, there is oftentimes no legal pathway for them to even obtain legal status.
The Federal D.R.E.A.M. Act would grant qualified undocumented students a pathway to legalization. These students would have to meet the following criteria:
1) Go to a U.S. high school for at least 3 years and graduate or obtain equivalent GED
2) Have entered the country before the age of 16 and live here consecutively for the past 5 years
3) Demonstrate they have "good moral character" (i.e. no criminal record)
4) Enroll in an institute of higher learning or enlist in the armed services
If the student meets this criteria, they are granted six years temporary legal status. This means they do not have to worry about getting deported, they will have access (possibly) to work-study and student loans, and they can apply after the six year temporary period for legal permanent residency.
By no means is this a "quick fix" and it certainly doesn't fix our broken immigration system, but it does allow undocumented students equal access to pursue higher education and be able to incorporate into our society.
This week, students at UC Santa Cruz have organized the following events:
TEACH IN: UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT STRUGGLES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Wednesday, 2/24 from 7-9pm, Oakes Rm. 105
PAN DULCE FRIDAY FILM: Short Films on AB540 and Undocumented Student Stories
Friday, 2/26 from 12-1:30pm, Cervantes/Velasquez Conference Room
Free pan dulce (sweet bread) and drinks!
For more information, click on the link.
For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=1...
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That's me in the photo you're using!!! haha, I'm part of the AZ DREAM Act Coalition, we use this pic often, I'm glad you like it!
For more information:
http://educateorganizeact.wordpress.com
The DREAM Act is a sneaky way to recruit more immigrant youth into the U.S. military. As Obama expands the war into Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is increasing pressure to recruit more and more young people to kill and die in these unjust wars. Already, military recruitment has gone way up under Obama, both because of the economic downturn and the illusion that Afghanistan is "the good war". The DREAM Act would just give another tool to the military to prey on our youth. This "Dream" is a NIGHTMARE for the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti, and many other places around the world. In fact, if you really think about it, it is imperialism (in particular U.S. imperialism) that is responsible for devastating and impoverishing much of the world, creating the conditions that force people to immigrate here in the first place. We need to be fighting against discrimination and oppression of immigrants, but not by supporting something which only helps this empire oppress the rest of the world.
For more information:
http://wearenotyoursoldiers.org
I know you probably know all too well about the Fucked up situation on the border but I'd still like to invite you to our series of screenings of The 800 Mile wall, a documentary film looking at the fence and the human cost of a militarized border.
Check link for more details:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/25/18638723.php
Odelay, Solidaridad siempre!
Check link for more details:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/25/18638723.php
Odelay, Solidaridad siempre!
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