Hmong National Development, Inc.

DREAM Students Fight for Access to Education

Arlee Vang, Immigration Policy Research Intern

On Tuesday, June 23^rd, 2009, hundreds of high school and college students, as well as organizers and supporters from all over the country descended onto Washington, D.C. The students came as they have come for almost every year since the introduction of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) in 2001. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students a pathway to legalization by attending a two or four year institution or going into the military. The Act would also grant in-state tuition, federal work-study and student loans in order to help alleviate the cost of a college education.

These students came to celebrate their high school careers and to fight for their future. In their bright graduation gowns of red, green, purple, and blue, they came excited but somber. Today was not just a day for celebration but also a day to work. Students from Connecticut, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia, California and many other states walked in as “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background. They carried signs which read, “I Graduated, Now What?” and “DREAM Act=Our Future.”

The commencement address was delivered by Josh Bernstein, the Director of Immigration at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a national service employee labor union. Bernstein voiced adamant support for the bill, stating that it was needed to “Make America, America again!” Representatives from Microsoft were also present. Microsoft has become the first major corporation to voice support for the DREAM Act. The education and legalization of these undocumented students will provide a vital workforce of some of the brightest students in our country.