At its March meeting, the DC 37 Executive Board voted to support the DREAM bill, which would help undocumented immigrant youth get access to higher education and eventually earn citizenship. Local 154 President Juan Fernández, Local 372 Executive Vice President Santos Crespo and DC 37 Citizenship Committee Chair Jacob Azeke proposed the resolution.

The proposed federal legislation addresses the tragedy of young people who came to the United States as children, grew up in the United States, but under current immigration laws cannot continue their education after graduating from high school.

DREAM (Senate 1545 / House 1684) stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. The DREAM legislation would let undocumented high school graduates and college students apply for conditional permanent residence if they came to the United States before turning 16, have lived here for the last five years and have good moral character.

The plan would grant such students first temporary then conditional permanent residence status, which would be valid for six years. They could then apply for permanent status after studying for two years toward a bachelor’s or higher degree, graduating from a 2-year college or vocational college, or serving for two years in the military.

The DC 37 Citizenship Committee has endorsed the DREAM bill and sent a letter urging the New York congressional delegation to press for its passage. The bill is supported by many employers and the immigrant community and has strong bipartisan support in Congress. With support from President Bush, it could pass swiftly.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and many unions have called on Bush to back the DREAM legislation. But Mr. Bush backs proposals that would provide cheap labor for employers without giving immigrants an opportunity to earn citizenship. Sweeney said the Bush plan would “create a permanent underclass of workers who are unable to fully participate in democracy.”

You can make a difference: Call U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer, Hillary Clinton and your U.S. Congress member. Tell them, “Students who immigrate as children should have a chance to go to college and work toward permanent legal status. Pass the DREAM bill now.”