173 Avenue B, New York, NY

On August 9th, immigrant students, supporters and community members will start 4 days of intense action to demand Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Sen. Chuck Schumer to lead efforts for the immediate passage of the DREAM Act.

After several legislative visits and requests, Rep. Velazquez remains the only NYC representative who has not co-sponsored the DREAM Act, a bill that will grant immigrant youth a path to citizenship contingent on continuous presence in the country, good behavior, and the attainment of at least a two-year university degree or a two-year commitment in the military.

In the past few days, Sen. Schumer introduced and successfully passed with GOP support a border enforcement-only bill. However, there has been no action or effort from the Democratic leadership to pass a legalization benefit for our immigrant communities. The DREAM Act is a bill that has bipartisan support and has the potential to be passed as a stand-alone measure, yet Sen. Schumer has not taken any action.

During these actions, students, parents, teachers and other community members will join to demand Rep. Velazquez and Sen. Schumer to support education for immigrant youth and immediate action for the passage of the DREAM Act. The 4-day program is as follows:

Monday, August 9th
CALL IN DAY
Call Nydia Velazquez and say "Hi my name is ----. My parents came to this country to provide a better future for me. The Dream Act is the only path i have to realize my family's dreams. So I am calling to ask Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to take leadership and pass the Dream Act as a stand alone measure now!"
DC office: (202) 225-2361
Brooklyn Office: (718) 599-3658
Lower East Side Office: (212) 673-3997

Tuesday, August 10th
COMMUNITY GATHERING for the DREAM Act
@ Tompkins Park at 5pm
Near the corner of Avenue B and East 8th Street.
Come, meet community leaders and members to find out what is the Dream Act and what it means for undocumented students who want to continue their education and fulfill their dreams.
There will be live music and appetizers.

Wednesday, August 11th
Velazquez Stop killing our DREAMs! March
FROM 173 Avenue B New York, NY 10009
TO 266 Broadway, Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Meeting at 2:30pm on avenue B
Vigil from 4pm (estimated time of arrival)
contact martin@nysylc.org for more information

All day Vigil for the Dream Act
Starting at 4pm on 266 Broadway, Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Come and let Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to stop killing the Dreams of immigrant students who want to give their full potential to realize their parents and families dreams.
contact martin@nysylc.org for more information

Thursday, August 12th
March to Schumer's office for the Dream Act
Starting at 10am
FROM: 266 Broadway, Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11211
TO: Senator Shumer office located on
757 Third Avenue from when we get there till 5pm.
Enough is Enough, We want our representatives to stop killing our dreams. We want Schumer to invest on education and not on criminalizing immigrants.
contact martin@nysylc.org for more information

Mark your calendars! The NYSYLC is hosting Summer Bash, a fundraiser party, on Saturday, August 14 at the Judson Memorial Church. Doors open at 7.30pm. Wanna show off your awesome skills on the dance floor? Register in our dance contest. Moreover, we will have great guest DJ's, a talent auction, food and drinks (21+ with ID).

Tickets are available in advance at $8 at http://bit.ly/ylcprom0, and $10 at the door. All proceeds will help fund YLC programs.

We hope to see you there! And don't forget to spread the word and bring friends!

- Your friends at the NYSYLC

Yesterday, July 20th, more than 400 youth congregated in Washington DC to demand Congressional members to pass the DREAM Act in a symbolic DREAM Graduation Ceremony, followed by a march around the streets of the nation’s capital. While these actions were taking place, over twenty undocumented students held simultaneous sit-ins at the offices of Senator
Menendez, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senator Feinstein, Senator McCain and Senator Schumer.

 After holding these sit-ins, the arrests of these students started at 4pm and ended around 7.30pm; surprisingly, the students in Sen. Reid’s office were arrested before those in McCain’s office. One of the arrested students is our very own Sonia Guinansaca, a Hunter College student, artist and community organizer. She carried out the sit-in at Senator Schumer’s office demanding he takes leadership and moves the DREAM Act as a stand-alone measure.

* VIGIL @ SENATOR SCHUMER'S OFFICE ALL DAY TODAY, 1pm press conference *

What: Vigil in solidarity with Sonia G., an NYSYLC leader, and the 21 brave dreamers who were arrested to demand immediate action by Sen. Schumer to move the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill

When: ALL DAY TODAY  July 21st, 2010.  Press conference at 1pm

Where: Outside Sen. Schumer’s NY office at 757 Third Ave (at 47th St), New York, NY

Who:YLC members, high school and college students, community members and supporters

Why: Because immigrant students cannot wait any longer. We are Undocumented and Unafraid, and we want the DREAM Act now!

Media contact: Daniela at daniela@nysylc.org or more info, Jennifer at jennifer@nysylc.org or 347-581-7337

* TAKE ACTION NOW! *

CALL SENATOR SCHUMER NOW! TELL HIM YOU SUPPORT THE 21 DREAMERS ARRESTED YESTERDAY AND URGE HIM TO MOVE ON THE DREAM ACT AS A STAND ALONE BILL, THE FUTURES OD THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ON THE LINE!

DC OFFICE:  202- 224-6542

NY OFFICE: 212-486-4430

***If you would like to come on the bus with the YLC please fill out the form HERE ***

The time to mobilize and demand the DREAM Act is now! We have a short window of opportunity to pass the DREAM Act in Congress. Over the course of the last two years we have been successful in building up our collective base and now more than ever, we need to show our collective power as immigrant youth. We have walked 250 miles to Washington DC to share our stories and we have starved outside of Senator Schumer's office to get his support.

All of this work, all of the petition signatures you gathered and sent in are now bearing fruit. All of the rallies you attended, all of the lobby visits and relationships you built are now critical for passage of the Dream Act. Make your work count now! Come to Washington D.C. with the YLC on the 20th for a day of escalation and action on Capitol Hill.

The round trip bus ticket is $20.

Optional: If you wish to stay overnight, housing is being arranged for people that wish to do so.

***If you would like to come on the bus with the YLC please fill out the form HERE ***

President Obama recently spoke to the nation about the urgency for a change in our immigration system. Even though the President and Democratic leadership have not provided a concrete plan to do this, the DREAM Act is a tangible and possible solution that can help undocumented immigrant youth and their families.

This Tuesday, NYSYLC members, community leaders, students, and allies will carry out a 24-hour vigil at the doorstep of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office to demand her support for the DREAM Act immediately and to show how many youth she is letting down with her inaction. The clock is ticking, the Dream Act needs to pass now, Rep. Velazquez we are waiting on you.

***If you will not be able to attend the vigil you can still let her office know that you are supporting the DREAM Act by filling out this petition http://bit.ly/dgjyix ***

Who: New York State Youth Leadership Council members, allies, university and high school students, and supporters

What: 24-hour Vigil outside the office of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez

When: Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Press Conference will begin at 11am. Vigil starts at 12 pm.

Where: Rep. Nydia Velazquez’s Lower East Side Office

173 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009 MAP: http://bit.ly/b9DCaD

Why: Enough is Enough. We need the Dream Act Now and it is intolerable that our Congresswoman

and Chair of the Hispanic Caucus does not come out in full support of the Dream Act.

"Rodolfo is an immigrant from Mexico. Like other undocumented students, he cannot apply for student loans and struggles to make ends meet. He fights for the passing of the Dream Act, which would grant him and thousands like him legal status in the country."

Produced by: Mariana Vasconcellos

"No Dreams Are Illegal" - Rodolfo's Story from mariana vasconcellos on Vimeo.

We have been working on behalf of the passage of the DREAM Act for many years; we have written letters, made phone calls, met with staff, built coalitions, walked over 250 miles to Washington, DC, and, over the last 10 days, starved. This struggle began when most of us were in high school and learned a truth that would jeopardize our future. Through no fault of our own, we found ourselves in a country we've come to know as our own but doesn't recognize our presence. As college graduates, we've accomplished many of our dreams and those of our parents, but still not considered worthy enough to contribute to our adopted country. We believed in the American dream that if one works and studies hard, and contributes positively to society, that society would come to not only accept us, but would embrace us.

We understand that the trauma and struggles endured by our immigrant communities goes far beyond what the DREAM Act would fix. We understand this because we live it. We live separated from loved ones, watch our parents work hard in poor, unsafe conditions for low wages, and fear the apprehension and deportation of our families daily. So if and when there is a proposal for reform of the immigration system that would address all of the issues that we, our families and our communities face, the New York State Youth Leadership Council would fully be in support and let it be known that we would be present then as we are now. Yet absent this real possibility, immigrant communities are united on this point: We all want the DREAM Act and we want it now! Parents came to this country to provide for their families and to offer their children opportunities. Therefore, the priority of every immigrant family is the future of their children. We do not personally know of any parent that wants the DREAM Act, and the dreams of their children, to be held back for the slim chance of a comprehensive immigration reform package sometime in the future. Our parents and our communities value their children and young people and want us now more than ever to have a chance to pursue our dreams. Our legislators and leaders of national organizations would do well to do the same.

This is the year for the DREAM Act. Enough immigrant youth have been denied their dreams. Many of us have been separated from our families and are at risk for deportation. Some of our peers have returned to lands they no longer remember. Some of us risk possible death or torture due to our religious and political beliefs, sexual orientation, or civil strife in our countries of birth. All of us seek the opportunity to contribute to this country and the people we have come to love. Failure is inconceivable. Waiting is unjust. No more youth should suffer while politicians and special interest groups play with our futures for another ten years. The members of the NYSYLC know full well what it takes to pass the DREAM Act now. We are escalating our actions of peaceful resistance to show that our lives in their current state are unbearable and to force this reality upon those who represent us and have the power to reform the systems that affect our lives and our futures.

Ten members of the NYSYLC held a hunger strike outside of Senator Schumer’s office from June 1st to June 10th of 2010. During this time, Senator Schumer did not acknowledge the immigrant youth starving at his doorstep nor did Senator Schumer’s staff formally meet with the youth, not even once. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer, his top aides, and leaders of the Reform Immigration for America (RI4A) campaign, did find time to conduct a meeting regarding the DREAM Act and other immigration reform proposals on June 9th. While students were starving to have their voices heard, the meeting attendees did not consider to include even a single youth voice at the table. This is unacceptable and reprehensible. Immigration advocates should know better than use the struggle of immigrant youth to move forward their own agenda, and should assure that young voices are always included in this ongoing conversation. The job of our advocates is not to speak for us, but to bring our voices into the conversation.

On June 10th, we held simultaneous actions, which consisted of sit-ins at Senator Schumer's offices in Washington, DC and Melville, Long Island, and a rally and press conference at the New York City office. In Long Island, the students were arrested for refusing to leave without any concrete agreements from Senator Schumer. In New York City, the youth were not allowed to enter the building in order to meet with staff, as they had requested, and therefore held a die-in on the sidewalk, surrounded by New York police officers and anti-terrorism squad. In Washington, DC, the students sat in for five hours, during which time they were informed by Senator Schumer and his top immigration aide, Leon Fresco, that the Senator would not publicly support the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill until the students themselves secure all 60 votes needed for passage, without any assistance from the Senator. In perhaps the most controversial part of the conversation, the students were personally told by Senator Schumer, that he would not work to gain support for the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill because the leaders of RI4A had asked him not to, and that the students were not included in the meeting that had taken place the previous day because RI4A refused to have them at the table. We cannot be certain whether Senator Schumer is accurately portraying the sentiment of the leaders of RI4A or if it was dishonest attempt to divide our movement. In the interest of transparency, we have made public the information we had received to hold Senator Schumer and the RI4A leadership accountable to the immigrant communities they represent. We are also aware of statements that have been made after the fact by all the parties involved. However, we find it unacceptable that anger has been directed at us simply for disclosing the information we received, and we encourage those organizations who have made statements in this vein to reconsider their position and speak strongly in support of the Dream Act as a standalone bill, as well as ask Senator Schumer to be honest and forthright with immigrant communities.

The following are our asks moving forward:
RI4A, if Senator Schumer had misunderstood or misstated your position, please clarify publicly. If no specific request was made to include youth regarding the DREAM Act and this was simply an oversight, please arrange for us to be included in meetings involving Senator Schumer, Senator Durbin, and Senator Reid. We do not believe that this is an unreasonable request given that this matter affects our lives.

Senator Schumer, if what you share with us is not accurate, or if we misunderstood, please explain to your constituents why you are holding the DREAM Act hostage, or, preferably when and how you will move the DREAM Act forward. And as a point of respect to the young activists that were starving on your doorstep, please explain why you turned a blind eye and deaf ear rather than meet with them even for a minute to hear what they wanted to share with you and why they were willing to put their well-being on the line for that opportunity.

Sincerely,

The New York State Youth Leadership Council