Cross posted from 1199SEIU’s news center
The hopes of some 765,000 immigrant teen-age students were dashed last year when Congress failed to pass “The Dream Act,” which would have provided a path to citizenship for undocumented college students and members of the military.
Jacki Cinto
But the dream of citizenship has not died. Students and immigrant activists are organizing to pass state and local pro-immigrant legislation. A handful of activists, members of the New York State Leadership Council (NYSLC), spoke at the June 17 meeting of 1199SEIU’s Executive Council to ask for the Union’s support for the NYS Dream Act.
After listening to the inspiring presentations, Council members voted unanimously to support the campaign to pass the legislation.
“Like our fellow students who were born in the U.S, we dream of pursuing higher education and fulfilling our families’ dream of a brighter and better future,” said Jaqueline Cinto, who recently earned a Master’s degree. Cinto, who was born in Mexico, would like to teach but is unable to because of her immigration status.
“I am one of the 65,000 undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools each year,” said O’Brian Shaw, a Fashion Institute of Technology student who was born in Jamaica.
One of those recent high school graduates is Yessica Martinez from Colombia, who will be attending Princeton University in the fall. She led the Council members in a chant of “Up up with education. Down down with deportation.”
Tania Mattos, born in Bolivia, is a leader of NYSLC. She described her years of work to pay for her undergraduate and graduate degrees and asked for help in defeating the spate of anti-immigrant legislation across the country. “In North Carolina alone, the legislature has introduced 23 anti-immigrant bills,” she said.
1199SEIU EVP Estela Vazquez, who introduced the young activists, praised their courage. “These young people risk being deported every time they step forward,” Vazquez said. “Let’s support them by making their cause part of our fight for a fair economy.”
Council members urged support for similar student initiatives in all 1199SEIU regions. A Council sub-committee will be established to determine how to provide the most effective support for Dream Act initiatives.
For further information, please visit www.NYDREAMAct.org or contact info@nysylc.org
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