DREAMers Storm Capitol Hill, Await Word on Senate Vote

[pampango]

Source: ColorLines



Tags: DREAM Act
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Many DREAMers had already all but moved in to congressional offices in the days before the House passed the DREAM Act. Now, with a Senate vote possibly just days away, hundreds of immigrant youth activists are gathering in D.C. for their final push of the year.

Congressional aides now say that the earliest the DREAM Act would likely come back up for a vote in the Senate is next Monday or Tuesday. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid postponed the Senate vote the morning after the House passed the DREAM Act, ostensibly to allow the Senate to vote on the House version of the bill. Many immigration advocates said it was a strategic move to buy more time for advocates to move a handful of reluctant Republicans and Democrats.

Since then, DREAM Act activists have been shutting down congressional switchboards with tens of thousands of phone calls every day, doing lobby visits with senators, and organizing their final actions of the year. These final days of advocacy will cap off a year of unprecedented activism and outspoken support for the DREAM Act, which would put undocumented immigrant youth on a path to citizenship if they commit two years to higher education or the military and have a clean criminal record. Military leaders, labor and immigrant rights groups, university presidents, and faith groups have been vocally pushing for the DREAM Act this year.

Today DREAMers, as undocumented youth and DREAM Act activists are often called, have organized a blood drive in Washington, D.C., at 50 F Street in coordination with the Children’s National Medical Center, according to Lucy Martinez, a DREAMer from Texas.



Read more: http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/12/dreamers_storm_capitol_hill_before_senate_vote.html

[bajamary]

1. excellent grassroots

What an excellent grassroots activity they have going.

Call your Senators to have the Dream Act passed !

Thank you.

[SaveAmerica]

2. I just called my Senator, love the plan to educate then bring bill back