For several years Centro Campesino has worked along with other organizations in Minnesota for the passage of the Minnesota version of the DREAM ACT. The Dream Act is a peace of legislation that would allow undocumented students that graduated from a Minnesota High School to qualify for Instate tuition. In 1996 the section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, legislation passed by the Bill Clinton Administration, puts restrictions on states from providing in-state tuition to undocumented students. Approximately 65 thousands undocumented students graduate from United States High School every year. Many of these students were brought to the United States by their parents when they were babies and consider the United States as their home country. They did not choose to violate Immigration laws and they should not be punished for that.
The DREAMM ACT was originally a piece of legislation introduced at the federal level by Senator Orin Hatch. The bill, if made into law, would grant conditional permanent residency status to students and allow them to pay in-state tuition.
Several states have passed legislation to allow students fulfill their Dreams of getting a higher education. States that have passed their DREAM ACT version include:
- Texas, where former governor Gorge W. Bush signed it into law.
- California
- Utah
- Oklahoma
- Illinois
- Washington
- Kansas
On June 6 our youth Organizing group organized a multi-place demonstration to show our anger to Governor Tim Pawlenty after he refused to sign the Higher Education Omnibus bill because the DREAM ACT clause was included. He literally forced representatives to withdraw the clause with the threat that he was going to veto the entire higher education bill. Governor Pawlenty literally shattered the Dream of thousands of students in Minnesota showing us that he has no heart and cares less about the future of Minnesota students. To the shout of "Shame on you Pawlenty!" and "Bring the Dream Back!" students, teachers, and supporters demonstrated their discontent as a result of the governor's actions.
Our young leaders organized public demonstrations in Rochester, Owatonna, Faribault, Northfield, and St. Paul where they demonstrated in front of the governor mansion. We are sure the bill will be reintroduced this new legislative session and we will continue to work closely with our allied organizations and supporters to put pressure to ensure the passage of this bill.
For more information on the DREAM ACT
