The Buzz: Undocumented immigrants honored in California Assembly
The Buzz: Undocumented immigrants honored in California Assembly
Sacremento Bee
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Five undocumented immigrants who plan to walk
to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the federal
DREAM Act, accompanied by supporters, are
recognized Monday in the California Assembly.
Five undocumented immigrants received a standing ovation on the Assembly floor on Monday for their campaign to prod changes in federal immigration law.
The immigrants are walking from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the federal Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for longtime residents who immigrated illegally and later graduated from U.S. high schools.
No lawmakers protested Monday's recognition – almost all Democrats stood to applaud, but many Republicans stayed in their seats.
"These are young people exemplifying true leadership and commitment to civic engagement," said Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, a Bell Gardens Democrat who chairs the Latino Legislative Caucus.
The five walkers are Alex Aldana of Southern California, Lucas Da Silva of Orlando, Fla., Jose Gonzalez of San Diego, Nicolas Gonzalez of Chicago and Jonatan Martinez of Georgia.
Martinez said their goal is to show that undocumented immigrants can be contributing taxpayers if given the opportunity.
Martinez came from Mexico on a visitor's visa when he was 4. He graduated from college, but federal law bars employers from hiring him, he said.
"As much as I love America, I'm not able to give back because of the fact that I'm undocumented," Martinez said.
source: The Buzz: Undocumented immigrants honored in California Assembly - The Buzz - The Sacramento Bee