Congressman Rivera to File STARS Act to Give Residency to Young Undocumented Immigrants

The bill will allow undocumented immigrants who arrive before the age of 16 to the U.S. to gain residency


By Betty Yu
Saturday, May 19, 2012 | Updated 11:57 AM EDT

Sisters Daniela and Dayana Pelaez joined Congressman David Rivera at North Miami Senior High School Saturday morning to announce that the Studying Towards Adjusted Residency Status (STARS) Act will be filed in a few weeks.

The bill will allow undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before the age of 16 the opportunity to adjust their residency status if they earn a degree from an accredited four-year institution of higher education and meet certain criteria.

Congressman Rivera was inspired by Daniela to draft the bill. He has spent the last two months finalizing the language of the STARS Act.

The Colombian sisters were granted a two-year reprieve in March.

Palaez is going to Washington D.C. with her sister and lawyer on May 30 to support Congressman Rivera and garner support for the STARS Act.

She will attend Dartmouth College this fall and plans to study medicine.

Congressman Rivera to File STARS Act to Give Residency to Young Undocumented Immigrants | NBC 6 Miami