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  1. #1
    Senior Member elpasoborn's Avatar
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    Illegal immigrants hold DC 'teach-in' to push bill

    http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_15514582

    Illegal immigrants hold DC 'teach-in' to push bill
    By SUZANNE GAMBOA and RUSSELL CONTRERAS Associated Press Writers
    Posted: 07/14/2010 12:51:37 PM MDT

    WASHINGTON—They can't get citizenship or in-state tuition rates, so they're taking the next steps—the Capitol and White House steps, that is.

    A coalition of student immigrant advocacy groups in Massachusetts, Colorado and California on Wednesday launched a makeshift school in the nation's capital, reminiscent of the "teach-ins" of the 1960s, to encourage a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants through college enrollment.

    The first class at "Dream University"—a school with informal classes and volunteer professors and instructors from around the country—was held Wednesday outside the White House, with more planned in the weeks ahead. Students don't get credit for the classes, but they're free.

    The first class of about 27 students, several wearing white DREAM University T-shirts, gathered at Lafayette Park, across from the White House.

    Cady Landa, a former Boston public schoolteacher, led the students in a discussion of a report recently released by the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank.

    "It's not only an education," Landa said about the protest classes, "it's turning around a terrible situation and making it a positive situation."

    Pedro Perez, who is attending college in Wisconsin, said being in the country illegally forced him to turn down a private school scholarship. Because they are in the country illegally, the students can't work to pay their way through school.

    "It's hard togo back to Mexico. It's like an unknown country to me. I've been here since I was 3," Perez said.

    The classes could allow undocumented students who can't afford tuition rates in some states a chance to attend classes, said Carlos Saavedra, national coordinator for a Washington-based group called United We Dream.

    The Dream University plan calls for students, regardless of immigration status, to attend classes of 20 in history, civil rights, science, music and other subjects taught by professors from Washington's Georgetown and American universities. The '60s "teach-ins" took a similar approach in mobilizing opposition to the Vietnam War.

    Tom Shields, a doctoral student at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., said he and two of his colleagues also have agreed to teach classes soon, and organizers say more professors from elsewhere will join.

    The idea for the school came about after the Massachusetts-based Student Immigrant Movement group held a 19-day around-the-clock vigil outside of the Massachusetts Statehouse to protest a measure that would have imposed greater restrictions on illegal immigrants.

    That vigil drew support from activists around the state and ended after the amendment failed.

    "We got really inspired by what happened in Massachusetts ... and how successful it was," Saavedra said. "We brainstorm that if we really wanted to make a point about education ... we needed to literally build a university in different parts of D.C."

    Dream University also acts as a vigil of sorts to push a federal bill, known as the DREAM Act—standing for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors—that could grant legal status to some immigrants who attend college or serve in the military.

    On Tuesday, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chief sponsor of the bill, said it was "very unlikely" the DREAM Act would pass in Congress before the fall elections.

    State laws vary on allowing illegal immigrants access to in-state tuition rates. California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin allow it, but others, such as Massachusetts, require out-of-state rates—something a number of illegal-immigrant students say they can't afford.

    Groups of students in Denver and Los Angeles have announced plans to attend Dream University. But among the most vocal student activists have been those in Massachusetts, which so far has sent 10 students.

    "Another 55 are scheduled to leave July 21," said Jose Palma, 33, of the Student Immigrant Movement group.

    Students nationwide have signed up for the classes and word is spreading through Facebook, Saavedra said.

    The school even has a "financial aid adviser" and a "residential hall:

    Renata Teodoro, 22, an illegal immigrant in Boston, said she was working with undocumented students in Oklahoma, North Carolina and Kansas to raise money so students could travel to Washington to attend classes.

    Once students arrive, Teodoro said, they will be housed in tents set up along the Capitol grounds.

    "This school sustains our momentum," said Teodoro. "We're not going to give up."

  2. #2
    Senior Member Captainron's Avatar
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    Tom Shields, a doctoral student at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., said he and two of his colleagues also have agreed to teach classes soon, and organizers say more professors from elsewhere will join.

    The idea for the school came about after the Massachusetts-based Student Immigrant Movement group held a 19-day around-the-clock vigil outside of the Massachusetts Statehouse to protest a measure that would have imposed greater restrictions on illegal immigrants.


    We really need to make sure that Mass. Senator Scott Brown isn't swayed by these students. This spring they lobbied in his office (s). Brown, is definitely a target of the Obama administration, along with other NE Republicans: Snowe, Collins, Gregg.
    "Men of low degree are vanity, Men of high degree are a lie. " David
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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    Senior Member MontereySherry's Avatar
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    Senior Member ReggieMay's Avatar
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    On Tuesday, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chief sponsor of the bill, said it was "very unlikely" the DREAM Act would pass in Congress before the fall elections.
    Before the elections no. November, December maybe.
    "A Nation of sheep will beget a government of Wolves" -Edward R. Murrow

    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  5. #5
    Senior Member Texan123's Avatar
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    Illegal immigrants hold

    QUESTION:
    Many illegal immigrants use the Social Security numbers of their US born kids for work and other benefits. Now that these kids are reaching legal age, the kids will need to use their number to get their own jobs, college loans, mortgages.
    What would happen if reform does not pass? The illegal parents have to find a new number to use of just contiue to have several family members using the same number?

    The Dream Act is another amnesty scam. Once these kids get legal status they can petition for many family members to come and get green cards. Surely there is a provision in the bill to allow family members already in the US to adjust status thru the Dream kid.
    Advocates for the Dream Act only quote current numbers of high school graduates who would quailfy, refusing to estimate how many illegal alien kids are currently coming up thru grade school and will qualify over the next several years. There will be a domino effect, and millions more will bring their kids to take advantage of all the American taxpayer has to offer.

  6. #6
    Senior Member MontereySherry's Avatar
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    There needs to be a study on what careers these kids are going for. From what I have noticed is that most of them are taking classes that would benefit the Hispanic Community. They are not looking for a path to become American. They are looking for a path to further their community's agenda.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Captainron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MontereySherry
    There needs to be a study on what careers these kids are going for. From what I have noticed is that most of them are taking classes that would benefit the Hispanic Community. They are not looking for a path to become American. They are looking for a path to further their community's agenda.
    A lot of them aspire to "careers" which will do little besides help their own ethnic group. And who, do they think, is going to be paying their wages? Are the taxpayers supposed to be paying for this ethnic special interest?
    "Men of low degree are vanity, Men of high degree are a lie. " David
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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