Students rally at Nebraska Capitol in support of DREAM Act

By JORDAN PASCALE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 6:41 pm

For five years, Bryan Corkle taught undocumented students at O'Neill High School and didn't know it.

He coached some of them in wrestling, became friends with some of them.

About 10 months ago, he learned about the plight of these students: After high school, they have limited options without citizenship.

He's become so personally involved with these teens that he started advising an organization, and Wednesday he rallied with students for legislation that would give them a path to citizenship.

Standing on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon, Corkle preached this message: "Providing undocumented students with an opportunity for citizenship or higher education isn't a political issue. It's human rights issue.

"A lot of people want to depersonalize the issue (immigration)," Corkle said, "but it's about people. It's about right versus wrong and a chance for equal opportunities."

More than 150 people, including members of Nebraska Students for the DREAM Act and O'Neill residents, gathered at the Capitol for a rally urging Congress to pass the federal DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act and is proposed federal legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students.

The federal act is separate from the controversial Nebraska legislation that allows undocumented students to attend public colleges and universities in Nebraska at in-state tuition rates.

But the proposed federal act isn't a free ride, said speakers at the rally.

The legislation states that in order to qualify, students must have no criminal record, lived in the U.S. for at least six consecutive years, graduated from a U.S. high school and obtained a two- or four-year degree from a U.S. college or university or have completed a minimum two years' military service and been honorably discharged.

"Many students find themselves in this country at a very young age through no decision of their own," literature from the rally says. "They grow up learning to love this great country and aspire, like many of us, to achieve the American Dream. Current law prevents this."

It's a situation that one O'Neill student can empathize with -- so much so that he walked 195 miles from O'Neill to Lincoln to raise awareness for the act.

Daniel Dominguez, a U.S. citizen born in Fresno, Calif., has seen many of his friends denied postgraduation opportunities like college because of their immigration status.

"They're not criminals. They just want opportunity," he said.

Dominguez finished his trek by jogging into a parking lot near the Bob Devaney Sports Center where about 70 friendly faces greeted the 17-year-old with cheers, signs and hugs.

The group completed the last two-mile walk from Devaney through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and downtown to the Capitol chanting "Education, not deportation" and "We are the dreamers."

Dominguez said he was inspired by a group of students from Miami who walked from the tip of Florida to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for the same act.

At Wednesday's rally, nine speakers, from a former state senator to an undocumented student to a principal and superintendent, spoke to rally-goers.

Amy Shane, O'Neill's school superintendent, said the act would be a chance for those who work hard to be able make a difference in the country.

"It provides a path to citizenship to those who have always called this place home," Shane said.

Former state Sen. DiAnna Schimek told the crowd not to give up their goal, reminding them Nebraska's Dream Act took five years of hard work to get passed.

"I hope congressmen hear you loud and clear," Schimek said. "It's time to move on the DREAM Act."

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