Thread: Janet Reno chimes in on DREAM Act

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_d ... 38539.html


Juan Sebastian Gomez and Janet Reno

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Reno: U.S. must educate all its kids
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said education should be offered to every U.S. child -- including undocumented ones.
Posted on Sun, Sep. 16, 2007
BY YOLANNE ALMANZAR
yalmanzar@MiamiHerald.com


Janet Reno told fellow Democrats Tuesday that one of the highest priorities for candidates in the upcoming presidential election -- ''one of the most important in American history'' -- should be providing educational opportunities for all children.

''We're going to have to make sure that from early childhood and on, all children of America have the opportunity to get the best education they can,'' Reno, the nation's former top law enforcement officer, told about 80 people who attended a Democratic POWER club meeting.

Among the attendees was Juan Gomez, 18, a Killian High graduate who has garnered national media coverage in his efforts to keep his family from being deported back to their native Colombia.

The Gomez family was ordered deported in July because of their illegal immigration status, but an intensive lobbying effort by Juan's friends caught the attention of the media and legislators. U.S. Reps. Lincoln DÃ*az-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are sponsoring a private bill on behalf of Juan and his brother, Alex, that could block deportation proceedings until 2009. Immigration officials also granted the family an extension until Oct. 14.

''This is a nation of immigrants and it has a tradition of rewarding hard work,'' said Reno, the former U.S. attorney general and Miami-Dade state attorney. ``We cannot educate a segment of our population, we've got a responsibility to educate all of our children.''

Reno also cited state-mandated budget cuts in education as an ``an example when we must get together and say we cannot afford this.''

Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended the cuts in an effort to balance a $1 billion budget shortfall attributed to Florida's housing slump. In the meantime, Reno advised local districts to demonstrate that they can ''spend education money wisely'' before demanding more.

''Be concerned about the reduction, but also be concerned with what you do with the money once you get it,'' she told the crowd gathered at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Miami, 7701 SW 76th Ave.

Gomez also spoke, advocating for the DREAM Act, which would grant U.S. permanent residency to undocumented immigrants who complete two years of college or military service.

''The fact that thousands of students like me can graduate high school with honors without an opportunity for future success speaks volumes about our unique self-motivation,'' he said. ``Just imagine what we could accomplish with a legal status.''

He asked for the club's support to ''stop the daily deportation of great minds,'' saying that ``the United States of America will benefit greatly from our accomplishments and achievements in the future.''

After the speeches, Reno and most of the attendees signed petitions in support of the DREAM Act that will be distributed to members of Congress.

''[Juan and his friends are a] splendid example of what American schools can do,'' Reno said.

Thanks Janet. Like we had to guess where you were on the invasion.


W

Is this the same Janet Reno who made sure that Elian Gozalez was yanked out of the arms of his uncle by heavily armed agents who stormed their home and promptly shipped back to Cuba because he had been brought here illegally by his mother and, according to her, he needed to return to his home country because, as an illegal, he didn't belong here?

I think you are right Dixie she may be failing due to her illness because this does no seem like the Janet Reno I remember before.

It is one thing to say all american kids need to be educated. It is another to give special opportuiities to illegal kids, which is what the dream act is. They get special instate tuition advantages that other kids don't have. r ALL kids get the same treatment but no nobody gets special treatment. This is what is dividing our country. One eithnic group gets preference over other groups. LAws for Americans should benefit ALLLLLLLLLLLLL AMERICANS. Why do they deserve to have SPEICAL treatment they are not even AMERICANS. That is sending out a message that it is no deal to be an AMERICAN. It means as much to King George as the constitution - nothing.

Latest insight from the opposition:

Ok so we need 60 right?! We have 45 Democrats so that means we need 15 Republicans.. They should support us.. Stevens, Murkowski, McCain, Kyl, Craig or Johnson, Crapo, Lugar,Brownback, Snowe, Collins, Hagel, Voinovich, Specter, Graham, Hatch, Warner (Already 16).... There are several more that should also support us as Domenici, Cochran etc.. I cannot see us losing this vote, i just cant

Janet is suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

By now, she may have Secondary symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction, which include dementia and memory loss.

Dixie

Actually we were a nation of laws and someone needs to be held accountable for all of the aiding and abetting!

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Is this the same Janet Reno who made sure that Elian Gozalez was yanked out of the arms of his uncle by heavily armed agents who stormed their home and promptly shipped back to Cuba because he had been brought here illegally by his mother and, according to her, he needed to return to his home country because, as an illegal, he didn't belong here?
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yup one and the same.

Janet is suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

By now, she may have Secondary symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction, which include dementia and memory loss.

Dixie

You mean she didn't dispay these when she was in office?

I think Reno supporting this gives a reason for Senators who were planning to support it, to take a close second look. A lot of Renos decissions were political suicide. And I believe most Senators know it.

There is a space at bottom of article to make a comment, everyone should bee posting how they feel about the dream act there.