Thread: If the feds can’t pass the DREAM Act, New York state must do its part

Undocumented immigrant children deserve the rights and benefits citizen children have

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
BY Kirsten Gillibrand And Lillian Rodriguez Lopez
Tuesday, December 27 2011, 4:11 AM


In Rhode Island, advocates demonstrate for allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges.

Over the past 10 years, there has been endless posturing in Washington about our broken immigration system. Unfortunately, these debates have achieved nothing to produce critically needed comprehensive immigration reform.

It is shameful that Congress can’t even come together to do the bare minimum and pass the DREAM Act, which opens the door to permanent residency through military service and higher education for thousands of immigrant young people whose parents brought them to this country as children.

They deserve better — the chance to work hard, get a good education, help grow our economy and keep our country safe. Little wonder Republicans such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell have advocated for this legislation, calling it critical to our national security.

The lack of leadership in Washington has reverberated across the country — leaving state governments on their own to answer the fundamental question of how we view and treat immigrants in our society. States like Arizona and Alabama have stepped into this leadership void by passing abhorrent laws that undermine basic civil rights.

Since Congress refuses to act, New York can show the nation a different way. Where others have chosen intolerance, the Empire State can honor its legacy of being a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations of immigrants by passing the New York State DREAM Act introduced by Assemblyman Guillermo Linares and state Sen. Bill Perkins, as well as the DREAM Fund introduced by Assemblyman Francisco Moya.

Together, these bills would support the extension of the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other scholarships to all students, regardless of immigration status; create a commission to raise private funds for all children of immigrants (both documented and undocumented), and allow undocumented students and their families to open up college savings accounts.

Investing in the dreams of our immigrant youth is not only the moral thing to do. It is a social, academic and economic imperative. The students who will benefit from the DREAM legislation are some of New York’s best and brightest. They are the friends of our children who have been raised and educated in our schools, churches and neighborhoods. They root for the Yankees, fret about the Mets and know the best pizzerias in town.

Having overcome great obstacles to achieve educational success, these young people are often also overachievers who have higher-than-average levels of community and civic activity.

A growing chorus of educators across our state has affirmed the value of ensuring that these young scholars have fair and equal access to higher education. They recognize what the evidence clearly suggests: If we give these kids a chance, they will enhance our economic productivity and ensure that New York can continue to position itself as one of the largest and most dynamic economies in the world.

Consider the following: According to research conducted by CEOs for Cities, if New York City were to increase the population of its residents with a four-year college degree by just 1 percentage point, it would bring $14.3 billion dollars in additional revenue to the city’s economy.

For generations upon generations, New York has been able to grow by tapping into the spirit of its immigrant community. In the coming year, let’s send that message loud and clear to the rest of the nation by passing the New York State DREAM bills.

Gillibrand is the junior senator from the state of New York. Rodríguez López is president of the Hispanic Federation.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/f...#ixzz1hkDaPYm1

For generations upon generations, New York has been able to grow by tapping into the spirit of its immigrant community. In the coming year, let’s send that message loud and clear to the rest of the nation by passing the New York State DREAM bills.

Yeah! Hey! let's not bring up the fact that illegals cost the state of New York 2 billion dollars a year! And that picture pretty much says it all!
America has plenty of they're own "Entitlement Babies" we have no shortage of them! If Bachmann or Romney were POTUS I bet these little "Screw America Rallies" would dry up and blow away!

Hello
who pay for all of this ?
yes nyc do your part ship them all back home . hello wake up they are not a USA citizen I don't think so
I been around a long time to know who a citizen & who is not
& they sure In hell are not hello our kids also deserve right also do they get it no . why don't you all go back to your
Country & tell your gov what you want & what you derseve & about benefits
Rhond island was just wonderfull at one time what the hell happen
I don't know why in hell the mayor of that town don't stand up for your town about this .
this is for all the mayor of every town & state wake the hell up get your head out of the sand .or is this just for the vote well
think again your job In on line
NO amnesty or Dream at

Rhode Island has gotten a lot smaller, there was even an article in the newspaper. A lot have moved away. Maybe people were sick of being jobless and sick of the illegals getting everything. Most Rhode Islanders are against illegal immigration yet our State is soft and on the illegals side. makes me so mad.

Gillibrand is the junior senator from the state of New York. Rodríguez López is president of the Hispanic Federation.

You don't say..Imagine that.. Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic
OK,OK,OK,OK,OK, We KNOW....! Damn, If it was not for ..Illegal Aliens do you really think we would have to read or hear the H word so often? Damn..I wouldn't even categorize the H word if it were not for these racists.
We would all be Americans and anyone could join. They just have to sign up and follow the rules. Thats my dream act.
Until then...DEPORT DEPORT DEPORT DEPORT DEPORT DEPORT DEPORT...!