It has been announced that Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) plans to attach an immigration reform measure to assist undocumented students to the Defense Authorization Bill to be voted on in the Senate next week.
The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is a wonderful step forward. It would offer a path to residency and citizenship for undocumented children and young people who were brought here by their parents. Many of these young people came as babies and have known no other country except the United States. The DREAM Act would recognize these young people who have grown up here and allow them a way to become full citizens of our country.
The DREAM Act provides that they may become eligible to begin the process toward full legal status if they attend college or join the military. While I am not excited about the military option as a part of this amendment, I think that the bill deserves our complete support. It is the military component that allows it to be attached to the defense bill before the Senate.
Last week, the East Bay Interfaith Immigration Coalition, which meets monthly at the Chapel, heard from one such young man who is a full time student at Cal. He is one of as many as 750,000 young people who would benefit from this legislation and pleaded our coalition to help it to pass. His energy, enthusiasm, and commitment were impressive. He urged those of us with ties in North Dakota to appeal to the state’s uncommitted democratic Senators Byron Dorgan or Kent Conrad (a Catholic and a Lutheran) asking them to vote for this important amendment.
We join Lutherans throughout the country in urging members of the Senate to pass this piece of legislation next week. Let’s get this done!
Pr. Jeff
PS….”Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is up for appeal as an amendment to the same defense bill. It could be a great week!
No comments:
Post a Comment