Regional
(2010-09-01)
DENVER, CO
(KUNC) -
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM Act, would allow undocumented youth to continue their education past high school under a provisional residency period. Opponents fear the bill would encourage illegal behavior. But in order to qualify, students have to have finished high school in the U.S. Plus they have to prove they were minors when brought to the country, and that they've been in the U.S. five years prior to the bill's enactment. Thursday afternoon two organizations are staging a rally to urge Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall to help speed passage of the bill.
"Udall has been a cosponsor for many years now, and Bennet, since he started being a senator, signed on as a cosponsor. So what we asked them to do is to send a letter to (Harry) Reid, the main cosponsor from Nevada, to put the dream act up for a vote on the calendar before the elections," says Julieta Quinones. She is with Padres y Jovenes Unidos, one of the organization staging the support rally.
"Every year it is estimated that about 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school without the opportunity to continue their education. So if the DREAM Act passes, it would provide them a path to legalization and the opportunity to go college," she adds.
The groups hope to get a response from the senators' offices at the rally. The rally begins Thursday afternoon at 4 at Denver's Confluence Park.
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