December 8, 2010 – New Orleans, LA – City Council President Arnie Fielkow joins Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao and Senator Mary Landrieu in supporting the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, the federal bill aimed at providing immigration relief to undocumented students for the purposes of educational/military service. Councilmember Fielkow would like to express his support of the DREAM Act in the following statement.
“The DREAM Act acknowledges the fact that many undocumented immigrants came to America holding the hand of a parent, and it begs the question: Should a child be punished for a parent’s actions? We don’t hold the rest of the country’s youth accountable for their parent’s actions, and undocumented youth should not be held to a different standard.
CM Fielkow at the candlelight vigil in support of the DREAM Act
“Right now, many bright and eager youth are forced to live in the shadow of a parent’s choice, always fearing deportation from the only country they have ever called home. There are currently 1.7 million undocumented immigrants under the age of 18 nationally. Every year, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school but are unable to fully participate in American society.
“The DREAM Act affords undocumented youth, who are law-abiding and education-oriented, the opportunity for conditional citizenship. The path to citizenship created under the DREAM Act would be open to immigrants who entered the United States as undocumented children under the age of 16 and have lived in America for at least five years, obtained a high school or GED diploma and demonstrated good moral character. Even then, only a six-year conditional status would be awarded. Furthermore, before moving to the next phase of citizenship, the students would need to meet additional requirements — attending college or serving in the military for at least two years as well as passing criminal background checks. Young people who do not fulfill the act’s requirements will lose their legal status and would be subject to deportation.
“Beneficiaries would receive no Pell Grants, nor does this bill provide for healthcare or any other government assistance.These youth would receive in-state tuition in their state of residence, the same as any student in America.
DREAM Act supporters gather for a candlelight vigil organized by the Vietnamese American Young Leadership Association and Latinola
“Therefore, I believe that, if education is the ticket to a healthier economy, the DREAM Act is a step in the right direction for our country’s fiscal strength. The Congressional Budget Office has even said that the measure would cut the federal deficit by $1.4 billion and increase government revenues by $2.3 billion over the next decade due to tax revenues and income.
“It is my firm belief that all youth in this country, whether born here or not, should be given the chance to succeed and contribute to the place they call home. This is consistent with the democratic principles and kindness upon which our country was built. They cannot do this without the DREAM Act.
