Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Lugar (R-IN) are expected to offer the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill during the week of September 17th.  This amendment would provide many undocumented immigrant students who graduate from high school with the opportunity to gain citizenship and access to higher education.

The language in the Dream Act was part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that failed in Congress this year.  The students who would qualify for the provisions in the DREAM Act came to the United States as children with their parents and entered illegally through no fault of their own.  They have few if any family or social connections in their country of origin. This Act is a just and fair way to deal with the many young adults who though not born in this country were raised here and know only the U.S. as their home. 

An estimated 70,000 children per year can benefit from the DREAM Act and now is the time to act to pass this very important piece of legislation.  Click here for more information and to take action on this issue.  Scroll to the bottom of the linked page to send a message to Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell urging their support for the DREAM Act amendment to S. 1547, the Department of Defense authorization bill.