Organizing in Support of the DREAM Act
Update: September 23, 2010
The FAN website has recorded over 400 persons taking action on our alert in support of the act, making it the single largest response to an action alert in FAN's history!
Unfortunately, as you likely are aware, the Senate did not vote to consider the Defense Authorization Bill to which the DREAM Act was to be an amendment.
With this development, the DREAM Act will not be up for consideration immediately. However, it appears that the Defense Authorization Bill will be up for consideration again after the November 2nd General Election.
So, we have another chance and another month to build more support for the DREAM Act.
Therefore, we want to offer you and your ministries suggestions for actions to build support for the DREAM Act as we move forward.
We will be putting out more specific newsletter/bulletin/pulpit resources, as well as additional action items, towards the middle to end of October. We will be sure to update you at that time.
In the meantime, the webinar, flyers and information on this page can be a good resource.
Over the next weeks, it will be important to think about how you might build enthusiasm within your communities for action on the DREAM Act after the November Elections.
Your feedback in helping us prepare for the next step in our civic engagement with the DREAM Act is important. Please send your comments or questions, as well as organizing ideas, to immigration@franciscanaction.org. These insights will help us prepare for the next time the DREAM Act is considered.
In the meantime, use the button at the right to let others know about our continuing efforts to pass the DREAM Act.
View the recording of the organizing webinar
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Near the end of March 2009, a bill was introduced in Congress to facilitate documentation for immigrant youth who are undocumented through no fault of their own. The Development Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. This Bill was introduced both in the Senate by Richard Durbin (D-Ill) and in the House by Howard Berman (D-CA).
It encourages young immigrants to aspire to higher education or military service. It gives residency status to young people--primarily of high school or college age--who have been in the country for at least 5 years. They would therefore qualify for state-sponsored tuition rates, grants and loans, facilitating for them the possibility of higher education and participation in our nation's economy at this critical time.
As Franciscans, we support immigration policy that is compassionate, comprehensive, just, and promotes the common good. Many members of our communities, congregations, and orders minister directly with immigrant families.
As a nation of immigrants, we believe that immigrants contribute to our well-being through their skills, talents, hard work, and values. Those who would benefit from the DREAM Act are talented, intelligent, and dedicated young persons who know only the United States as their home. The DREAM Act represents a practical, fair, and compassionate solution for thousands of young persons in our nation who simply want to reach their God-given potential and contribute to the well-being of our nation.
Although FAN remains committed to the wider goal of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR), the DREAM Act represents a significant step in the right direction. There are indications that the act may be voted on in the present Congress.
What can be done to help pass this important legislation?
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FAN members are urged, in conjunction with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Justice for Immigrants (JFI), to contact your Congressional Representative and Senators to support the DREAM Act.
Click the red button (or here) to TAKE ACTION.
- View the recorded FAN web conference with Anthony Cube of Justice for Immigrants.
- Here are some additional resources specifically focused on organizing to pass the DREAM Act provided by Justice for Immigrants which can be downloaded and printed to be shared with others:
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