CHCI Applauds Passage of Senate Immigration Bill

Citizenship for DREAM Students Critical to U.S. Future

News provided by

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Jun 27, 2013, 05:37 ET

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation's premier Latino youth leadership development and educational services organization, today applauded the passage of Senate Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S.744). The bill provides a road to citizenship for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants and overhauls the family immigration system, and most importantly to CHCI, addresses the status of millions of DREAM students in America.

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"The strength of our great nation will depend on the success of the Latino community," stated CHCI Board Chairman and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa. "It will be a great day when the millions of DREAM students can stand up and realize that the American dream is no longer just beyond their reach, but a fully attainable goal."

The Senate bill provides an expedited road to citizenship for undocumented students who entered the United States before the age of 16, graduated from high school (or received a GED) in the U.S., and attended at least two years of college or served four years in the military. DREAMers would apply for Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status, and, after five years, would be eligible to apply for adjustment to legal permanent resident status. They then would be able to apply immediately for U.S. citizenship.

CHCI currently accepts application for its award-winning programs from students that qualify under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process announced by the Department of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012.

"CHCI is thrilled to see the first major step forward on immigration reform with Senate passage of S. 744. We hope to see the House follow suit very soon," said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President & CEO. "We are proud to accept DACA students into our programs and we look forward to extending CHCI's fellowships, internships and scholarships, to a much larger pool of talented young Latinos once the final bill is signed into law by President Obama later this year."

About CHCI
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c) (3) organization, provides leadership development programs and educational services to students and young emerging leaders. The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union, and corporate leaders. For more information call CHCI at (202) 543-1771, visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter (chci), and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute