NAFSA Urges Senate to Accept Reid DREAM-Act Amendment

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NAFSA: Association of International Educators applauds Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – Nev.) for announcing a plan to offer the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (S. 729, known as the DREAM Act) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 when it goes to the Senate floor next week. NAFSA urges the U.S. Senate to accept the amendment and move the DREAM Act closer to enactment.

The DREAM Act would create a path to legal immigration status for children born outside the United States who were brought here illegally before the age of 16 and make it possible for them to continue their education, serve in the military, and contribute to the U.S. economy. In many cases these individuals are unaware of their undocumented status until they graduate from high school and attempt to apply for college. Though the United States is the only home they have ever known, they live in fear of deportation.

The DREAM Act has wide bipartisan support. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) cosponsored the bill in the Senate and have championed the need for a fair and sensible approach to the plight of undocumented students. President Obama has also expressed his support for the DREAM Act, saying that "we should stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by denying them the chance to stay here and earn an education and contribute their talents to build the country where they've grown up."

With nearly 10,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest professional association dedicated to international education. For more on the efforts of our global community of advocates speaking out in support of the DREAM Act and other international education issues, visit NAFSA's online home for grassroots advocacy, Connecting Our World.

SOURCE NAFSA: Association of International Educators

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