It Is Time To Turn DREAM Into Reality

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today is a historic day, as the Senate Immigration Subcommittee held its first-ever hearing on the DREAM Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that would grant legal status to qualifying undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and who complete some college or military service. The following is a statement by SEIU's International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina:

The DREAM Act is a common sense bill that should be enacted this year. High ranking military officials, military analysts and national security specialists as well as educators and college counselors all agree that turning DREAMers into citizens is in the best interest of our country, our economy and our national security.

"We often forget that about 8 percent of the current armed forces are foreign born. They are not only valiant warriors, but also bridge cultural and language differences around the world, making them an incredible asset to the military.

"Unfortunately, conservatives on Capitol Hill have refused to even consider this common sense bill, seeking instead to pander to the right wing extremists and the GOP presidential candidates. When this bill came to the Senate last December - after a historic bipartisan vote in the House - all but three Republican senators voted against it, and for no good reason.

"We hope that the Republicans at the committee table today listen with open minds and recognize that the DREAM Act would aid in military recruitment. The Department of Defense has stated the new "cream of the crop" recruits would help build military readiness. That view was ratified at the hearing today by Margaret Stock, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and a former professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, who has previously stated: "In a time when several military services are experiencing difficulties recruiting eligible enlisted soldiers, passage of this bill could well solve the Armed Forces' enlisted recruiting woes and provide a new source of foreign-language-qualified soldiers."

"The DREAM Act also would help universities by increasing school revenues, as more students start paying tuition. Laws to grant in-state tuition to undocumented residents have succeeded in 13 states during the last 10 years. The National Association for College Admissions Counseling, teachers and many other educators supporting this legislation.

"The advanced education of DREAMers also will contribute to the growth of our economy, according to information released at today's hearing. Their earnings with a college degree would be 80 percent higher than if they are denied access, according to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

For the sake of our military, our economy and our national security, now is the time to pass and enact the DREAM Act. We must finally set aside the flawed and irresponsible politics of extreme, right-wing and anti-immigrant politicians."

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

###