Dream Act Advocates Hold Graduation Ceremony on Capitol Hill

Immigrant students and their supporters will gather in caps and gowns on Capitol Hill for a graduation ceremony and advocacy event on Tuesday, June 23 held by United We DREAM, an alliance of groups supporting legislation to remove barriers that prevent immigrant students from attending college. The advocates will urge members of Congress to support the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009” (S. 729) and the “American Dream Act” (H.R. 1751).

Each year, 65,000 immigrant students who graduate from U.S. high schools are barred from pursuing their dreams of higher education. Advocates will underscore the importance of advancing the “DREAM Act” and the “American Dream Act” to give these youth a chance to attend college and pursue their goals. The acts would restore states’ rights to determine residency requirements for in-state tuition and establish a path to legal status and eventual citizenship for undocumented youth. The graduation ceremony will recognize the talents and significant academic achievements of immigrant students who would benefit from the legislation, highlighting their contributions and service in local communities. The United We DREAM coalition consists of a broad range of groups including organizations focused on youth, education, immigration, civil rights, faith, and labor. Among the member organizations based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are National Immigration Law Center, NCLR (National Council of La Raza), Center for American Progress, National Immigration Forum, United States Student Association, Student Labor Action Project, and Casa de Maryland.

Graduation ceremonies will also be taking place in cities throughout the country. For a listing of these events, visit www.dreamactivist.org. For more information about the “DREAM Act” and NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Graduation ceremony to recognize the contributions of immigrant students and build support for the “DREAM Act” and the “American Dream Act”
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, Noon
WHERE: Lower Senate Park
Louisiana Avenue, NW and D Street, NW
Washington, DC
WHO: United We DREAM advocates representing organizations focused on youth, education, immigration, civil rights, faith, and labor, and members of Congress”

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