Trail of DREAMs arrives to Washington DC Tomorrow: Immigrant students who walked 1,500 miles from Miami

9:15 am: Trail of Dreams walkers Gaby Pacheco, 25; Felipe Matos, 24; Carlos Roa, 22; and Juan Rodriguez, 20, at the White House.

9:30 am: Trail of Dreams begin walking to National Press Club.

10 am:    News Conference at National Press Club, Lisagor Room, 529 14th Street, NW

(April 27, 2010) – April 28, four Trail of Dreams students who have walked 1,500 miles will arrive in Washington, D.C. to advocate for desperately needed immigration reforms. At the White House, they will request a meeting with President Obama and deliver a petition with more than 30,000 signatures. Afterward, they will walk to the National Press Club to speak about their experiences and respond to questions. The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center also will release Unleash the DREAM: End the Colossal Waste of Young Immigrant Talent, a report that documents the significant economic and national-security benefits that the DREAM Act offers the nation as whole.

The need for the reform has never been more urgent, as Arizona’s new anti-immigrant law sadly demonstrates. There are good recommendations, however, including the request by Sens. Richard Durbin, D-IL, and Lugar, R-IN, that DHS defer the deportation of individuals who would be eligible for relief under the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would allow talented high school graduates to earn legal status and fully contribute their talent to the United States. The FIAC report calls for quick enactment of the DREAM Act as a part of comprehensive immigration reform.

The Trail of Dreams students are exceptional achievers. They are: Gaby Pacheco, 25; Felipe Matos, 24; Carlos Roa, 22; and Juan Rodriguez, 20. “The remarkable Trail of Dreams students have sacrificed so much to make a difference for all young immigrants held back by lack of status,” Cheryl Little, FIAC executive director, said. “It’s time to halt the drain of American talent and the waste of scarce DHS resources targeting such DREAM Act candidates.”

Gaby Pacheco added: “Congress has failed our communities with the lack of initiative to pass legislation that will keep families safe and ensure a bright and promising future for all youth raised in this country. We ask President Obama to act now to stop the detention and deportation of students until there is a path to legalization.”

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About Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center

Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) is one of the nation’s largest non-profit immigration law firms. Since its founding in 1996, FIAC has closed more than 65,000 cases. This direct service work informs its broader policy work, positioning FIAC as a powerful national advocate for immigrants’ rights and a leader in the immigration field. FIAC influences national policy; successfully litigates or otherwise challenges patterns of abuse; and takes a leading role in educating the public about the impact that immigration laws and directives have on our communities. FIAC is dedicated to protecting and promoting the basic rights of immigrants.

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