NALEO: Legislators Fail the Latino Community with DREAM Act Vote

“The NALEO Educational Fund is troubled that the U.S. Senate today failed to pass cloture on the DREAM Act. The legislation, which ensures that motivated and accomplished immigrant students brought here at a young age through no fault of their own continue their education and journey toward becoming full Americans, fell short 55-41.  The DREAM Act has wide bipartisan support across the country, which was shown by last week’s historic vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, and by the endorsement of nearly every major newspaper editorial board. The measure has been an important and key issue for Latino voters, and its failure is dismissive of a key priority for a growing segment of the electorate.

The NALEO Educational Fund’s constituency includes more than 2,000 elected Latino education and school board members who have first-hand knowledge and experience in understanding the great impact the DREAM Act would have to our country and communities.  Those who will benefit from the DREAM Act are precisely the high-quality individuals we want in our country, and would help us compete in the global economy. The legislation would also help strengthen our military by expanding the opportunity for thousands of patriotic young people to serve and defend our country.

While this vote is disheartening, the work toward eventual passage does not end with today’s action in the upper chamber. The dreams of these students will continue together with a broad and bipartisan coalition that includes the military, business, and labor, faith-based and civic groups. The NALEO Educational Fund will continue to strongly support the DREAM Act and urge congressional leadership to reconsider this measure that is so vital to our society.”