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Three representatives of the University of Maine Student Government held a press conference Dec. 2 to promote the body’s recent endorsement of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.
At its Nov. 30 session, the General Student Senate approved a resolution urging U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins as well as Reps. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree to vote in favor of the DREAM Act.
If passed through Congress, the DREAM Act would provide illegal immigrants with a U.S. high school diploma who entered the country before the age of 16, and are between the ages of 12 and 35, a route to citizenship following completion of either two years of college or military service. After a six-year period during which they receive conditional citizenship, they could then seek permanent citizen status.
Sen. Ben Goodman, who helped sponsor the bill, said often these illegal immigrants who came to the country at such a young age “have no other choice — no other home.” Goodman mentioned California State University at Fresno Student Body President Pedro Ramirez, who recently divulged his undocumented status, as being one of the thousands the legislation would impact.
Sen. José Roman, who was born in Dominican Republic and became a naturalized U.S. citizen after his mother went through the 10-year immigration process, emphasized the positive cultural impacts the legislation would have.
“This [legislation] is enabling people to become fully functional members of society,” Roman said.
Sen. Peter Christopher noted the importance of Snowe and Collins’ votes, saying that Student Government passed the resolution urging the congressional delegation to vote favorably since Maine is a “critical piece in the puzzle to get this passed.”
“If we’re not advocating for everyone on this campus, then we are not doing an adequate job advocating for anyone on this campus,” Christopher said.
In recent weeks, national attention has fallen on Maine as advertising campaigns and White House officials promoting the DREAM Act have targeted Snowe and Collins. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, speaking members of the media in a conference call Dec. 3, reiterated the need for Congress to act quickly.
“Over the last 15 years, 25 percent of ventured capital companies that eventually went public were started by immigrants,” Locke said, explaining it was “critical” to pass the legislation as each year promising high school students are barred from college because of their status.
“These are kids that can be our future scientists, our doctors, our military leaders and our educators,” he said. “Some of them are our future entrepreneurs who will build the next Google or Intel that will generate hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs for our country.”
Regent University President Carlos Campo also spoke to reporters, saying it is “because of America’s ability to dream that we have the ability to succeed.”
The officials said the DREAM Act would not be a “giveaway” due to rigorous standards in place, with Miami-Dade College President Eduardo Padrón adding that opponents are “failing to see the long term benefits to our economy.” The speakers cited a Congressional Budget Office study saying the DREAM Act could in fact generate $2.3 billion over the next 10 years.
It was not immediately clear how many individuals in Maine would benefit if the legislation were passed. The Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national nonprofit organization promoting changes to America’s formal path to citizenship, estimates that 4,000 illegal immigrants reside in Maine, costing taxpayers $5 million to $8 million annually through emergency medical care, education and incarceration.
Rob Stigile contributed to this report.
