DREAM Act spurs discussion

Students spoke up and discussed in support of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (DREAM Act) at the fourth annual Immigration, Education and Our Future Conference, sponsored by Austin Community College and St. Edward's University on March 4.

 ACC student, Marcos Larios, participated in a panel discussion in support of the DREAM Act by sharing his personal story along with other student panelists.

Larios traveled to Washington D.C. last year to lobby for the DREAM Act with two other panelists including Daniel Olvera who is a University of Texas (UT) student.

Larios is a U.S. citizen and a first generation Mexican-American. He attended the congressional vote in D.C. to support a Student Government Association resolution in favor of the DREAM Act.

"It was a privilege to meet senators and see how accessible my government is. I wish that could happen around the world," Larios said.

He urges voters to get to know both sides of the issue so that they can make an informed decision.

Larios' fellow panelist Olvera, was brought to Texas by his mother at age 11 and is undocumented.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Olvera describes himself as an American at heart.

Olvera said he wants to give back to his community by teaching high school social studies, completing law school and ultimately going into public service.

"I love this country," Olvera stated.

Because of Texas law passed in 2001, undocumented students like Olvera are able to attend higher education.

The law allows undocumented students who meet certain criteria to qualify for in-state tuition rates at local colleges and universities.

However, without a path to citizenship, which the DREAM Act would provide, students like Olvera will be unable to find employment after graduation.

An estimated 1.9 million undocumented children and young adults may be eligible for legal status under the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (DREAM Act), according to a Migration Policy Institute(MPI) report.

Out of the 1.9 million people reported, approximately 238 thousand undocumented children and young adults live in Texas, according in the MPI report.

The conference featured a panel of immigration and legislative experts, documented and undocumented student activists and Austin Police Chief Arturo Acevedo who spoke after the student panel.

Acevedo is the first Hispanic to lead Austin's police force and said that immigration issues should be approached from an intellectual standpoint rather than an emotional one.

"As soon as the economy turns around, the debate ends," said Acevedo. "Other than being undocumented, most undocumented aliens are law-abiding citizens."

Acevedo explained that using local law enforcement to handle immigration issues, as proposed in recent Arizona legislation, takes resources away from more pressing crimes.

"People are not concerned with the guy outside Home Depot you pick up to dig a ditch in your yard, or the nanny who watches the kids. They are concerned with crime," said Acevedo.

In December of 2010, the DREAM Act passed in the House, but failed in the Senate by a vote of 55-41, just five votes short of victory.

"I thought that the movement would break down, but we came together and became stronger," said Olvera. "We will fight for our future."

More information on the DREAM Act, available resources and upcoming actions may be found at

dreamactivist.org/resources.

Editor's note: This article has been revised from the print edition.