Students support the DREAM Act

The Student Government Association (SGA) is now publicly endorsing the DREAM Act, which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.  It's currently being debated before the House of Representative and the Senate. If passed, it would allow undocumented students (the children of illegal immigrants) that are high school graduates and have been in the country at least five years before the bill was enacted to gain a conditional permanent residency, according the bill's text. 

"Now we're creating a resolution we can officially send to the administration of ACC to try to get ACC's backing for the DREAM Act," President of SGA Josh Bacak said.

SGA's support of the act was not instantaneous. It involved research and time starting last year.  Students were given a chance to voice their opinions through a petition that is still being compiled this year from all of ACC's campuses. 

"When we talk to the board of trustees and the president, we want to show that it is the students not just SGA that are concerned.  By having these names on the petitions, we're showing them that the student body as a whole believes this is a good act," Rio Grande SGA Senator Mike Atencio said.

Atencio is is the vice chair of this three-person committee, the chair being Minority Senator Blanca Gonzalez, and Secretary Mirage Moniruzaman.  The committee was formed last year to start the study which concluded that SGA will support the DREAM Act.  Not everyone supports its passage into a law.

"Some may ask, why are we going to give some outsiders a free education? There is some confusion as well. People aren't getting permanent residency, they are just getting their degrees.  They aren't entitled to the Pell grant. They still have to pay for tuition. This is only allowing them to go to school without fear of being deported," Atencio said. 

It is possible that SGA's support of the DREAM Act may also reach a wider audience than just ACC.

The president of SGA each year gets invited to attend the National Community College Legislative Summit (NCCLS) in Washington D.C. to attend various classes and educational seminars as well as talk to various members of Congress regarding topics that affect ACC students.

"I'd like to talk about the overwhelming support from the students attending ACC for the DREAM Act and how this bill would positively affect students attending higher education. The act getting passed would also have an overall impact on the economy by allowing students already educated by secondary schools to go to higher education institutions and becoming an active participant in society," said Bacak.

Atencio has a similiar view regarding the future if the act is approved,
"I think it will do nothing but brighten our future," said Atencio.