Children's Aid Society

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/opinion/lweb30dream.html



Opening a Door to Young Immigrants
June 29, 2009
To the Editor:

Your editorial about the Dream Act and the doors that are currently closed to undocumented young people (“Graduation Dreams,” June 24) provided more wrenching testimony about the waste of human potential fostered by our current immigration policies.

The youth you describe and thousands of others like them in the United States want to get on with their lives, finish their educations, get jobs and continue to contribute to their adopted country. This worthy legislation will allow law-abiding students to graduate, obtain meaningful employment and plan for the future. They want to contribute to the only home they have ever known. These children hold the keys to America’s future and should not be denied their dreams.

I trust that President Obama will put these deserving youth on the path to brighter, legitimate futures.

C. Warren Moses
Chief Executive
The Children’s Aid Society
New York, June 26, 2009

OBAMA: USCIS Website on Board with E-mails/Text Messaging

According to President Obama on his meeting with Congress about Immigration, "USICS will launch a vastly improved Web site that will, for the first time ever, allow applicants to get updates on their status of their applications via e-mail and text message and online. "

Now DREAM Act students can be notified about their deportation cases in a more efficient manner. Here's how it will go:

[DREAM Act student and friend in Astronomy 101]

"Anything new?" - asks friend.

DREAM Act student looks at laptop and replies, "Let's see, Express has a sale, my transcripts order went through, oh and I have 60 days to leave the country!"









-the end

DREAM Act 2009 - June 23 Slide Show

Here are some pictures capturing the energy felt at our event here in Los Angeles

Thank you to Andrea O & APALC.

DREAM Act 2009 - June 23 Videos

David, the first Korean American to be drum major in the history of the UCLA marching band, explains why it's important for the DREAM Act to pass this year, and why undocumented Asian youth need to come forward and speak out on this issue




For more videos click here

DREAM ACT Events Nationwide!

Here's something from our friends in D.C. We're still waiting for the facebook pictures.

Editorial
Graduation Dreams
We were caught between exhilaration and despair on Tuesday as we watched more than 500 young people in caps and gowns gather in a park a few steps from the United States Capitol. It was a graduation, but it wasn’t. There were awards, but no diplomas. And while there was talk of bright futures, the speeches were threaded with notes of impatience and defiance and made clear that those hopes were in no way assured.

more:
Graduation Takes Place on Behalf of DREAM Act http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/opinion/24wed2.html

Will you be there? Dream Team Los Angeles Participates in National Dream Graduation

Across the nation, 65,000 undocumented students graduate from US high schools each year, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Approximately, 279,00 of them would qualify for the DREAM Act's provisions (Migrant Policy Institute). How many peers can you think of that graduated this year and cannot use their degrees? More than I can count.

On Tuesday June 23, 2009 United We Dream coalition members will be holding graduation ceremonies from coast to coast. The main event will be in Washington D.C., with solidarity events taking place all across the country. These symbolic events will give us a visual on how much talent and contributions we are missing out on because of a broken immigration system.

In Los Angeles, we will be hosting our very own Mock Graduation, followed by a call-in action. Please forward on to any media contacts you may have. FREE T-Shirt for participants! Join us for this important and historical event! You don't want to miss it! In addition, we will be attending the Orange County Dream Team's Event later in the evening.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
12:00 p.m. – 1:00p.m. - DREAM Graduation and Press Event

WHERE: Los Angeles City Hall Lawn
200 N. Main St. Los Angeles CA

WHO: UCLA student speakers will discuss the importance of the DREAM Act. Undocumented students will provide testimonials.

Wendy Carrillo, M.C.
Kent Wong, Director of the UCLA Labor Center, Keynote Speaker

Opportunity for interviews with members of the community, speakers, students and allies.


The DREAM Team Los Angeles is a coalition of dozens of organizations in the LA area supporting and organizing for the Federal D.R.E.A.M Act composed of both undocumented students and supporters. They include: Alliance of DREAMs at UCLA, NAKASEC, Improving Dreams, Equality Access and Success (IDEAS), the Underground Undergrads Project, SURGE at Cal State, Los Angeles, CHIRLA and many more.

See you there!

Also, don't forget to sign this if you haven't: http://dreamact2009.com