New York DREAM Act Introduced in State Senate

By • 3/24/11 • Categorized as Immigration News,New York,NY Politics

A New York State Youth Leadership Council rally in Union Square, NY, on March

A New York State Youth Leadership Council "coming out" event in Union Square, NY, on March 20, 2011. (Photo: Von Diaz)

NEW YORK–The  youth movement advocating to give young, law-abiding undocumented immigrants a chance to apply for legal status in the U.S. has not been deterred by the failure of the DREAM Act to advance in Congress.

This week, the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC), the group leading the charge for the bill in New York, declared a victory. State Senator Bill Perkins (D-30) introduced a version of the DREAM Act in the senate on Tuesday that would bring New York’s undocumented youth many more rights.  It is modeled after the federal version, but it would not get them on a path towards citizenship–only the federal government holds that power.

“We’re very excited, this is one of the most progressive bills particularly when we’re surrounded by failure of the federal DREAM Act and other anti-immigrant bills around the country,” said Sonia Guinansaca, 21, a young woman with the NYSYLC who would be affected by the bill.

While continuing to put pressure on members of Congress, young activists around the country have simultaneously been lobbying for more rights for undocumented youth to be granted at the state level. The New York State Dream Act would give undocumented youth under 35 who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and have resided in New York for at least two years with “good moral character” access to state funded financial aid programs including grants, loans and scholarships (New York is already one of 10 states in the union that grants undocumented immigrants in-state tuition to public colleges); ability to obtain a state drivers’ license; state work authorization; and the ability to enroll in state health insurance programs.

Sen. Perkins told Fi2W that he believes the passage of this bill will benefit the entire state by training future scientists, doctors and teachers who have grown up in America. “These are children who are law abiding participants in our community who are participating in our public schools who need opportunities to fulfill their dreams and contribute to society,” he said.

Perkins is optimistic about the bill’s future in the state legislature. ”I’ve adopted a Haitian phrase, ‘little by little the bird builds it’s nest.’ I’ve already gotten some very positive support in the Senate,” Perkins said, adding that he is also in talks with a potential sponsor in the Assembly.

In-state tuition for undocumented immigrants lies on well-trodden legal ground, said Suman Raghunathan, Immigration Policy Specialist at the Progressive States Network, who is keeping track of similar bills around the country. But she said the work authorization aspect of this bill, similar to what recently passed in Utah, is  ”unchartered territory.”

“There is no real legal precedent for the federal government to cede authority to states to determine work authorization,” Raghunathan said.

In a grand sense, for Perkins and other legislative supporters of the bill, the idea is that New York can meet its economic goals while also achieving educational equity. Meanwhile, the youth fighting for the DREAM Act are stepping out of the shadows and “coming out” with their undocumented status publicly.

“We’re making a statement that we are here, undocumented, unafraid, unapologetic and we’re going to work to resolve this issue. That is what this New York State campaign has meant for many of us and we’re not going to give up,” said Guinansaca.

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    • Maurice

      Arrogant illegals. If your white and born here forget it!

    • Harrison

      *sigh*….sorry Maurice, you lost long ago, so just sit there and take it.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AVMR4EGNWI2FAHRNUKXAQ6SWRU Mario

      I hope they are going to pass the bill!!!!!God bless America!!!!!!!

    • RJ

      Yes–God bless America–where else could Maurice utter his arrogant, ignorant pleas ???

    • victor

      We need this bill in California

    • Cwiseman

      An excellent retired governor once vetoed a bill that would make a law that puppies in pet stores receive at least 2 hours of exercise outside their cages. He didn’t veto it because he was a puppy-hater, but beause any law requires (expensive) enforcement, monitoring, paperwork, etc. Police hours would need to be set aside to check pet stores. similarly, this should be vetoed, not because of a hatred of immigrants, but because it would be very hard to properly monitor. Can a teenager “enroll” in a few classes at a community college in order to receive amnesty-type benefits (including healthcare, a driver’s license, and the ability to sponsor relatives) with no real intention of pursuing a career? On the other hand, will scarce resources of scholarships and university spaces be taken from full-paying citizens or wealthy foreigners waiting in line legally, thus rewarding a family who, though very nice, has acted immorally by breaking our laws? Just because a person is “good” and has dreams, does not mean that person is entitled to or derserving of every benefit this country has to offer. I can not, for example, sneak into France and demand rights to their universities. I’m so sorry, but I utterly disagree with this law.

    • http://twitter.com/ReginaMATT Regina Cantu

      This is good news! Fingers crossed that it will pass! We need NY to set the stage for other states to follow…

    • DGRETO84

      GET THIS PASSED!!!!!!!! OUR STUDENTS WORK HARD AND DESERVE TO BE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY!!! THEY ARE OUR FUTURE….MOST NEVER MADE THIS CHOICE TO BE IN THE USA..THEY WHERE TAKEN AS SMALL CHILDREN…GIVE THEM A CHANCE BE HAVE WHAT THEY ALL DESERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • andy

      so if this pass i can just go straight to ny dmv and say im a undocumented immigrants and i need a drivers license ?

    • Amohedano7

      This bill should not and can not be pass!!! this will have a negative impact on LEGAL COLLEGE STUDENTS!!! it will increase competition in the job market and most important of all financial aid will be reduced even more! colleges are already struggling due to cuts in government funding and if this bill passes we will be sharing the already reduced financial aid with wetbacks, meaning we will be paying more for school. I see it from the macro level of impact, taxpayers are already paying for the free education of illegal children, not to mention also provide them with welfare benefits. MOST illegal immigrants receive welfare, don’t you guys have enough?? i see illegal immigrants cheat the system everyday in nyc, i am the daughter of a mexican immigrant who thinks this bill should not pass.

    • Pepe

      @Cwiseman, current laws are too inflexible, and to be quite honest unrealistic. I understand your point of view, but put yourself in the shoes of this people (or at least try to). You move here as a youngster, in your mind you are able to go to school and work hard for it. Then you realize that you just can’t. Not because of you, not because schools don’t want you, but because of a status. I think SOMETHING needs to be done.

      You know we could completely ignore this people and bring more guys from aboard (India, China. or whatever) , take advantage of our college systems so that they can use them in their own counties (and compete in the market with the US). Or we can give a chance to these hungry (for education) kids, the US will get back what it had invested on them. I don’t think they are going anywhere, they live here without a license, and without the right to an education and have not gone anywhere, this is the only home they know.

      If we don’t take advantage of these kids, someone else would. It is for our best interest (even if it hurts you to hear it) for us. GIVE THEM THE CHANCE!

    • Godzy89

      I am myself an illegal immigrant. Just like so many of other kids i was taken here against my will when i was a teenager, with a dream of making it and living a good life. Its been seven and a half years for me.
      I graduated high school, even though not at the top of my class, but i still managed to make it in 4 years, I am forced to work for little money and have no right of finding a job that can pay enough money for a “living”. I am currently attending college and working 2 jobs, just to make ends meet. I know that even if i finish college, there is nothing for me except the degree that will not lead me anywhere without papers.
      I am not asking for financial aid or health benefits, all i need is a chance to find a legal job that will help me pay for my education. I want to be able to own a car. I want to be able to have kids and not to worry about them having nothing to eat…
      Some American people do not understand the things “illegal” people have to go through. They live in their own world, thinking that somebody else is a threat, wishing to steal the benefits that they pay their taxes on.
      i have never during all the time i lived here cheated a system, not once, and never intended to. So why i cannot have a piece of a life i work so hard to achieve some day…

    • AndreyK

      I am myself an illegal immigrant. Just like so many of kids i was taken here against my will when i was a teenager, with a dream of making it and living a good life. Its been seven and a half years for me.
      I graduated high school, even though not at the top of my class, but i still managed to make it in 4 years, I am forced to work for little money and have no right of finding a job that can pay enough money for a “living”. I am currently attending college and working 2 jobs, just to make ends meet. I know that even if i finish college, there is nothing for me except the degree that will not lead me anywhere without papers.
      I am not asking for financial aid or health benefits, all i need is a chance to find a legal job that will help me pay for my education. I want to be able to own a car. I want to be able to have kids and not to worry about them having nothing to eat…
      Some American people do not understand th things different people have to go through. They live in their own world, thinking that somebody else is a threat, wishing to steal the benefits that they pay their taxes on.
      i have never during all the time i lived here cheated a system, not once, and never intended to.So why i cannot have a piece of a life i work so hard to achieve some day…

    • SouthAmerican

      @Godzy89 you really think you have not cheated the American system? I’m a immigrant from South America, Guyana, for your education my homeland is a 3rd world nation with all types of problems. My family struggled to get our green cards and one at a time we all managed to wait in line for our chance to be an American. Tell me you think as a child I had a choice to watch my mother leave me till I was able to get my paperwork. Tell me how hard it is being away from your family between 2yrs old to 8years old and finally being able to see you’re mother again. You have no ideal what it takes to be an American. You think just cause your family smuggled you over here doesn’t mean you’re not here illegally and you’re not harming the Americans who pay for their kids to get public education, grants and financial aid for college. You sicken me because you are now an adult and you refuse to fix you’re problems the right way. We all know going back to you’re native land and waiting like everyone else who cares so deeply to be here would do, because it’s the right thing to do. Just because your parents were cowards and criminals who didn’t want to make the hard struggle to wait in line like the legal americans doesn’t mean you have to follow there footstep and ask for a handout when you know the system was already violated by your own. Would you like it if homeless people came to your home and said please I need a place to stay, since I already broke in and my kids have spent a night or a few years in your basement before you noticed us? I don’t have money to pay you but since I’m already here why kick me out since I’ve not harmed your family yet, except financially. Can I get money too so I can get my own home one day and educate my kids so they can help me pay off my debts. Think real hard why Americans who are moral and knows that crime never pays, don’t want you and your family here unless you legally go through the system. You take up space in the schools, costing thousands per student that tax payers have to deal with. Then when you’re working under the table since it’s illegal you are not paying your taxes for the money you are gaining so you just like your parents are robbing the Americans. So before I go on you already know that I’m against giving illegal immigrants and their anchor babies any chance of anything free except for a bus ride or plane back to your home country. Sad to say those like yourself give good immigrants bad names.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XN64D2NTCVQYSESZRMQBYGSWO4 __A_YAHOO_USER__

      Yeah we have so much money to support this nonsense right?

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XN64D2NTCVQYSESZRMQBYGSWO4 __A_YAHOO_USER__

      Curious…what do you want to happen to their parents?

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XN64D2NTCVQYSESZRMQBYGSWO4 __A_YAHOO_USER__

      why not? Seeme easier to me. Kinda liek when you work…and others dont; yet they live clsoe to how you live. Hmm.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XN64D2NTCVQYSESZRMQBYGSWO4 __A_YAHOO_USER__

      For soem reason hispanic who you disagree with seem to think you are a racist yet most throw the whitie back at you (lol…if they only knew)

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XN64D2NTCVQYSESZRMQBYGSWO4 __A_YAHOO_USER__

      Problem is what will become of your parents…you want them to stay also…now how is this going to help? If I was you I would definitely feel major support feelign for keeping my relatives here also…so don’t go gettign your collar all wrinkled…but again WE ARE BROKE AS A NATION! OBAMA”S MONEY TREE IS BUT AN URBAN MYTH!

    • Britlilly

      All of the selfish people who thinks that this is so politically incorrect should shut up. immigrant have being working long and hard in this country , legal or not, because we are ambitious people and don’t mind working hard , doing all the work that some of you think that you are better than. So yes , we deserve a chance to shine. I for one am guilty , because i migrated here 30 years ago, worked and slaved until i got my permanent residence, it took me 10 years before it was approved and yes my children had to suffer , because they are now over the age limit and not eligible for the new benefits although they have paid their way through college and both have masters degrees. Give us a break.
      What i think is the dream act needs to be revised and allow the people who have being here whether 35 or older, to be allowed the same benefits. I have petitioned for my children, but the immigration system takes soooo long, it’s like a 10 year wait. Not every one is looking for an easy way out.If that was the case my children could have done arranged marriages to friends that they grew up with here in the states, but they chose not to. I think they deserve a chance!!! Can u with a clear conscience disagree ???

    • Britlilly

      Aren’t you angry ? not because you went through that ,means someone else should have to. If the shoe was on the other foot i wonder if you would be singing the same song? I didn’t smuggle my children into the u.s, we came right through the front door JFK. The immigration system and the lenghty time things take to process is the reason why my children are in this predicament. They have never asked the system or government for help, so yes i will say they deserve a chance. I’m sure they are not exclusive in this situation so i speak for all who doesn’t have a voice…

    • NG

      @SouthAmerican haha You are obviously FAKING being an immigrant to make a statement. You are pathetic. Get a Life! I am citizen and I support these kids 110%. PASS THE BILL.

    • NG

      @SouthAmerican haha You are obviously FAKING being an immigrant to make a statement. You are pathetic. Get a Life! I am citizen and I support these kids 110%. PASS THE BILL.

    • amyseuf

      yes. I agree that immigrants work hard in this country and do the jobs that most americans would not do. But the bottom line is that ,the amount of illegal immigrants who live off the public system are more than those who actually make a living for themselves. So is it fair to allow those illegal immigrants who have cheated and live off the public system to enjoy some of the commodities of being a legal immigrant? Don’t you think the NYS DREAM ACT should have more requirements. I am not against the nys dream act, i am against the fact that it will be open for alot of individuals whose parents have broke rules and cheated the american system in many ways?

    • Britlilly

      Well, i understand your point now, there is always a few bad apples that makes it hard for others, and as i said they need to revise it a bit. My children are highly educated and never depended on the system for any thing, they have been waiting for their papers to be approved , but are now over 35, so do they deserve this , yes i think so. Never the less i hope for their sake and many others who fall in the same category that some revision is done.

    • Bangalistani

      this nonsense you speak of is the best thing for the state. once the dreamers have permission to work legally they will become legal tax payer and that is revenue for the state. and that means legal U.S. citizen will have access to the dreamers tax dollars for their own goods. if you are not an ignorant racist than this should make sense.

    • Palmiraclau

      There are many Americans, by that I mean people born in this country…that do receive welfare….they dont want to work…or go to school…they would not do the job an immigrant would do..as for financial aid…i am an illegal immigrant that pays for tuition and i have seen many many kids that do receive financial aid…not care about school they slack and simply dont care because it is given them for free. We are not fighting for this to receive welfare…we are fighting for this because many of us are intelligent people that can contribute to this society…you on the other hand are a dissapointment to hispanics.

    • Palmiraclau

      if you read carefully at the law…u need to have come here before 16 and have been in school for atleast 2 yrs… i believe that if they pass this law…they should monitor who stays anin school…and monitor their GPA in college…becausee therre are probably people that would want to take advantage of this law.

    • Palmiraclau

      I’m 24 yrs old… I have lived in this country for 20 yrs now…and have lived illegaly..my parents came to this country for a better life..and I ahve to admit I have had a better life here we have things that in our country woulld have been limited. Now my mother is a citizen..my sister and daughter are both born here…so that leaves me. Growing up I never felt the impact of not having papers…but now I have aspirations of having a career….and even though I am in school and pay for my own education and books…all I want is that this law be approved for when I graduate I can find a job…and not have to be afraid that I am going to get fired because of my citizenship…..we are not asking for money…or to pay for our full education…because like I mentioned Ive been doing it for the past 3 years…I want to be able to seek for a professional job…and give my daughter a great example and good life…please support us…instead of attacking us

    • simplyme

      i have been in this country for 10 yrs, came here when i was just a little boy. now i’m 20 i graduated high school a year ago and now i’m staring college because i want to have a better life for myself i took a year off school to work hard and save money so i can attend school. Is sad to see how many people are against the DREAM ACT why can we IMMIGRANTS have a chance to succeed as everyone else in this country. some of you say we take benefits and more but have you people don’t stop and think is not just us. a lot of white people or black people or who ever they are they don’t have jobs and wt do they do just seat around and collect money from the govt. a lot of you people say if the DREAM ACT is passed we would take your jobs, but what you haven’t realized is that we already did just simply because we would do the jobs the rest of you wont do. i personally have work a lot of diff. jobs and in those jobs all u see are IMMIGRANTS because factories,restaurants and other places hired illegal workers cz just simply we do the job better and those are job most of you wont do..i work in a catering hall and i’m a supervisor in there.reason i say this is because so i can show people that are against immigrants that even tho we don’t have papers we have higher position in jobs then people with papers because we want to succeed we know how hard it is to get what we want..some of you said that legal parents paid for the education of illegal kid in some cases that is true but not all, my parents migrated here over 17 yrs ago and now they have their green card, they pay taxes just as everyone else, so don’t come and say we just live off the rest of you because is not like that…every immigrant family has a diff story and a diff status a diff life, and if they pass the dream act it would benefit a lot of kids like me. because all we want is not b b afraid of getting pulled over by the police because we don’t have a license or try to get better jobs to support ourselves. we not asking for the govt for money all we want is documents so we can follow our dreams and have a better life…just give us a CHANCE thats all we ask for everyone deserves a chance.

    • Cpf2

      I feel pity for you. Your comment seems to be out of the place. Illegal immigrants are not legible to receive welfare. Also parents of “ïllegal immigrants” pay their taxes!!!! Which probably, you get part of theirs. So next time think before omitting opinions.

    • Jodeluna

      This Bill Is Treasonous!

    • Alex

      How is it possible that it is constitutional for a state to pass a pro-illegal immigrant bill such as the Dream Act, yet it is unconstitutional for a state to pass an anti illegal immigrant bill?

      As soon as someone attempts to take away rights or deport an illegal immigrant, the mexicans are quick to say that it is unconstitutional and that states don’t have a right to mandate immigration law. Yet it’s OK for state to mandate Dream Acts for illegal immigrants. How is this possible? States can not approve dream acts for illegal immigrants. It is the job of federal government to regulate dream acts and immigration law NOT the state. These state sponsored Dream Acts are a scam. If New York, New Mexico, Texas, and California can pass immigration laws that grant citizenship to illegal immigrants, then states like Arizona, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, and Minnesota should be able to pass anti-immigration laws that gives police the right to arrest and deport illegal immigrants.

    • Amohedano7

      i feel pity for get your information right and stop being so ignorant. illegal immigrants do receive welfare thru their u.s born child, when an illegal immigrant has a u.s child their child can receive welfare under the parent. im a social worker and i see it everyday :) ) have a nice day

    • Chrisbelieves27

      i am 17 years old about to graduate high school ,i migrated with my parents due to the trouble of my country thinking that we would be living a better life when in fact it isn’t true .Believe me here my parents got the masters in my home country in HAITI but they are not allowed to go to college and convert that degree into and American diploma due to their “alien” status .I myself am limited also by my immigration status i want to enter college ,i want to better myself ,i know i wasn’t the smartest of my class but let’s not forget here i entered the united state at the age of 13 and i has been a great struggle infiltrating my self in the English language some say you speak very well for an immigrant “i can’t even detect your accent “so i had issues during my high school years try doing calculus problem without fully understanding your teacher well i may have over come these obstacles but there is still the biggest obstacles yet being giving the chance to enter college and complete my dream of receiving my masters in Speech Pathology and help others by giving them the right therapy to help them speak their minds .So we look on preying and hoping that this will work out well believe brothers and sisters believe and we will succeed .

    • your weird

      @Alex How is it possible, that you are stating “If New York, New Mexico,
      Texas, and California can pass immigration laws that grant citizenship
      to illegal immigrants”. When it specifically says, it can not grant citizenship.

    • heh

      @
      Amohedano7
      So what about the family, who’s parents are undocumented, and children are undocumented… Who receives the benefits? No one right? So uh, this NY bill, it doesn’t grant citizenship. So that’s out of the window.

    • CITIZEN BORN DREAMER

      The opposition people present to this bill give nothing but broken arguments. The only factor that matters the most in the negatives of this bill, is the slight increase risk of domestic threats (drivers license), HOWEVER our system is more strict than it was 11 years ago and the criteria for this bill only applies to the young college-bound or college-student applicants; who have great potential to contribute to our society. This is a step in the right direction.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MQH3SXFL7IP2ENAT5T3WBI4Q24 JohnB

      This country is made up of laws. You break them your not welcomed..go home to your own lands.  I’ve heard every sob story out there.  Point remains my great grand parents came here back in the late 1800′s early 1900′s so dont include your self in the “immigration” status.  They were true imigrants who went through Ellis island and had to wait a year in deplorable conditions, learn the language, the presidents etc et to becoome an American.  They didnt have all kinds of freebies to help them they all did it on their own.  Set up fruit stands and the such to survive.  Not call 1-800 welfare or have the taxpayer pay for their education.  If you cant survive on your own then go home ..this country is great because of our immigrants not people like you who expect handouts and take away from real Americans….

    • Dgr

      If they pass this bill, where is the justice for legal immigrants who tries so hard to be real law abiding citizens!!