July 3, 2009
Lugar Staff to host DREAM Act Forum July 22
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
An educational forum on the DREAM act will be hosted by U.S. Senator Dick Lugar’s staff at the Juan Diego Center, in facilities at Nativity Church in Evansville, on Wednesday, July 22.
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act was introduced by Lugar, along with Sen. Dick Durbin D-Ill. on March 26. The bill would help young, undocumented immigrants who grew up in the United States to earn legal status by obtaining an education and completing national or public service.
“I view access to higher education as an important tool in addressing immigration reform, particularly among undocumented students,” said Lugar in a prepared news release.
“Undocumented young people usually arrive with their families and have no understanding of their immigration status,” Lugar went on to say. “By limiting these students access to college, we deny our country their intelligence, creativity, energy and often their loyalty.”
Lugar said the legislation “would provide a temporary conditional resident status to undocumented students who were brought into the United States at a young age.”
The measure would grant conditional legal status to youth who successfully complete high school or equivalent. They then would have six years to graduate from college or a trade school or join the military. If successful in one of those areas, the conditional legal status would become permanent and they could then move towards U.S. citizenship.
Steve Dabrowski, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, attended a planning session, along with Abraham Brown, youth ministry director at Nativity Church, June 16. Dabrowski’s office oversees Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Southern Indiana, the University of Evansville and Vincennes University — all possible settings for students to attend if the DREAM Act is enacted.
Lugar’s constituent services staff Susan Brouillette, Larry Ordner and Celina Weatherwax will host the forum, along with the Diocese of Evansville, Hospitality and Outreach for Latin Americans (HOLA), Juan Diego Center, Nativity Catholic Church, and the Southwest Indiana College Access Network.
There will be a presentation on the DREAM Act in English from 6 to 7 p.m., a Spanish presentation from 7:30 to 8 p.m., and some time for individual immigration consultations immediately following the presentations for those who are interested.
The Juan Diego Center is located at 3635 Pollack Avenue in Evansville.
For additional information on the DREAM Act visit: http://lugar.senate.gov/dream.