Immigration rights groups around the country are keeping up their efforts to revive the DREAM Act, the legislation that would allow immigrants to become citizens after spending two years in college or the military, even though it went down in flames last week.

About 15 students in the Advocacy for Immigration and Refugee Rights group gathered at Florida State University Friday to implore Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., to change his vote on the issue.

The DREAM Act, which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, failed to move forward last week as part of a defense authorization bill that included the controversial overthrow of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuals. Democrats failed to get the necessary 60 votes to move the bill forward and it died in a 56-43 vote along partisan lines.

An AIRR organizer, Jose Manuel Godinez-Samperio, said student and youth groups all over the country are not giving up on the bill, and want it to be brought back up as a separate bill during Congress’ lame-duck session after the elections.

“I think the DREAM Act should be a separate issue. We are hoping that it will be brought up in the lame-duck session,” Godinez-Samperio said.

As Republicans -- many of whom are dead-set against the DREAM Act -- are bullish about their chances of taking over both houses of Congress this November, a lame-duck session could be the last chance for the bill. But advocates say it is needed now simply as a matter of public policy.

“Our youth is afraid of being deported to a country they cannot remember. This is an injustice,” Godinez-Samperio said.

Critics of the bill, however, have pointed out that the measure would make 35-year-olds eligible for citizenship, not just young students or members of the military.

LeMieux is unlikely to change his view of the bill, but has stated he is “sympathetic” to the plight of students who would be affected by the law.

“While I am sympathetic to the students impacted by current law, I cannot support consideration of the DREAM Act until we have taken substantial and effective measures to secure our borders.

"The timing of taking up the DREAM Act just weeks before an election, and as part of the Defense Authorization Act, is transparently political and unfortunate to those students whose expectations have been raised,” LeMieux said in a released statement last week after the vote.

LeMieux was unavailable for comment Friday.

But the pressure on LeMieux is not just coming from students. FSU President Eric Barron sent a letter to the senator earlier this year in a vain effort to garner his support for the bill.

“With their proven commitment to hard work, ability to overcome adversity and strong desire to be contributing members of our society, these young people have the potential to be true assets for our state and our nation. It is shameful to reject them,” the letter reads in part.

 

Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.