Whereas, millions of young people were brought to the United States before age 16 and reside with their families without legal documentation;
Whereas, an estimated 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduate from high school every year but have no ability to regularize their immigration status or to work and, in all but 11 states, also face a range of barriers limiting their access to a college education—from being charged international student tuition to being barred access altogether;
Whereas, the Professional Staff Congress supports the DREAM Act (S. 729 and HR. 1751) as do NYSUT and the AFT;
Whereas, 25 members of the New York State Youth Leadership Council, most of whom are CUNY students, recent CUNY graduates and NYC public high school students, started a hunger strike on Tuesday, June 1st in front of Senator Charles Schumer’s office at 757 Third Avenue to demand that the Senator, who is chair of the Immigration Sub-Committee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pledge to move the DREAM Act forward immediately;
Whereas, the PSC strongly supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, reunites families, and defends the labor rights of immigrants; and
Whereas, the PSC also recognizes that passage of the DREAM Act would be a major advance toward the goal of comprehensive immigration reform that would immediately improve the status of undocumented immigrant young people who meet the requirements of the legislation;
Resolved, that the Professional Staff Congress provide the support requested by the hunger strikers and their organization, the New York State Youth Leadership Council, by contacting Senator Charles Schumer, advocating for passage of the DREAM Act and providing a contribution in the amount of $250.
Resolution approved by the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY Executive Council, June 3, 2010.
