By Araceli Gutierrez April 27, 2009 On April 14, the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District Board of Trustees passed a resolution in support of the DREAM, Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, Act that would allow access to equal higher education for undocumented youth. With this resolution the District Board of Trustees is sending a message to the government and other institutions of higher education: "It is important... to continue encouraging students, regardless of immigration status, to strive to gain a higher education." Many community and San Jose Community College clubs also showed their support when MEChA hosted a "Dream In" in support of the DREAM Act on March 10. A tent city was set up on the SJCC General Education quad. Students and some faculty members braved the cold and spent the night on campus to show their support. Hundreds of people showed their support throughout the day and about 30 people spent the night, said Kenny Gutierrez, chair of MEChA’s Social Awareness Committee. “This is an event that shows the government that we are present, that we are here, that we are human beings that are only asking for an education, so that we can better ourselves, our families and our communities," said Beatriz Camacho, biology major and MEChA treasurer. Now, thousands of students from across the nation await the Congress' ruling over the DREAM Act of 2009 that was introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate on March 26. According to the DREAM Act of 2009, undocumented youth will be given conditional residency and a pathway to citizenship if they meet a set criteria: entered the United States on or before age 16, lived in the U.S. for five continuous years, has earned a high school diploma of GED, attended two years of college or military service and have no criminal record. "Just because we were born in other countries, it doesn't matter, just help us and let us help the community," Camacho said. |
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