Regular Discussions with Dick Durbin & Co.

hey guys, I know that a handful of people here in this forum have met and discussed with Dick Durbin and his staff when the DREAM and CIR were in the pipelines in DC in 2007. Discuss as in not just calling his office during those "call everyone in congress to support DREAM" frenzy, but actually dialogued and had meaningful discussions directly with Durbin or his staff, in which they would still remember you and know your name.

Is there any way that those of you who did meet up with him or have directly connected with his staffers in DC or in Chicago reconnect with those people in his office on a regular basis? And then he or she would post whatever updates he or she receives on the forum. I'm not suggesting some weekly newsletter or a Dreamer's group email list but simply someone who can update all of us whenever something happens or what is going on in Durbin's office with DREAM Act.

This reason I ask is because as much as I like to get my dose of DREAM Act news from the media and obscure articles that Ianus finds, I would love to get firsthand information and updates about DREAM directly from the source, Durbin's office.

What is on his agenda for 2009 right now? Is DREAM Act somewhere in there?
Does he and his staff think it can feasibly pass in 2009 looking at who might be in congress?
Is he in talks with Obama and is DREAM Act being discussed between the two?
How can we, as Dreamers, be of help to his staff in making DREAM more feasible in 09?

I wish I was conveniently located in Chicago or DC but that's just not the case and neither am I familiar with anyone in his office. But some of you are and I envy you.

Now we all understand that DREAM might be the last issue congress is considering with all that's happening. But wouldn't it be great to be several steps ahead in knowing and being aware of what's happening to DREAM before everyone knows about it? If there's anything going on with DREAM, we need to be and MUST be the first to know.

In all aspects, this is networking, we are a network of Dreamers and it's been good so far. But we're missing one vital part of this network and that is with Durbin's office. I'm sure there is SOMEONE in his office who we can give us information regularly and I'm sure there is SOMEONE in this forum who can be the messenger.

So I'm asking those who are in that relationship and position with Durbin or his office to leverage it for this forum.

I like your idea! Any Illinoisans or Federals (DCers) here that can do this?

If Juan Gomez was here =\

Where's Juan Gomez by the way? I know his parents were sent back to Colombia but I don't know when the stays of deportation of the Gomez brothers ended.

he's attending georgetown university right now.

If I'm not mistaken Dreamact1982 was the one with that connection and he's not in the states no more.

No im not in the States no more as Ibrahim said..

My main goal, and my last words to Senator Durbin when i meet him in his office, were" Please Senator, bring this bill to the floor, we cannot wait anymore" (I myself couldn't)

And he said "I'll do my best", and he did! What was it?! 2 weeks after we meet him..When he spoke about the Dream i knew it was for "us" it seemed like there was no one else no Hatch, Luger making a speech even though they were the main cosponsors..

I accepted the defeat, but i was happy because we got our vote even though it wasnt succesfull, when Mr Durbin said he will do his best i didnt think of it much, but when i saw him making a speech on Cspan i was in peace, he delivered on his promise...

I love the guy, i wouldnt be suprised if he was the on that wrote a letter of recommendation to Juan himself..

DREAM WILL PASS!! sooner or later, in some kind of version because as Mr Durbin said..IT is what America is all about...I was there 16 yrs i didnt make it , i hope some of guys will, because we were in it all together..

As for me the struggle goes on.........Back in Europe, have not seen my mother, father, and sister for almost a year...But oh what the hell the message of the majority of the Republicans has always been SCREW YOU!.....Yea congrats im screwed, i may not see my own parents till they die, hope that makes you happy guys......

Wow funny this was posted I need to know too if anyone is still in contact with his staff. On my other forum there is a couple from Chicago with an EXTREMELY complicated and unfair case that I know Durbin would jump all over. This guy would have benefited from the Dream Act but as it stands right now he is outside the U.S. facing a LIFETIME ban with no waiver, because of an action his mother did (making him use a siblings birth certificate at the border when he was a child) even though he was a minor he is being held responsible and the government has released conflicting memos about this situation.. when he showed up for his visa interview they claimed a certain statement was never made. So if anyone is still in contact with someone from his office please let me know. I have an email of one staffer but I doubt she would remember me at all... thanks guys

Tasksgirl is awesome. Thanks, girl!

We're that couple she was talking about. Although I don't intend to even try anything until all the election day insanity dies down (Durbin is up for re-election this year), I do want to get in contact with his office eventually, as he is actually my Senator.

I have a form letter he sent me in my high school days, congratulating me for being a National Hispanic Scholar. I never thought I'd someday be trying to get through to him!

Anyway, I'd love to have meaningful contact with his office eventually. While I know getting to that point could be a long and drawn-out struggle, I'd love to hear from people who already are in touch with him in some way....

wow that is pretty darn complicated situation... totally unfair. Hope things will work out for you guys losguerras.