DREAM Act Sabbath Planned
DREAM Act Sabbath Planned
Religious organizations spotlight immigration bill
A DREAM Act Sabbath will take place from Sept. 23-25 across the country in an effort to promote involvement and discussion of the pending law. Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Michael Bennet, of Illinois and Colorado respectively, initiated the event in order to raise awareness for the act, whose real name is The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, and enlist involvement from faith and spiritual organizations.
The DREAM Act is a bill that is designed to give undocumented students the opportunity to earn legal status if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. The bill was first introduced to legislation on Aug.1, 2001 and was reintroduced to the Senate on May 1, 2011. So far it has not managed to gain enough traction to become law.
Now faith leaders such as UTPA Baptist Student Ministry director Robert Rueda are commonly in support of the controversial statute.
"As a college pastor I pray for students that are affected by not being able to experience the American dream," Rueda said. "I support and pray for the passage of the DREAM Act. There are no documented and undocumented college students in the eyes of God. Only college students that God loves. I have faith that the day will come when students will no longer have to live in fear or feel trapped because they don't have their legal status resolved. I can't wait to see all college students having access to all the opportunities and experiences that a college education affords."
This opinion is also shared by BSM intern Tom Centrella.
"I think that it is really unfair that people who have lived here their whole lives would get deported," said Centrella, who is originally from New Jersey. "Obviously if you commit a crime and you're an illegal citizen, then that's a different case. But if you're here and you've grown up here and you go to school here, and your whole life has been in the United States, and they happen to catch you, then that's unfair."
As of now, BSM does not have any plans to participate in the DREAM Act Sabbath, but like many religious organizations, they try to view the situation from a spiritual standpoint.
"In Jesus's ministry he would say to be good to the alien and treat them with respect," Centrella explained. "Treat brothers and sisters with love and respect. I think that Jesus would look at the situation in a similar way. And to treat those people that are here, even if they are illegal, with respect and love and to help them in any way we can.
"I think it's very different here. This is an immigrant country, and the laws need to somehow be fairer. But faith does play a large role in treating them with dignity and respect. Loving them no matter where they come from, their background, nationality, country. If they're here we need to show them that love."
UTPA students have expressed their opinions on the DREAM Act since 2010. Josse Alex Garrido, an undocumented student who had lived in the United States for nine years, spoke out in favor of the bill last September in a widely publicized act. In addition, the Coalition for Educational Opportunity led a march along University Drive in October to support the cause. This same organization also held a food strike and food drive in November.
http://www.panamericanonline.com/dre...3#.TntwJ9SLf9p
Religious organizations spotlight immigration bill
A DREAM Act Sabbath will take place from Sept. 23-25 across the country in an effort to promote involvement and discussion of the pending law. Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Michael Bennet, of Illinois and Colorado respectively, initiated the event in order to raise awareness for the act, whose real name is The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, and enlist involvement from faith and spiritual organizations.
The DREAM Act is a bill that is designed to give undocumented students the opportunity to earn legal status if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. The bill was first introduced to legislation on Aug.1, 2001 and was reintroduced to the Senate on May 1, 2011. So far it has not managed to gain enough traction to become law.
Now faith leaders such as UTPA Baptist Student Ministry director Robert Rueda are commonly in support of the controversial statute.
"As a college pastor I pray for students that are affected by not being able to experience the American dream," Rueda said. "I support and pray for the passage of the DREAM Act. There are no documented and undocumented college students in the eyes of God. Only college students that God loves. I have faith that the day will come when students will no longer have to live in fear or feel trapped because they don't have their legal status resolved. I can't wait to see all college students having access to all the opportunities and experiences that a college education affords."
This opinion is also shared by BSM intern Tom Centrella.
"I think that it is really unfair that people who have lived here their whole lives would get deported," said Centrella, who is originally from New Jersey. "Obviously if you commit a crime and you're an illegal citizen, then that's a different case. But if you're here and you've grown up here and you go to school here, and your whole life has been in the United States, and they happen to catch you, then that's unfair."
As of now, BSM does not have any plans to participate in the DREAM Act Sabbath, but like many religious organizations, they try to view the situation from a spiritual standpoint.
"In Jesus's ministry he would say to be good to the alien and treat them with respect," Centrella explained. "Treat brothers and sisters with love and respect. I think that Jesus would look at the situation in a similar way. And to treat those people that are here, even if they are illegal, with respect and love and to help them in any way we can.
"I think it's very different here. This is an immigrant country, and the laws need to somehow be fairer. But faith does play a large role in treating them with dignity and respect. Loving them no matter where they come from, their background, nationality, country. If they're here we need to show them that love."
UTPA students have expressed their opinions on the DREAM Act since 2010. Josse Alex Garrido, an undocumented student who had lived in the United States for nine years, spoke out in favor of the bill last September in a widely publicized act. In addition, the Coalition for Educational Opportunity led a march along University Drive in October to support the cause. This same organization also held a food strike and food drive in November.
http://www.panamericanonline.com/dre...3#.TntwJ9SLf9p
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