For Immediate Release
September 21, 2010
Contact:
Jane Yoo, NAKASEC, jyoo@nakasec.org, 202-299-9540
Hayeon Lee, KRC, hayeon@krcla.org, 323-937-3718 x. 101
Eun Young Lee, KRCC, eunyoung@chicagokrcc.org, 773-293-4051
DREAM Act Halts in the Senate
Washington, D.C. – NAKASEC and affiliates the Korean Resource Center of Los Angeles and the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center of Chicago are disappointed that the Senate missed a key opportunity towards passing the DREAM Act this year.
Today, at about 3 pm EST, America’s Senators voted, 56-43, to prohibit further debate on the DREAM Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. Senate Majority Leader Reid voted no for procedural reasons – it allows him to bring the vote up again at some point in the future.
Advocates around the country are gathering to prepare for next steps. Students and their allies across the country have poured their hearts, traveled long distances, risked arrest, met with legislators’ offices and engaged the American public to push for immigration reform this year.
With this vote, the Senate perpetuates an unjust hold on the lives of tens of thousands of youth and their families who continue to try to make America more humane and just for all.
###
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a national progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans as a part of a greater goal of building a national movement for social change. NAKASEC is based in Los Angeles and a D.C. office opened in September 2008. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (The Korean Resource Center) and in Chicago (The Korean American Resource & Cultural Center).