For Immediate Release
May 11, 2011
Contact:
Sik Son, KRCC, sohnsik@chicagokrcc.org, 773-588-9158
Dae Joong Yoon, KRC, dj@krcla.org, 323-937-3718
Olivia Park, NAKASEC, opark@nakasec.org, 202-299-9540
DREAM Act Re-introduced in 112th Congress
Today, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) re-introduced the DREAM Act in the 112th Congress with the co-sponsorship of 32 members of the U.S. Senate, including California Senators, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein, as well as Senator Akaka (D-HI), member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its affiliates, the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC) in Chicago and the Korean Resource Center (KRC) in Los Angeles thank Senator Durbin for his continued leadership on the DREAM Act and take this opportunity to continue to organize and strengthen our communities for reform while highlighting the need for immediate relief of immigrant youth.
“The DREAM Act holds the change that so many undocumented students have been waiting for and it is a start to reforming America’s nonsensical immigration policies,” says Chris Nguyen, member of Fighting Youth Shouting Out for Humanity (FYSH), which is the youth leadership council of KRCC. “Youth have been disheartened at the stalled progress of the DREAM Act, but recognize the bill’s great potential.”
Last December, the DREAM Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in a historic vote, but fell five votes short of overcoming a filibuster in the Senate. The DREAM Act, if passed, would grant young people the chance to fully contribute to society and earn their way to U.S. citizenship, after completing an extensive set of requirements including attending college or serving in the military.
Sik Son, executive director of KRCC stated, “The people of this movement have endured many obstacles, but have built a spirit that is strong. We remain true to our hearts and yet again commit to tapping the potential and aspirations of our youth.”
“The re-introduction of the DREAM Act will allow us to continue the conversation on the need for reform,” said Dae Joong Yoon, executive director of KRC. “But we also know that while we recommit ourselves to this struggle, we need to ensure that our youth are safe and not feel the threat of deportation. We can do this with President Obama’s executive authority to grant deferred action.”
Most recently, 22 Senators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to grant DREAM-eligible students deferred action until legislative fixes are passed.
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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 has an office in D.C. NAKASEC also has affiliates in Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center) and in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center).
