Senator Durbin | VivirLatino

New Version of DREAM Act to Be Voted On?

8:27 am By Maegan La Mala · DREAM Act|Immigration · 2 Comments

1 Dec 2010

According to the DREAMActivist web site, a new version of the DREAM Act was introduced yesterday by Illinois Senator Durbin in an effort to lure more Republican support.

I have not yet read the new version, as it has not yet been been made public, but reading the summary given by DREAMActivist, the changes would keep DREAM Act beneficiaries in limbo for longer and actually lowers the amount of people who would be DREAM Act beneficiaries.

–     10 years of temporary status vs. the previous 6 years
–     Specifically barring DREAMers from access to health care subsidies etc.
–     Age cap is 30 vs. the previous of 35
–     Removal of the language that would have not punished states for providing in-state tuition

Additionally, the new bill panders to the “good immigrant/bad immigrant narrative” by including background checks to eliminate the excuse for non-support by Republicans (and others) that DREAM would legalize criminals.

I am worried about this pandering to the right in an effort to “get something immigration related passed”. I think that given the short Congressional frame, the sense of desperation this brings will bring too many compromises will be may turn out to be more hurtful than helpful.

All we can do is wait and see.

P.S. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the way this system makes us compromise our values for votes?

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are: National Coming Out of the Shadows Day

1:45 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Education|Immigration|Justice|Politics|youth · 3 Comments

10 Mar 2010

The whole “undocumented living in the shadows” metaphor always gnawed at me a little for it’s sinister feel. The shadows are dark places, where bad things happen and bad people live. It kind of feeds into the “good vs. bad immigrant” narrative that we are so fond of talking about here. Maybe that’s why I like the idea of National Coming Out of the Shadows Day being celebrated today in Chicago by hundreds of young people as part of the larger National Coming Out of the Shadows Week , March 15th to the 21st.

The idea of National Coming Our of the Shadows Day and Week is for the undocumented, especially youth, to stand up, unafraid, unashamed and unwilling to accept the idea that there are good immigrants vs. bad immigrants. That is a a dichotomy created by the racist broken immigration system to divide and conquer communities that intersect.

The focus of the event in Chicago today is Senator Durbin and the demand that he support comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, which would give countless undocumented youth the freedom to continue to grow educationally and professionally.

“We cannot wait any more. Not while our parents are getting deported and our youth’s dreams fall apart due to an obsolete immigration system that has failed us and the country. I have supported Senator Durbin and President Obama, and now we need them to act. This country cannot wait anymore, we will not wait any longer,” said Ireri, IYJL member.

Maegan La Mala: Thank you Ana. You have always had a kind word and great example. As I tweeted yesterday the biggest [...]

Maegan La Mala: Thank you Julio! To be honest I was a little nervous. [...]

Ana L. Flores: I was very excited when you decided to join us. I really wanted your voice there as it would add dep [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Juliana and thanks for commenting. There is a dearth in activist/critical thinking Latino blogg [...]

Julio Ricardo Varela: Good for you for asking. I got goose bumps just reading this and yes, yes, yes, to it all. Thank you [...]

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Posts Tagged ‘Senator Durbin’

New Version of DREAM Act to Be Voted On?

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are: National Coming Out of the Shadows Day

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