Senator Durbin

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, May 11, Senator Dick Durbin
(D-IL) and 32 co-sponsors re-introduced the Development, Relief and Education
for Alien Minors Act, which will benefit immigrant youth who attend college or
decide to serve in the military.

Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration
Forum, a non-partisan pro-immigrant advocacy organization based in Washington,
said he was encouraged by the news.

“We applaud Senator Durbin and his colleagues in the
Senate, as well as Representatives Berman and Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership
in seeking solutions to our broken immigration system,” he said. “The
DREAM Act is a vital stepping stone to immigration reform and Congress should
act on it.”

Many immigrant communities had rallied in support of the
act, which would allow undocumented immigrant youth the opportunity to stay in
the U.S. and continue their education or serve in America’s  armed forces. It was first introduced
in 2001 and would offer a path to legal status to those who have graduated from
high school, stayed away from legal troubles, and plan to attend college or
serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.

Late last year, the DREAM Act passed the House of
Representatives, and garnered the support of a majority in the Senate, but
ultimately was defeated when the Senate failed to invoke cloture and proceed to
debate.