With both chambers of Congress planning to take up the DREAM Act this year, students who would benefit from the legislation are joining with labor and immigration reform advocates will unveil a six-figure ad buy in Spanish and English media. The ad campaign, co-sponsored by America’s Voice, SEIU, Reform Immigration for America, Center for Community Change, and AFL-CIO, targets senators whose votes will be crucial to passing the DREAM Act, and will run in Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Texas.
The DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill that is supported by 66% of the American people, would enable young people who came to the country as children, but lack legal immigration status, to enlist in the U.S. military or attend college on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens. Seventy-five percent of Latino voters say passing the DREAM Act in short order is either extremely important or very important.
Listen to the radio ad in English:
Script:
DREAMer #1: My name is David Cho. I came to the United States when I was 9 years old. I graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA, and I’m now a senior studying International Economics. My dream is to serve in the U.S. Air Force after graduation. My story is not unique. The DREAM Act can bring thousands of undocumented students like me out of the shadows and allow us to give back to the only country we call home.
DREAMer #2: My name is Ivan Rosales. I’ve lived in the U.S. since the age of 1. I was an honor student in high school, and now I’m a college senior, majoring in biology. My dream is to serve my country as a doctor in the military.
Announcer: The military, small businesses, and 66% of voters support the DREAM Act.
Senator Brown: Where do you stand? David, Ivan, and high-achieving young people like them are counting on you.
Ask Senator Brown to vote YES for the DREAM Act. Text DREAMNOW to 69866. Standard text message rates apply.
A message from SEIU, AFL-CIO, Campaign for Community Change, and America’s Voice.
More details will be discussed in a press call today at 2PM. Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice will be joined by: Mitch Ackerman, Executive Vice President, SEIU; Ana Avendano, Assistant to the President and Director of Immigration and Community Action, AFL-CIO; Alina Cortes, a young person from San Antonio, TX who would qualify to benefit from the DREAM Act; Marissa Graciosa, Immigration Campaign Coordinator, Campaign for Community Change; Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum and Chair, Reform Immigration for America Campaign; and Gaby Pacheco, a young person from Miami, FL who would qualify to benefit from the DREAM Act.
The discussion will focus on why the DREAM Act must become law this year. The two leaders from the DREAM student movement, Gaby and Alina, will describe their personal struggles to remain in the only country they know as home, and call on policymakers to pass DREAM so they achieve their dreams.
