Perhaps the DREAM Act doesn’t affect you directly because you have the proper documentation to remain in the United States, but that’s no reason to ignore it.
It will provide conditional permanent residency to certain undocumented residents who exhibited a good moral character, graduated from American high schools, arrived to the U.S. as teenagers and must live in the country consecutively for five years after the bill’s enactment. Males looking to obtain a conditional permanent residency must also be enrolled in the Selective Service.
Consider your own peers at Cerritos College. If you dig deep enough, you will find that several of your classmates are undocumented.
Some of these students could even be your friends. Undocumented students and residents must fight their hardest just for an opportunity to gain conditional permanent residency.
If there are any slip-ups in this six-year period, their application will be refused and will be placed on a deportation list. In other words, their work is cut out for them.
Here’s what you can do. Contact your congressional office, which is located in Washington D.C. Yes, you will need some sort of a long distance phone plan, but nearly every major cell phone carrier has a form of long-distance service.
You may also send a letter through the mail if you prefer a more traditional style.
But if that’s still an excuse, guess what? There are other options.
Contact the Congressional Switchboard and ask for Barbara Boxer or Dianne Feinstein and your call will be connected right away.
Once you are in contact with either Boxer or Feinstein, let either of them know of your intentions for the DREAM Act and to vote for or against it.
Educate them as to why you feel strongly about your opinion.If you call outside of office hours, make sure to leave a very detailed message so they can know how you feel about it.
These are our California representatives and their job is to decide what’s best in the interest for the state. We vote for them because we confide in their decision.
Your opinion on the matter can make or break this situation. Let your opinion be heard and watch the world change. If you want to give undocumented students a chance to pursue the American dream, make it known. If not, pursue against the DREAM Act.
Consider all the angles before you vote because this is a bill that will change the face of the United States.
