DREAM act would give children education opportunities

By Lauren C. Ostberg

Students and local immigrant rights advocates celebrate the Somerville School Committee's resolution to support the passage of the DREAM Act. - Photo by Lauren Ostberg

Somerville’s School Committee unanimously passed a resolution in support of the passage of the DREAM Act during their October 18 meeting.

The resolution also asks that the Chairman convey the Committee’s support to the congressional delegation.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, currently under consideration by the United States Congress in the form of Senate Bill 3827 and House Bill 1751, would offer young, undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship through higher education or military service.

In order to qualify, a student must arrive in the States before the age of 16, reside here for at least 5 consecutive years, obtain a U.S. high school diploma or GED equivalent, be “of good moral character,” and fall between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of the Act’s enactment.

Somerville students, along with representatives from immigrant advocacy groups Centro Presente, The Welcome Project, and the Student Immigration Movement, spoke in support of the resolution.

~Photo by Lauren Ostberg

“No matter what they’ve achieved, we’re saying that their value depends on a nine-digit number,” said Tommy Cachimuel, a Somerville High School junior who introduced himself with the first five digits of his social security number. “I am more than a number.”

“All I hope is that my dream is not torn apart because I don’t have a piece of paper,” said Kevin, a Somerville eighth grader from El Salvador.

Ward Two School Committee member Teresa Cardoso said, “Many people came here, not for any fault of their own, but through their parents’ dreams for them.”

Though the School Committee has no jurisdiction over federal immigrant legislation, Cardoso believes that the DREAM Act falls within the Committee’s scope. “The School Committee is an elected body that represents education. This is our business,” she said.

Warren Goldstein-Gelb, executive director of the Welcome Project, emphasized that Somerville’s educational mission to get its students “college-ready” is superfluous to undocumented students who have no hope to aspire to college.

Ward One representative Maureen Bastardi noted that, though she is uncomfortable with the issue of the parents’ illegal entry into the country, “the child should not have to pay for the parents’ sin, and they deserve to better their education.”

Vice Chairperson Adam Sweeting, who seconded the resolution, noted the transformative benefits of higher education, and reminded the Committee that the DREAM Act also provided a path to citizenship through service in the U.S. Military.

“The American Dream states that anyone who is willing to take risks and work hard in America should have the ability to achieve, to prosper here,” said Dea Dodi, the Student Representative to the School Committee.  She came to the States from Albania, legally, when she was five, but she can’t comprehend how “demoralized” she would feel if her birthplace made higher education impossible.

Jose Palma, the leader of the Student Immigrant Movement, informed the Committee that their vote today was a question of whether they supported all Somerville students, even the undocumented ones.

Alderman President Jack Connolly wanted the language of the resolution to speak directly to elements of the House version of the bill that were introduced by Representative Michael Capuano, a former Somerville alderman and mayor. The committee opted to use language supporting the passage of the Act in general, so that their support could remain attached to any version of the bill.

All eight committee representatives supported the resolution. Mayor Joe Curtatone, who is an ex oficio member of the committee, was absent from last night’s session.