By Lauren C. Ostberg

- Photo by Lauren Ostberg

The Board of Aldermen last week unanimously voted to support a federal move to give children of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

“This is the only country that these kids have ever known,” said Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gerwitz, who introduced the resolution.  “Let’s invest in them.”

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which is 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.

Gabriel Maldonado, a teenage member of Somerville’s Welcome Project, spoke before the Board in support of the DREAM Act.  “Without education and justice, there is no freedom,” he said.

The DREAM Act “encourages good citizenship,” according to Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond, and puts “productive people” on the path to becoming legal residents.”

“This closes the door for recruitment to gangs,” added Alderman-at-Large Bill White, who believes that an open-ended future and the “moral character” component of the Act will inspire would-be recruits to keep their records clean.  “I have a positive reaction to this legislation, both from the heart, and from the mind,” he said.

Former Somerville Mayor and U.S. Representative Michael Capuano is a co-sponsor of the version of the DREAM Act currently before the House.  At the request of Alderman-at-Large Jack Connolly, Somerville’s Board of Aldermen added an amendment to their resolution explicitly supporting the former Mayor.