University of New Mexico organizations and community partners join in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, as part of a national day of action campaign sponsored by DREAMactivists.org, on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Many students on the UNM campus in support of the DREAM Act will be promoting a “Call Your Congressman Campaign” on Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UNM’s Smith Plaza, south of Zimmerman Library. A press conference will be held at the same location at noon.
UNM’s “Call Your Congressman Campaign” is one of more than 120 events taking place across the country to inform the public of this important piece of legislation, which will keep the United States from losing college and university students who lack proper documentation. The DREAM Act will increase American competitiveness and provide some of the country’s future engineers, doctors, lawyers and educators with a path to achieve their career goals.
The DREAM Act would allow “conditional residency” for undocumented immigrant students who entered the United States before age 16, graduated from high school or received their GED, have no criminal history, and enroll in either higher education or military service. During this period of conditional residency, qualifying applicants could then apply for full citizenship through naturalization.
UNM and community organizations that have signed on as co-sponsors of the event include: El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, El Centro del a Raza, ENLACE New Mexico, ENLACE Comunitario, Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latina Sorority Inc.-Gamma Kappa Chapter, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., Hispanic Business Student Association, Lambda Theta Phi Latino Fraternity Inc. -Alpha Upsilon Chapter, Mariachi Lobo de la Universidad de Nuevo México, Mexican Student Association, Movimiento Estudiantíl Chicana/o de Aztlán, New Mexico Media Literacy Project, Raza Graduate Student Association, Somos un Pueblo Unido and many more that have not confirmed at the time of this release.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu