At last, a breakthrough for DREAMers

Obama firmly stated, “What matters is that you believe in the ideals on which we were founded; that you believe all of us are equal and deserve the freedom to pursue happiness.” Unfortunately, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) disagrees. Instead of promoting an educated workforce, he would rather lose out on the fierce entrepreneurial spirit that these talented immigrant youth possess.

In his editorial, Smith claims that the DREAM Act is “causing, not solving, a problem,” but provides scant analytical research or statistical data to support his claim. He also fails to suggest any form of solution to this so-called “problem” and simply reiterates his previous claims. It seems he has many negative things to say about the DREAM Act, but no answers.

Smith exaggerates his claim that the President was unable to pass the DREAM Act because of “bipartisan opposition.” The truth is, 39 Republican senators, including Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), to name a few who previously supported the bill, decided to vote against the bill or abstained from voting. This is what you call voting along party lines.

But there is still hope for the once denied DREAM Act. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) re-introduced the bill in Wednesday morning’s session of the U.S. Senate. This amended version provides a slightly narrower definition of eligibility for a path to citizenship than the original. Supporters of the DREAM Act should celebrate the reintroduction of the bill and look forward to a brighter future — one that upholds equal opportunity and access for our nation’s brightest innovators.

Andy Len is the president of the Asian American Student Union at the University of Maryland and an intern at the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO.