Statement From State Senator Jose Peralta On Washington State Legislature’s Passage Of DREAM Act

“Washington is on the verge of becoming the fourth state to provide college financial aid to undocumented immigrants, after the legislature there last night passed the state’s own DREAM Act with strong bi-partisan support.

“Here in New York, making the DREAM Act a reality will also require support across conferences.  Fortunately,  there is a growing consensus among business, labor and Republican and Democratic leaders across the country, both on the need for immigration reform and the obvious economic benefits of reform.  We saw evidence of that last night in Washington.

“That consensus is building because of the growing recognition that the DREAM Act is an investment in the workforce of tomorrow that would pay for itself many times over in increased tax revenues; and that with the demand for higher-skilled workers increasing, it only makes sense to encourage our young people to pursue higher education

“There is also an increasing realization that the young people who would benefit from the DREAM Act are as American as Thanksgiving.  They arrived at an early age and don’t know any country but the United States.  Their hearts are here and so are there futures.

“Let’s help them better provide for themselves and their families, contribute more to the economy and fully integrate into the American mainstream.”

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