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For Immediate Release
June, 28 2011, 02:02pm EDT
Contact:
Mandy Simon, (202) 675-2312; media@dcaclu.org
ACLU Reaffirms Support for DREAM Act in Statement to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
Bill Would Provide Equal Treatment and a Path to Citizenship for All Deserving Young Immigrants
WASHINGTON
In a statement today to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, the American Civil Liberties Union reaffirmed its support for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, S.952, introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and co-sponsored by 34 senators. The DREAM Act promotes fundamental fairness for young people by allowing access to affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities, regardless of immigration status, and would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school.
During today's hearing, the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, both reiterated the Obama administration's support for the bill. Secretary Duncan pointed out that the United States has dropped from first in the world in our number of college graduates to ninth, which has had a dramatic impact on our country's economy. He added that the DREAM Act could result in hundreds of billions of dollars in additional tax revenue from tapping the potential of DREAM-eligible students and future service personnel.
Clifford Stanley, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness noted during his testimony that since September 11, 2001, more than 69,000 immigrants have earned citizenship while serving, and more than 125 who entered military service after that date have made the ultimate sacrifice in war by giving their lives for this nation.
The DREAM Act came close to passage in the previous Congress, passing in the House and falling just five votes short of the 60 required to move forward in the Senate.
The following can be attributed to Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:
"Passage of the DREAM Act will help to fulfill the American promise of fairness, equality and opportunity for all and is long overdue. Those who stand to benefit from this bill are talented, motivated young adults aspiring to attend college and serve our military, after overcoming many obstacles. DREAMers are already valued members of our communities. Helping our young people achieve their dreams and pursue a better future as citizens of this nation should be a top priority for Congress. We urge both the House and Senate to pass this quintessentially American bill."
The statement submitted to the subcommittee by the ACLU can be found here: www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/aclu-statement-submitted-senate-judiciary-subcommittee-immigration-refugees-and
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
(212) 549-2666LATEST NEWS
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Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, said on Saturday that a nationwide general strike is being planned for May 1 that will be modeled on the day of action residents of Minnesota organized in January against the brutality carried out by federal immigration enforcement officials.
Appearing at the flagship No Kings rally in Minneapolis, Levin praised the strength shown by the Minnesota protesters in the face of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) siege of their city this year, and said his organization wanted to replicate it across the country.
"The next major national action of this movement is not just going to be another protest," Levin said. "It is a tactical escalation... It is an economic show of force, inspired by Minnesota's own day of truth and action."
Levin then outlined what the event would entail.
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Levin: This is the largest protest in Minnesota history… The next major national action of this movement is not just gonna be another protest. On May 1st, across the country, we are saying no business as usual. No work, no school, no shopping. We're gonna show up and say we're… pic.twitter.com/bRPR7K5DuP
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 28, 2026
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The No Kings protests against President Donald Trump's authoritarian government, which Indivisible has been central in organizing, have brought millions of Americans into the streets.
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The Houthis on Saturday took credit for launching a ballistic missile at Israel, opening a new front in the war US President Donald Trump illegally started with Iran nearly one month ago.
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@sparkomat reports live from Jerusalem
https://t.co/Leuc4SnGfG
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TmlyFHkCZN
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 28, 2026
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