April 28, 2010 (Arlington, VA) – The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) would like to recognize the valiant accomplishments of the Trail of DREAMs students as both groups arrive in Washington, D.C. and complete their historic 1,500 mile walk from Miami, FL and 250 mile walk from New York, NY. Determined to raise national awareness of the plight of undocumented students, these “Walkers” have inspired people around the country to join the effort to pass the DREAM Act (S.729).
On the heels of a bipartisan request issued to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) to halt the deportations of undocumented students, the Walkers’ arrival in the Nation’s Capital represents the broader student movement nationwide to urge federal legislators to pass the DREAM Act this year. The DREAM Act is narrowly tailored federal legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for students willing to enroll in college or military service upon graduation from high school or earning a GED. Permanent residency status would be given to students who graduate college, complete two years at a postsecondary institution or serve in the military.
In their letter to Secretary Napolitano, the Senators urge the need for the “common-sense, practical solution of deferred action” as a remedy for the inefficient nature of the current “ad-hoc” removal proceedings undocumented students must endure. While only a small number of DREAM eligible students are placed under removal proceedings, the fear of deportation and dashing of college aspirations permeate the lives of thousands of students. NACAC supports the efforts of Senators Durbin and Lugar, and supports prompt passage of the DREAM Act.
About NACAC:
NACAC is an Arlington, VA-based education association of more than 11,000 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association, founded in 1937, is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice. More information about NACAC is available at www.nacacnet.org.