A weeklong protest calling attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform and a legal pathway for undocumented immigrant children to attend colleges ends today on the doorstep of the San Francisco office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).
College students from across the state spent the last four days fasting outside legislators' offices in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which would fix immigration laws and increase education opportunities for undocumented immigrants who are students.
The protest in favor of the so-called DREAM Act started Monday when a caravan of vans departed Los Angeles and headed north. The caravan picked up participants in towns along the nearly 400-mile route to Pelosi's office, where hundreds were expected for a rally today.
Five South Bay college students also took part in the fast in which they sat in front of the office of Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) near downtown San Jose. The five are also taking part in the rally.
"I think it's awesome," said Alba Cardenas, 22, one of the protest's organizers. "It's great so many students are trying to get a better future. Passing the Act would be extremely helpful. I'm a very strong supporter."
Father John Pedigo, the Director of the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, on Monday prayed over the five student fasters in San Jose, and declared the Catholic Church's support.
"We, as the Catholic Church throughout the U.S., believe these demands are reasonable and achievable," Pedigo said.
The fast was organized by Student Advocates for Higher Education from California State University, San Jose, and the Coalition for Human Rights of Los Angeles.
Organizers want the 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States to have a way to gain citizenship without having to first return to their home countries. Organizers also want full rights and protections for current and future undocumented immigrant workers, preservation of due process and civil rights, and a stop to raids on businesses that might employ undocumented immigrants and deportations of any such workers identified. Organizers also want immigration law to continue to stress family reunification.
As part of the campaign, a mock graduation was held Tuesday in front of San Jose City hall to dramatize how the DREAM Act could change lives of students by allowing them to complete higher education in the United States. Nightly vigils were held throughout the week in front of city hall.
Under the DREAM Act, students who enter the United States at 15 years old or younger and demonstrate good moral character will be eligible to apply for conditional status, which would authorize up to six years of legal residence.
If during those six years, the student graduates from a two-year college, completes at least two years towards a four-year degree, or serves in the U.S. military, permanent residence will be granted.
Each year roughly 65,000 high school students graduate who would qualify for the DREAM Act's benefits, according to the National Immigration Law Center, a Los Angeles-based advocacy organization.
The passing of the DREAM Act also would restore states' rights to determine state college and university fees for undocumented immigrant student residents.
Julia Curry, an assistant professor at San Jose State University and an advisor to some of the student fasters, also spent a day this week faxing letters to the California Legislature in support of the Act.
"I wanted to make sure that they know we support them and (legislators) should be supporting them as well," said Curry.