Illinois DREAM Act Passes State Senate With Overwhelming, Bipartisan Majority

A mariachi band played at a giddy rally in the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield Wednesday afternoon, as throngs of supporters celebrated the passage of the Illinois DREAM Act in the state Senate.

The bill passed the Senate by a margin of 45-11, with three senators not voting. The measure saw wide bipartisan support, with 11 Republicans supporting the bill alongside 34 Democrats.

It gets its name from a proposed piece of federal legislation which stalled in Congress during the lame-duck session this past winter. That measure would have allowed some undocumented students to move toward citizenship, provided they met certain criteria.

The state of Illinois doesn't have the authority to grant citizenship. Instead, SB 2185 would create a "DREAM Fund," a scholarship account funded entirely by private dollars, to give out scholarships to students without legal status seeking higher education. It would also encourage counselors to receive training on education opportunities for undocumented students, and would open up college savings programs and prepaid tuition programs to all Illinois residents.

Senator Tom Johnson was one of the Republicans who voted in favor of the bill. "This is an American value issue," he said to the chamber, according to observers on Twitter. Immigrant youth, Johnson said, "are our future. They are our fellow residents of Illinois."

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, or ICIRR, was one of many pro-immigrant groups that descended on Springfield for Wednesday's vote. "Perfect timing," ICIRR tweeted after the vote, "the state Cinco de Mayo celebration has started in the State Capitol." It then posted this image:

The bill will now go before the House, where powerful Democratic Speaker Mike Madigan has spoken out in favor of immigrant rights.

Comments

[Jose Cruz2305]

04:50 PM on 06/01/2011

W\hat number can i call for more information?

[chadizzy]

02:13 PM on 06/01/2011

Im ready for the DOJ to sue this state! We cant have a patchwork of immigration laws, but let me guess since this is part of the Obama agenda nothing will happen to Illinois. But heaven forbid AZ pass a law enforcing the laws that are already on the books. What a sham!

[herenow12]

12:32 AM on 05/17/2011

If states can participate in immigration enforcement, they should be allowed to grant citizenship as well.

[dtairtime]

06:23 PM on 05/25/2011

Since the justice department is fighting the states ability at every possible angle the states rights to enforce any aspect of immigration the same should apply to this giveaway of taxpayer funds to illegals.

Please don't try to claim allowing illegals to go to college as residents doesn't cost taxpayers unless you can show me any state college/university that doesn't get massive amounts of funding from the state.

Yet I doubt the justice department will go after Illinois on this just as they have ignored the other states doing this and worse. We have states who give them drivers licenses. We have states mandating their social workers ignore federal law and NOT verify status of welfare applicants. We have states saying they will give out temporary worker cards to illegals.

Yet the fed doesn't say a word about that because those policies are supported by big business and the chamber of commerce.

[herenow12]

12:27 AM on 05/17/2011

Ah, a breath of fresh air!

[menigma1]

11:02 PM on 05/09/2011

My problem with this isnt the "equal" access to schools, its the "better" access to schools. Here in Calif an undocumented student gets in state tuition , but if you come accross the border from Oregon you pay out of state tuition.
Now either make out of state (and country) tuition the same or make all tuition the same.
When it stops making logical sense, I jump off the band wagon.

[herenow12]

01:26 AM on 05/17/2011

When you come from Oregon, you don't pay the local sales taxes, property taxes, vehicle taxes, gas taxes, etc. You don't contribute to the local economy.

[brookmo]

12:51 PM on 05/08/2011

NO! No funds administered by the state or federal government for ILLEGAL/UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS! PERIOD

[brookmo]

12:44 PM on 05/08/2011

NO,NO,NO,NO,NO! SHIP THEM HOME!!!!! I am tired of politicians pandering to CRIMINALS! They broke the law so STOP REWARDING THEM! SEND THEM HOME!!!!

[realitytrumpsbull]

10:07 PM on 05/07/2011

Immigration's really a federal issue, and it could yet happen that this whole DREAM act-thing comes back and gets judged basically unconstitutional, and cancelled post-haste, and forthwith. Why? Aiding, abetting, and encouraging. The kind of thing that can get your college shut down.  If the federal government can't see fit to give these kids some kind of legal status under current standing laws, then they need to go back to whatever country they're legally citizens of, and get passports, and student visas in those passports. Further, their parent country, most likely Mexico, needs to do more, to create bona-fide opportunities within their own country, instead of expending all their intellectual efforts on scamming and sleazing and manipulating the federal government, and state government as well in this country.  Do it right, or don't do it at all, and avoid setting bad precedents. With all the billions of dollars that blow out Congress' door on an hourly basis, it's amazing they haven't apportioned some funds to have a solid ICE program to address all aspects of immigration in a rapid, computerized, no-nonsense kind of way.   Colleges/college towns are also notorious focal points for drugs/drug use. Are the scholarship donors involved in drug cartels? We are talking Illinois, here.

[CalSailor]

05:35 PM on 05/07/2011

Why in the world would people object to this act, or others like it? Providing a way for kids who are here illegally because of their parents are the future of the country, like every other kid. On a strictly financial basis: If we get these kids through college to pursue their dreams, they will have jobs that pay a heck of a lot more than working at Micky Ds or any other barely minimum wage job they would otherwise have. How much more in taxes will they pay over a lifetime?????

This is like the GI bill after WW II...it returned dollars for every dime spent on the bill. It is the same with the dream acts. I don't see why people object to it.

Pr Chris

[aphunkyphish]

12:29 PM on 05/07/2011

I support legal children of legal immigrants, however the word "undocumented' is causing the confusion. On the other hand, illegals are treated at hospitals, are able to attend school and are given rights as legal students. I understand why people feel they have no rights but there are millions of them here and unrealistic to think we can suddenly round them up and send them all home as a solution. Priorty status must be given to those who have applied to enter legally. Illegals could get in line behind them. If they are willing to pay upfront stiff fines, penalties, have no criminal offenses and hold steady employment for ten years, then they can be offered citizenship. It is unfair to expect the American taxpayer to keep paying for these people "rights" unconditionally.

[JShankel]

11:09 PM on 05/06/2011

@Gene C:
"As you posted, it says "Address the needs of serving students who are the children of immigrants." specifically not stating one way or the other if the 'immigrant' parents are legal or illegal"

I'll try one more time: that section, which you are only quoting the second part of and not the first, applies to HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, who are required by US Law, owing to Plyler v. Doe, to provide children in school with equal access to information and service regardless of immigration status.

It is not an option for high school counselors, teachers or administrators to refuse to accept undocumented immigrants or to offer them lower quality of public service.  It's not legal.  They can't do it.  They are constitutionally required to.  And that is the only place in this ENTIRE LAW where the word "undocumented" appears: in the clause specifying how the state will comply with court-imposed federal regulation.

I'm sure you'd be perfectly happy for them to ignore the rule of law altogether, but there you have it.  They're not allowed to not serve illegal immigrants in secondary school.

Whether this law passed or not, secondary school service personnel would still be offering counseling and services to the children of illegal immigrants.  If you're objecting to that, then nothing has changed by passage of this law.  The children of illegal immigrants cannot be turned away from primary and secondary school.  You're objecting to a clause that says that teachers will conform to pre-existing law and pretending it's some sort of new service.  Which is a lie lie lie lie lie.

[Gene C]

01:25 AM on 05/07/2011

Getting back to your original rant where you keep stating " It's for the benefit of the children of legal immigrants­, you numbskulls­." are you still standing by that comment? If that's the case, then why are hundreds of undocumented students rallying for the bill's passage? Isn't it because they came here at an early age with parents who were ILLEGAL and now want federal grants to help with their college education? Currently undocumented students can and do attend universities and colleges across Illinois, which includes 95,000 undocumented “youth.” Undocumented youth do not have legal immigration papers like a Social Security card and cannot obtain a legal driver’s license, making it nearly impossible to find a job. In addition, passage of the Illinois Dream Act will allow them to legally drive to a college, so now there will be even more illegals on the road. Will they have insurance?

And WHY are these students undocumented? Because their parents came here ILLEGALLY and are ILLEGAL immigrants just like the students are, no matter what the circumstances are that got them here in the first place.

[JShankel]

08:23 PM on 05/06/2011

@Gene C: "Your constant rant (and link) is getting boring. Maybe you should go back, yourself, and read it and then explain why it has the following in it: "opportunities for higher education for students who are undocumented immigrants."

Yes, I realize how tedious facts are.  But you may want to try actually reading that section instead of just echoing whatever teabagger talking point memo you subscribe to.  The section you quoted outlines the responsibilities of the holder of a school personnel certificate, not the conditions for distribution of funds.

The complete text is:
Address the needs of serving students who are the children of immigrants, including, if the certificate holder is employed as a counselor in an Illinois public or State-operated secondary school, opportunities for higher education for students who are undocumented immigrants.

State secondary school counselors and instructors are required by law to provide equal educational opportunity (including counseling about access to post-secondary education) to all children, including the children of illegal immigrants.  This is not an optional thing.  This is required by Supreme Court ruling Plyler v. Doe (1982.)

The section you quoted there has nothing whatsoever to do with the administration of the tuition fund.  All it says is that school counselors in HIGH SCHOOL are required to advise the children of illegal immigrants as to their post-secondary educational opportunities.  If they want to take advantage of this program, they have to apply for student visas.

You may think this is a waste of taxpayer dollars.  I won't agree or disagree because it's irrelevant: it's constitutionally required by order of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

Reading comprehension.  Try it sometime.

[Steve Shonder]

09:59 PM on 05/06/2011

I'm not against this, but I am against the timing of this.
It should have been placed on hold until Springfield could create funding for the Map Grant.

[JShankel]

11:12 PM on 05/06/2011

Well, I have no horse in that race.  Far as I'm concerned, Illinois can do what they want to do so long as it's legal.

[Gene C]

10:17 PM on 05/06/2011

As you posted, it says "Address the needs of serving students who are the children of immigrants." specifically not stating one way or the other if the 'immigrant' parents are legal or illegal. The language that was amended to the 'Act' states that the applicant needs to have either a S.S. card or a TIN card.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It is a nine-digit number that always begins with the number 9 and has a 7 or 8 in the fourth digit, example 9XX-7X-XXXX. The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code

It's easy for an illegal to have a valid 'looking' S.S. card? Just apply for an ITIN card, Put that valid ITIN number onto a fake Social Security card. You now have a valid tax number on a Social Security card giving them the 'proof' needed to get a job.
- No need to use a number stolen from someone else.
- No risk that you are one of many illegal aliens using the same number.
- Peace of mind that the number has been assigned to you.

[JShankel]

04:42 PM on 05/06/2011

This isn't for the benefit of illegal immigrants. It's for the benefit of the children of legal immigrants, you numbskulls. And it benefits everyone in the state by taking private dollars into public coffers where they are spent on state-provided services. Read the text of the law right here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/SB/PDF/09700SB2185lv.pdf Recipients of funds must have a valid Social Security or taxpayer identification number.

[Gene C]

07:36 PM on 05/06/2011

Your constant rant (and link) is getting boring. Maybe you should go back, yourself, and read it and then explain why it has the following in it: "opportunities for higher education for students who are undocumented immigrants.".

There are illegals arriving here everyday with babies about ready to pop out just so that their kids are 'legal'. Then, when we talk about sending the ILLEGAL parents back, everyone cries foul. You can't have it both ways. The Dream Act didn't even have to be created other than as an excuse to educate the children of illegal immigrants who shouldn't have been here in the first place. Phony Social Security cards, just like phony driver's licenses, are one of the easiest things to obtain so quit spinning that record as well. The line will be so long and administrators so far and few, which means thorough document checking will be all but impossible.

[chadizzy]

02:26 PM on 06/01/2011

Page 17 line 4 clown! Says specifically higher education for undocumented!

[Gene C]

04:39 PM on 05/06/2011

Don't forget about the TWO years of college the taxpayers are already paying for and the free military training we will be giving them in return for their DREAM applications. We might just as well take down the border fences and get rid of the border guards and erect more signs like this one:
http://obamamobileusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DREAM.jpg

[CalSailor]

06:46 PM on 05/07/2011

Gene C:

You object to this law because of the "free military training we will be giving them"...is THAT what you think of the military? That they are getting a wonderful deal by receiving "free military training"???? You don't think paying with two years or more--mostly more, because most enlistments are 4 years + a reserve commitment is of no value to us or the country?

What a narrow minded, bigoted point of view. I can tell you that having spent more than 20 years in uniform, my service was worth a heck of a lot more than any "free military training" I received, and the injuries I suffered--and, for our wounded warriors, many are lifetime and severe, to say nothing about the people who lost their lives in service to the country--there is NO comparison to the value of this "free military training". Ask the parent of ANY service member killed in action, or gravely wounded in such service, if they would willingly pay the costs of such training back if it meant their loved one's life back whole and undamaged!

I would suggest that a VERY abject apology is in order! That just enrages me to think you think so little of our men and women in uniform. Have YOU got the guts to do what they are doing?

Pr Chris

[chadizzy]

02:20 PM on 06/01/2011

This law is ridiculous! No one should be rewarded for bad behavior! The kids protesting for this bill should be protesting their parents for bringing them here! There is nothing bigoted from the above poster. You people and your racist bigot stuff is ridiculous. Illegal Aliens deserve no rewards! All this does is encourage more illegals to come! There is nothing bigoted about being against illegal immigration!

[llwlknsn]

03:24 PM on 05/06/2011

How many US citizen students will be denied a college education at the University of their choice in Illinois? Count the number of illegal aliens encouraged to take the place of a US CITIZEN. This is little more than aiding and abetting criminal immigrants.

Deport them and give a US student a chance at an education. This is not a dream for any child here legally.

[JShankel]

04:44 PM on 05/06/2011

Read the text of the bill. It's not for the benefit of illegal immigrants. It's for the benefit of the children of legal immigrants. All the funds are private and recipients must have valid Social Security of taxpayer ID numbers. Here's the text of the law you didn't read before you got all outraged at it: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/SB/PDF/09700SB2185lv.pdf Show me in the text where it says that funds go to illegal immigrants. Show. Me. In the law.

[chadizzy]

02:27 PM on 06/01/2011

It even says in the bill for the undocumented. Come on page 17 line 4 says it all!

[Rolando E Rivas]

12:49 PM on 05/25/2011

I'm pretty sure the Universities can adapt to an influx of new students as well as profit enough from the new income that they may expand.