Historically, New York has been a mecca of immigration, with countless stories of the Statue of Liberty being the first thing that the denizens of established Irish and Jewish neighborhoods arriving in New York City saw after suffering in steerage class across continents. New York was that destination that proceeded all other cities and states in every language as that special place to dream of, where immigrants of every stripe are welcomed.
Unfortunately, the reality is less dazzling. Governor Cuomo has yet to support or sign the New York DREAM Act, a bill that would grant undocumented students who meet in-state requirements access to state financial aid.
There is word that this is because he is eyeing a presidential run in 2016; however, not signing the DREAM legislation would cost him more votes than it would save. Indeed, Congress and the White House has miserably failed to tackle on immigration reform. And Governor Cuomo has an opportunity to demonstrate firm leadership to the entire nation that New York will once again lead in welcoming immigrants to ensure a robust economy for the state.
But silence in policy leadership or opposition to the NY DREAM legislation must not be praised as a trait of a potential 2016 presidential candidate.
With Obama's deportation rate far exceeding that of Bush, scores of Latino voters would have jumped on anyone willing to let their family stay. When GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney promised to veto the DREAM Act, something which is favored by over 90% of Latinos according to a recent Univision poll that has essentially become a bellwether for the Latino vote, he sealed his fate. This is because the DREAM Act is seen as the first modest step towards a practical immigration policy that works for both sides of the debate, allowing in only the most deserving immigrant population who have gone on to higher education or served in the military.
Latino voters are desperate for reform and Romney had a golden opportunity, which he blew when he didn't appeal to the disillusioned Latino vote -- a move which Governor Cuomo is moving toward himself.
By staying silent on the New York DREAM Act, Cuomo is failing to embrace NY's tradition of welcoming immigrants. Indeed, this position places NY to the right of other states, such as Texas, that have already passed measures to give undocumented immigrants tuition assistance. With the rest of the nation leaning towards the DREAM Act, and a valuable voter bloc that's quickly growing, up for grabs and discontent, one would think any political calculations would push him towards signing NY DREAM Act. Governor Cuomo demonstrated keen political leadership in the marriage equality battle. The voters of 2016 are watching this week and expect nothing less than his full commitment on DREAM.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez: The Stolen Dreams Act
Coumo will very likely be the next Catholic president and he needs to remember that the Latino vote is unforgiving and with a long memory- NY may not be the swing vote that will win him the election but what he does here will be heard around the country and influence votes.
and to those saying send them back because Latin American countries are a democracy and because their parents broke the law- do your homework...their parent's did not leave because their countries where democracies (which is questionable)...and these kids did not choose to come here...remember that.
Guess they forgot who granted them FREE U.S. Citizenship on November 6, 1986?
The dream act is a amnesty. Anyone who goes to college or the military does not have to finish. They can quit and apply for a hardship for their wife/ children/parents and receive a wavier.
Scholastic assistance is not owed them either. How will they use opportunities they desire when they cannot hold a professional licence or work in the US?
Americans generally don't consider it fair giving rewards to people because they/their parent broke the law.
They cry "don't punish us for what our parents did!" we shouldn"t reward them either. Citizenship is a reward to people who pay great prices for it.
What we should do is allow the kids to go home and file for entry into the US the right way. They can skip the ten-year ban so they won't be punished for their parent's crimes. Then they can come here like other students from all over the world and compete on an even footing with everyone else.
The DREAM Act doesn't benefit any legal person in the US. Should anyone want a give-away of our citizenship benefiting only people who broke our laws? It slaps the face of law-abiding immigrants.
If Governor Cuomo has to embrace such an unfair law to get the votes of New York, perhaps it is not something he feels would be right for America and he doesn't need those votes after all.
Why should those in violation of the law be welcomed? That's the problem: instead of deterring illegality, we encourage it. Shockingly, this leads to more illegality.
Save me that story - companies that hire illegals do so because they know they don't have to provide health insurance, workers comp, pay any sort of business taxes on these employees, no payroll for these employees, the employees can be fired at any time, no paid vacation or sick time and if one of these workers gets hurt on the job, they're SOL and the taxpayer is stuck picking up the tab at the ER.
Ellis Island was LEGAL immigration and one needed the paperwork to enter and also be healthy (as my great-grandmother was turned away due to an eye infection - and no one was hopping on the next flight out from JFK either...back on the boat for another 2 week adventure).
When BHO is forceably deporting illegals ~ 1 every 79 seconds
NO NEED FOR IT ~ all illegals will be gone soon . . . . . . . .
Why should the USA be expected to educate citizens of 193 other nations in the world on U.S. Taxpayer's dime?
Let California go bankrupt.
The very few eligible voters that do care about dream are far outnumbered by Americans that don't.
We will not give rewards to criminals, and if you are here illegally, you are a CRIMINAL.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/national/foxnews/The-truth-about-the-DREAM-Act_71495600
The Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982), settled the matter of education for those without immigration status. Congress could have done any number of things in response to that ruling but has declined to do so - likewise the American electorate as a whole has not made this a burning issue.
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/VIII/1324