In a 55 to 41 vote today, the Senate rejected an attempt to move forward on consideration of the DREAM Act, which would lay out a path to citizenship for young adults who were brought to the United States illegally as children, and who graduate from high school with the commitment to attend college or join the military.

 

Leslie Watson Malachi, Director of African American Ministers in Action, issued the following statement:

 

“The DREAM Act was inspired by a belief that we hold dear as Americans and as people of faith—the belief that every person who works hard and plays by the rules deserves a chance to succeed. Until the DREAM Act is passed, thousands of hard working and patriotic young men and women will continue to be punished for the actions of their parents and denied the chance to contribute to the country that they love. The effort to stop DREAM has been driven by the divisive politics of fear—we will keep on fighting back with compassion and common sense.”

African American Ministers in Action, a program of People For the American Way, is an alliance of over 700 progressive African American clergy supporting social justice, civil rights, and reproductive health and justice.

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