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Quigley Co-Sponsors DREAM ACT

May 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) announced his decision to co-sponsor the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM). This bill, introduced in the Senate by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and has the support of Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) in the House, is a bipartisan bill that would provide immigration relief to a select group of students who grew up in the United States, who have good moral character, and who are pursuing a college education or have enlisted in the military.

"For generations, immigrants have come to Chicago to make a better life for themselves and for their families and in the process, they helped shape and grow our City. Immigrants helped build our skyscrapers, provided the hard work for our industries, and established civic and religious organizations that tend to and care for our neighborhoods and communities," said Rep. Quigley. "I believe in providing dignity and opportunity to all families in the 5th Congressional District and that is why I made cosponsoring the DREAM Act a campaign promise and why I made cosponsoring the bill one of my first acts in Washington."

The DREAM Act is a narrowly-tailored, bipartisan bill that would provide immigration relief to a select group of students who grew up in the United States, who have good moral character, and who are pursuing a college education or have enlisted in the military. Specifically, this bill is aimed at helping anyone who came to the United States before the age of 16, has lived in this country for at least five years, has graduated from high school, and has completed either two years of college or two years of service in the military. Those who fulfill that requirement will have the opportunity to earn legal status in America. In addition, the DREAM Act would also return to states the authority to determine whether to grant in-state tuition to state residents regardless of immigration status.