5 Actions You Can Take for the DREAM Act Now

by Prerna Lal · 2010-09-19 11:00:00 UTC
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After years of immigrant youth organizing, the DREAM Act is closer to passing than anytime in recent history. But we still do not have the 60 votes needed to proceed on a motion to adopt the amendment to the defense authorization bill. You can do your part in supporting the DREAM Act by taking the following actions:

1. Drop in to visit Congressional members: If you are in the Washington D.C. area or can afford to come to D.C. to lobby Senators, now is the time to do so. There is no risk involved, even if you are undocumented. To date, no Senator or House representative or their various aides on Capitol Hill has ever looked at an undocumented student in the eye and actually said, "I don't think you deserve to live here." Here is a small guide on how to meet with your Senator or Representative.

2. Keep those calls coming - On Thursday, the immigrant youth network alone made close to 10,000 calls. They aimed for 15,000 on Friday. For some offices, pro-DREAM Act calls are finally matching and even beating the anti-immigrant calls against the legislation. Now is not the time to give up. If a third-grader can make calls, so can you. Here is a target list to get you started with instructions for what to say.

3. Email, email email - Don't underestimate the power of email petitions. At Change.org, we have stopped several deportations and directed thousands of emails to Congressional members and their aides for immigrant rights.

4. Join the grassroots actions - Immigrant youth are organizing in their own states to show their support for the DREAM Act. It shows solidarity while drawing media attention to the issue. You can see a list of actions here and even hold your own.

5. Fax - After making the calls and driving the emails, how about helping to jam some fax lines for the DREAM Act? Get on it here.

Done all of the above? Spread the word to your friends and families!

Photo Credit: DreamActivist1

Prerna Lal is co-founder and Online Coordinator of DreamActivist and a board member of Immigration Equality. She is currently attending George Washington University Law School.

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