The Dream Act To Be Discussed At Legislative Matters Committee Meeting

The Legislative Matters Committee, chaired by Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor, will be discussing The Dream Act at their October 27th meeting scheduled for 7pm in the second floor Committee Room of City Hall.

Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz submitted an order to the Board of Alderman at their September 23rd meeting urging the Board to support the act. Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roache voiced conern which prompted Board President Jack Connolly to refer the order for recommendation, with a follow-up to be provided by the Legislative Matters Committee.

Please note that, at their October 18th meeting, The Somerville School Committee unanimously passed a resolution in support of the passage of the DREAM Act.

According to its Wikipedia definition, The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, currently under consideration by the United States Congress in the form of Senate Bill 3827 and House Bill 1751, would provide certain inadmissible or deportable alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning.

In order to qualify, a student must:

• Have proof of having arrived in the United States before age 16.
• Have proof of residence in the United States for a least five consecutive years since their date of arrival, compliance with Selective Service.
• Be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of bill enactment.
• Have graduated from an American high school or obtained a GED.
• Be of "good moral character"

Text of Legislation