Senate Vote Ends New York’s Dream Act!

Dear Commons Community,

The New York State Senate earlier this week voted to reject the Dream Act, which would allow undocumented immigrants to receive state tuition aid.   This is a sad event given the normally  progressive attitude in New York when it comes to assisting students to pay for college tuition.  As reported in the New York Times:

“The narrow vote — the bill fell two votes short of passage — was a bitter disappointment to immigrant advocates who had hoped the state would help make college more affordable for “Dreamers,” young immigrants brought here illegally as children, many of whom are unable to continue their educations once they leave high school…

…advocates were left wondering why Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had called the Dream Act a priority, didn’t seem to expend much effort to push it through the Legislature.

New York is proud of its long reputation as a progressive state, and the Dream Act is just the kind of pro-immigrant legislation that should have passed easily to the governor’s desk, with the governor’s staunch support. But Monday’s vote puts New York behind California, New Mexico, Washington and Texas, all of which passed Dream Acts providing state tuition aid for their college-bound Dreamers.”

The legislative session and the budget season is still in their early stages in New York and maybe there will be some negotiation on this wrong-headed vote.

Tony

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