LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas has long advocated to the United States Congress, President Obama’s Administration and his fellow mayors that this nation needs to treat fairly undocumented youth that “dream” of becoming citizens of the United States.   Today, those efforts paid off as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced she would create a program allowing DREAM Act eligible youth to apply for provisional status on a case-by-case basis, thus allowing immigrant youth to pursue their dreams while contributing their considerable talents to the country they love and consider home.

 Reacting to the news, Mayor Salinas, Chair of the Conference of Mayors Immigration Task Force stated: “I am grateful to President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for their leadership.  I have been deeply troubled that these young men and women, that are here illegally through no fault of their own, and who we have allowed to serve and die for this county in the armed forces have had no path to being considered for citizenship. While the Administration feels that legislation is required to create the path to citizenship, I am happy that these young men and woman can now come out of the shadows and pursue their dreams of success without fear of  deportation.” 

 “We still need the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act passed.  In 2010, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that passing the bill would not only allow these youth to dream of a future here in the US, it would also save the nation $1.4 billion that we are spending on enforcement and prosecution efforts.  We have better ways to spend our money.”