At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Oversight of DHS, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano fielded several questions from Senators.

Senator Durbin (IL) and the main sponsor of the DREAM Act asked Janet Napolitano whether she supported the DREAM Act. She replied in the affirmative:

“I supported the DREAM Act when I was governor. I support it now…It seems to me that that DREAM Act is a good piece of legislation and a good idea.”

Napolitano also affirmed that DHS would focus more on workforce enforcement targeted at employers, border security and strengthening 287(g) programs. And that President Obama had asked her to rigorously enforce the immigration laws of the United States.

Napolitano is not the first high-ranking official in the Obama Administration to support the DREAM Act even though she might be the first DHS official to do so. Besides support from Hilda Solis, undocumented students can also count on the U.S. Secretary of Education, Anne Duncan. The Daily Cardinal reports:

When asked about how the proposal might make schools safer for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and undocumented students, Duncan said creating an environment where students can succeed academically without economic concerns would foster more inclusive environments that encourage tolerance.
Duncan said it is important undocumented students have the opportunity to receive loans, and said he would do everything possible to encourage states to offer in-state tuition for these students.
“I think it’s absolutely in the state’s economic interest to make sure that these students have access and are treated just like their friends and peers from college,” he said.

Napolitano’s expert testimony is here.

You can download the video in .RM (real media player) format here.

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