For Immediate Release:

November 20, 2009
Press contact: Melanie Benesh, 414-469-9206

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS BACK DREAM ACT

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors passed a resolution on November 19th to endorse the DREAM Act, a federal piece of legislation that would give a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented students through education or military service.  Lisa Vang, a senior at Riverside High School testified before the legislative committee.  She says she did it for the students she knows. “On June 5, 2010 a close friend and I will both graduate from high school. I plan to attend college and proceed with my career, but because of the current immigration laws, my friend cannot live the life that MPS has envisioned for her and she for herself.  My friend can go to college, but she cannot legally work in the U.S without constant fear of deportation or discovery.  What good is her diploma or degree if she cannot use it to prosper in her career choice?”

The resolution passed the legislative committee unanimously on Tuesday and unanimously passed the full board last night.  Director Larry Miller, representing District 5, introduced the resolution.  He explains, “Milwaukee Public Schools accepts all students that come to our doors. We as a nation must welcome and serve immigrant students and children of immigrants. The Milwaukee School Board of Directors supports the Dream Act because it will further our goal of serving and supporting all students.”

Christine Neumann Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera sees this as an important step forward.  ”We must invest in the future of this country and we cannot stand idly by and let the talent of many undocumented students go to waste.  I applaud the school board for standing behind their students.”

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