Committee Report - Leg Matters - 10-27-10 — File 190313

October 27, 2010 Legislative Matters Committee Page 1 of 2 Printed 10/28/2010 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Thomas F. Taylor Chair Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Vice Chair Present Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Present John M Connolly Alderman At Large Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Absent William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Omar Boukili Present 190134 - That this Board supports the DREAM Act being considered by Congress, and urges our Congressman and Senators to support the provision of certain conditional rights and protections to children of immigrants.: The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is a federal bill proposed to address the situation faced by undocumented immigrant minors who have grown up in the United States, kept out of trouble and seek to further their education by attending college. Simply put, the legislation would allow undocumented students to become legal if certain conditions are met. The resolution before the committee came about after a request made at a recent forum at Centro Presente, where several members of the Board of Aldermen were asked to support the Act. Members of the public addressed the committee, stating that undocumented immigrants are not able to attend college because they lack valid social security numbers and/or “green cards” and because they have to work to help their families survive. Those individuals believe that passage of the DREAM Act would help them to get better paying jobs and would provide a light at the end of the tunnel. Some present at this meeting stated that they want the right to be treated the same as youths who are in this country legally, with the same opportunities and they feel that they shouldn’t have to fight for the right to attend college. One student stated that it’s hard for immigrants to graduate from high school because they don't speak English well and that citizens of the United States are getting more opportunities than immigrants and better educations. The focus of the Act is directly to undocumented children, but there is a sense of fear in the entire immigrant youth community and approval of this resolution by the Board of Aldermen would send a message to all youth that the City of Somerville cares about them. The committee approved the following amendment to the Resolution:

Committee Meeting October 27, 2010 Legislative Matters Committee Page 2 of 2 Printed 10/28/2010 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Somerville Board of Aldermen commends Congressman Michael Capuano for his leadership on this matter and supports his efforts to secure its passage. RESULT: APPROVED AS AMENDED