Marchers rally for blocked bill

Immigrant-rights activists rallied and marched Tuesday in support of legislation that would give some young illegal immigrants the chance to eventually get green cards, even as a Senate vote blocked the immediate future of such legislation.

"This is really unfair for the kids," said Michael Flores, an activist with ProgressNow Nevada, during the rally that began Tuesday afternoon at Las Vegas Academy and drew about 50 people, mostly students. "I thought this (legislation) would be a down payment on comprehensive immigration reform."

The Senate earlier Tuesday blocked a defense-spending bill to which Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., had planned to attach legislation that would allow undocumented young people who were brought into the country by their parents to get on a path to citizenship if they pursue college or serve in the armed forces.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is directed at students who came to the United States as illegal immigrants before they were 16 and who have been in the country at least five years.

"It has everything to do with fairness," Reid said earlier this month. "Kids who grew up as Americans should be able to get their green cards after they go to college or serve in the military."

Maribel Fernandez, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said she decided to attend the rally and march to the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse in support of one of her closest friends, a fellow Rancho High School student who was in the U.S. illegally and had to return to Mexico after graduation.

"This is why so many people drop out" of school, Fernandez said. "They can't go to college. They don't have anything to look forward to."

The DREAM Act would have granted qualified young people temporary residency for six years. Within that time, the individuals would have the chance to earn permanent residency if they completed at least two years of college or served at least two years in the armed forces with an honorable discharge.

The DREAM Act has enjoyed some bipartisan support but didn't pass in the last Congress. Critics say it amounts to a back-door amnesty.

Democrats had been holding off on the DREAM Act in hopes of advancing it as part of a broader immigration bill.

But Reid said he was moving it after being stymied in efforts to pass more comprehensive reform.

After Tuesday's Senate vote, "there's nothing left to do but march and protest," said another UNLV student, 29-year-old Yoalli Garcia.

"They are closing the door on all these young people who are working so hard," said Garcia, a naturalized U.S. citizen who came to this country when she was 14. "The United States is all they know. If they go back to Mexico, they don't even speak the language."

Another marcher, Astrid Silva, said, "nobody should be denied an education, regardless of citizenship, color, race, nationality or gender."

"It's difficult to live in a country where you are constantly reminded of what you can't do," said the 22-year-old College of Southern Nevada student.

The activists thanked Reid for supporting immigration reform. Several also criticized Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who they said has refused to discuss the DREAM Act with them.

Ensign's office did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com.