DEPORTATION OF PORTLAND COLLEGE STUDENT SHOWS NEED FOR DREAM ACT PASSAGE IN SENATE THIS WEEK
Tuesday, Sept 21st at 11:30 am:
Press Conference at PSU College of Urban and Public Affairs
WHAT: Hector Lopez is an exemplary student and one of two million undocumented children living in the U.S. today. His deportation two weeks ago emphasizes the need for passage of the DREAM Act, up for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday the 21st, as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. The DREAM Act will provide undocumented youth with a path to citizenship if they attend two years of college or serve two years in the military.
WHO:
Hector Lopez (by phone from Mexico). Deported student. He graduated from Rex Putnam High School in Portland. He was Student Body President of his high school, nominated for the national Alexander Hamilton leadership award, a DECA national delegate, and a participant in the Oregon Leadership Institute. He was a Little League Coach and logged 600 community service hours. He came to the US at one and a half months old. He has no criminal history. As a High School student he took a class at PSU, has spent two years at Clackamas Community College and had planned to transfer to PSU to get a bachelor's in Marketing.
Portland State University President Wim Wiewel. An advocate for in-state-tuition legislation which would allow undocumented youth to pay in-state (rather than out-of-state or foreign student tuition) in the state where they live. President Wiewel also testified at the County Commission for passage of a DREAM Act Resolution in 2009.
Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen. Chair Cogen brought forward a County Resolution in 2009 to support the DREAM Act after seeing the Portland-produced film, "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth." The resolution passed unanimously and a similar resolution passed in the Portland City Council, urging Oregon's Congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act.
County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, a supporter and advocate for undocumented students who voted in favor of the Multnomah County Resolution last year in support of the DREAM Act.
Melissa Sarabia. PSU Student working on behalf of her undocumented peers to pass the DREAM Act and MEChA student club leader.
Anne Galisky. Director of Portland-produced feature-length documentary film, "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth." The film was released through more than 500 public screenings in 50 states and puts a human face on students like Hector and their advocacy for passage of the DREAM Act. http://www.papersthemovie.com/.
Additional Participants:
Siovhan Sheridan-Ayala. Immigration attorney for undocumented youth, available for questions specific to Hector's case and the legal challenges facing undocumented youth in the U.S.
WHEN and WHERE: Tuesday, Sept 21st at 11:30 am at PSU College of Urban and Public Affairs at the corner of SW 5th and Mill Streets, Room 304
CONTACTS: Rebecca Shine, "Papers" Producer, 971-506-8683, Rebecca@grahamstreetproductions.com. Site Contact: Scott Gallagher, PSU Director of Communications, 503-725-8789, svg@pdx.edu
