[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 158 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6855-S6856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             DREAM SABBATH

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 10 years ago I introduced the DREAM Act 
legislation that would allow a select group of immigrant students with 
great potential to contribute more fully to America.
  The DREAM Act would give these students a chance to earn legal status 
if they: came to the United States as children; are long-term U.S. 
residents; have good moral character; graduate from high school; and 
complete 2 years of college or military service in good standing.
  The DREAM Act would make America a stronger country by giving these 
talented immigrants the chance to serve in our military and contribute 
to our economy. Tens of thousands of highly qualified, well-educated 
young people would enlist in the Armed Forces if the DREAM Act becomes 
law. And studies have found that DREAM Act participants would 
contribute literally trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy during 
their working lives.
  These young people have overcome great obstacles to succeed. They are 
valedictorians, star athletes, honor roll students, and R.O.T.C. 
leaders. Now they want to give back to their country. The DREAM Act 
would give them that chance.
  For the last 10 years I have been working on the DREAM Act, there has 
been one constant: strong support from the faith community. The DREAM 
Act is supported by almost every religious group you can imagine: 
Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Evangelical Christians; 
Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews; and Muslims, Hindus, and 
Sikhs.
  The faith community supports the DREAM Act because it is based on a 
fundamental moral principle that is shared by every religious 
tradition--it is wrong to punish children for the actions of their 
parents.
  These students were brought to this country as children. They grew up 
here pledging allegiance to the American flag and singing the only 
national anthem they have ever known. They are American in their hearts 
and they should not be punished for their parents' decision to bring 
them here.
  During the past two months, people of faith all across this country 
have been showing their support for the DREAM Act by observing the 
first-ever ``DREAM Sabbath.''
  During the DREAM Sabbath, at churches, synagogues, mosques, and 
temples around the country, Americans of many religious backgrounds 
have been offering prayers for the immigrant students who would be 
eligible for the DREAM Act. At many of these events, these DREAM Act 
students have told their stories.
  In all, there have been more than 400 DREAM Sabbath events in 44 
States.
  In June, when I announced the DREAM Sabbath, I was joined by 
religious leaders from a great variety of faith traditions, including: 
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick; Bishop Minerva Carcano of the United 
Methodist Church; Reverend Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic 
Christian Leadership Conference; Reverend Derrick Harkins of the 
National Association of Evangelicals; Bishop Richard Graham of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Bishop David Jones of the 
Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lisa Grushcow; Imam Mohamed Magid of the 
Islamic Society of North America; Sister Simone Cambell, Executive 
Director of NETWORK; Rabbi Doug Heifetz; Dr. Fred Kniss, Provost of 
Eastern Mennonite University; and Father Jacek Orzechowski, Franciscan 
Friar, the Holy Name Province.
  The DREAM Sabbath events reflect this great religious diversity. To 
give a few examples of the congregations who observed the DREAM 
Sabbath: The First Presbyterian Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming; The 
Central United Methodist Church in Fairmont, West Virginia; The 
Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska; Galloway Memorial Episcopal 
Church in Elkin, North Carolina; Grace United Methodist Church in 
Missoula, Montana; Trinity Episcopal Church in Winner, South Dakota; 
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops; The Florida Catholic 
Conference of Bishops; and many Catholic dioceses.
  In Tucson, AZ, the DREAM Sabbath was recognized at the National 
Hispanic Evangelical Immigration Summit, a gathering of 1,200 
Evangelical ministers. This summit was convened by Reverend Sam 
Rodriguez and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. In 
my home State of Illinois, I observed the DREAM Sabbath at, among other 
places, Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation.
  I worked with a remarkable team of leaders to put the DREAM Sabbath 
together. This team was led by Bill Mefford, director of civil and 
human rights at the United Methodist Church; Jen Smyers, associate 
director of immigration and refugee policy at Church World Service; and 
Liza Lieberman, grassroots policy associate at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid 
Society. I thank them, and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, for 
their leadership.
  I would also like to thank the following individuals for their 
tremendous efforts in ensuring that the DREAM Sabbath was observed in 
nearly every State in this country:
  Kevin Appleby and Antonio Cube, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; 
Nora Skelly, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; Patrick Carolan, 
Franciscan Action Network; Tammy Alexander, Mennonite Central 
Committee; Larry Couch, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the 
Good Shepherd; Sr. Mary Ellen Lacy, NETWORK: A Catholic Social Justice 
Lobby; Regina McKillip, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; Kat Liu, 
Unitarian Universalist Association; Robert Gittelson, Conservatives for 
Comprehensive Immigration Reform; Jenny Yang, World Relief; and Ana 
White, Episcopal Church.
  I would like to offer special thanks to Diana Villa, from United We 
Dream, for working to make sure that DREAM Act students could attend 
many of these DREAM Sabbath events and share their moving stories.
  Finally, I would like to thank all of the Dreamers, as DREAM Act 
students call themselves, for having the courage and persistence to 
continue the fight for the DREAM Act.
  If anyone is interested in becoming part of this important national 
movement, they can visit www.dreamsabbath.org or call my office at 202-
224-2152.
  The DREAM Sabbath is putting a human face on the plight of 
undocumented students who grew up in this country and will help build 
support for passage of the DREAM Act. Again, I thank all those who 
worked so hard to make DREAM Sabbath a reality. Because of these 
leaders, DREAM Act

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students remain in the prayers of the many thousands of Americans who 
have attended DREAM Sabbath events.

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