Sentiments run high as millions of immigrants are given hope for a path to citizenship this week. The House of Representatives has passed a bill on Tuesday that would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people in the United States, this of course includes the young people, often referred to as “Dreamers.” For the first time in months, the news headlines regarding the government and its priorities have been positive, as opposed to the hatred and negativity that has plagued American politics over the last few months.

This bill is one that hits close to home for immigrant families across the country. A few weeks ago, I published a reflection on my experience supporting undocumented students. These are students who work extremely hard to overcome the challenges they face due to their immigration status in this country. Yesterday, the majority of congressional representatives sent a message of support to the millions of young people who this bill has potential to affect. More than anything, this action communicates to these young people, that their work and contributions to this country do not go unnoticed and that they matter.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 was passed in the House of Representatives with a 237 to 187 majority, according to a The Washington Post. The article went on to add that the bill “would grant dreamers 10 years of legal residence status if they meet certain requirements. They would then receive permanent green cards after completing at least two years of higher education or military service, or after working for three years.”

The bill has yet to be considered in the Senate, and Democrats are certain that a battle will be put up in order to get this bill passed and sent to President Trump. My hope is that the perspective of immigrants and the great contributions they make are taken into consideration. This bill has the potential to be a bipartisan effort that would positively impact the lives of millions of people who, like my brilliant students, continue to make this country great.

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Daniela Felix

Daniela is a first generation college student who is heavily involved in education in her home district, West Contra Costa Unified. After becoming a mother at a young age, Daniela’s passion for education justice only intensified and she began to fight for an equitable education for all children, regardless of background or zip code. Daniela played a key role in organizing parents with the California Charter Schools Association and is a firm believer in school choice for all families. She is currently a Lead Organizer with Students for Education Reform, organizing college students around education justice issues in her home district. She was recently accepted into Teach for America and plans to continue impacting the lives of children in her hometown of Richmond, CA as a high school social studies teacher. Daniela is a UC Berkeley senior pursuing her B.A. in Legal Studies and Education along with her 4 year old daughter and husband. Daniela is a firm believer in that every single child is capable of meeting high expectations if given the correct support. Daniela hopes to be a provider of that support.

Latest posts by Daniela Felix (see all)

• The Importance of Mid Year Data for Teachers, Students, and Families - December 18, 2019
• Las Familias Deben Participar en la Mejora de los Resultados de las Pruebas SBAC de California - December 10, 2019
• La Guia de los Aprendices de Inglés de California es un Recurso Útil para los Maestros - December 4, 2019
• California’s English Learner Roadmap Is a Helpful Resource for Teachers - December 2, 2019
• Families Need To Be Involved in Improving California’s SBAC Test Results - November 27, 2019