Thursday afternoon Long Island Wins and other Long Island advocates came together outside of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s regional office in Hicksville to show support for the NY DREAM Act.
The NY DREAM Act, if passed, would allow undocumented students enrolled in college to access state financial aid known as TAP. Currently, 27 public schools on Long Island have been identified as having high immigrant populations and an estimated 100,000 students in New York State could benefit from this bill.
The Long Island DREAM Act coalition called on Governor Cuomo to act on his verbal support to pass the NY DREAM Act this year, which he issued in November during his reelection acceptance speech. Last March, the NY DREAM Act bill was two votes short from passing. This year with the support of Governor Cuomo, we hope the bill finally passes, either by vote or through inclusion in the state budget.
Peggy Fort, chair of NY State DREAM Act Subcommittee of Suffolk County Dignity for All Student Committee said, “Allowing our NY State DREAMers who are full of courage, creativity, and intellect to access funding for higher education is a way of ensuring the future of New York State.”
