Crossposted on Amplify

The DREAM act failed today in the senate, a heartbreaking defeat to many who have worked hard for years on this legislation.  This is also a set back for our whole country and for my generation, as we are not able to offer a path to citezenship to those who want to serve our country.  The Senate needed 60 votes to bring the bill to the floor, they got 55-- well above what would be needed for the bill to pass in a normal vote.

 

Amoung the six democrats who voted “no” was Senator Hagan (D-NC).  I worked for Hagan in 2008, helping her win election.  I made hundreds of phone calls to friends, strangers, potential donors, to encourage them to support her campaign. On Nov. 4^th, 2008 I was proud to say that Hagan was my elected senator.  

This "No" vote sets back hundreds of thousands of young people.  People like Isabel Castillo, arrested for a sit-in at Sen. Reid's office, won’t get a chance to become a citizen simply because 5 Senators didn’t have the courage to step up when our country needed them to.

"I am here because I am undocumented and unafraid" (full video here)

"I am American, just not on paper. This is home. We've grown up here, we pay taxes. We just want to contribute back to our community.

Senator Hagan says she voted "No" because she supports comprehensive immigration reform.  I am all with her – we need to work towards solutions to address this issue—but that is no excuse not to vote for the DREAM act.  I think she voted no because she wants to be seen as a moderate democrat, and she is simply not willing to take a stand on this.

Shame on her for not stepping up to the plate.  Her supporters are disappointed.  

 

Dan Jubelirer is a 2010 Netroots Fellow at Amplify, a youth-driven community dedicated to promoting sexual health and reproductive justice.