BOSTON—Student immigrant advocates are hoping they can convince Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown to support a proposal that would allow undocumented students to gain residency if they opt to join the military.
Members of the Boston-based group known as the Student Immigrant Movement group say they have collected more than 1,000 letters of support for a bill known as the Dream Act. The bill would open an avenue to conditional residency for college students who are illegally in the country.
Harvard student Kyle de Beausset said he met with Brown on behalf of the group earlier this month. He said the Republican showed interest in the military provision but made no commitment.
Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois last year introduced the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act in Congress. The proposal would grant conditional legal status to youth who successfully complete high school or the equivalent. They then would have six years to graduate from college or a trade school or join the military.
Brown spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said Brown, who opposed granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants as a state senator, has not decided on the Dream Act.
"He will review the legislation if and when it comes before the Senate," Gitcho said.
Renata Teodoro, the group's development director, said students now want Brown to meet undocumented students who would join the military. "We have people ready to join the military and fight for this country, our country," Teodoro said.
Teodoro said the group is planning a march for Tuesday along the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston and plan to give the letters of support to Brown's office.
