TribBlog: Undocumented Students Rally for DREAM Act

This week in Austin, undocumented students risked deportation to speak publicly about their support of the DREAM Act.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would allow undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as young children a chance at permanent-residency status if they meet specific requirements: An individual must have lived in the country for at least five years, steered clear of trouble, graduated high school or earned a GED, and completed at least two years of college or military service.

On Tuesday, undocumented students held a "coming out" rally at the University of Texas, where they shared their stories publicly. The next day, a group of students and supporters held a press conference in front of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's Austin office to demand her support for the legislation. Today, some of the same students participated in Austin's Veterans Day parade.

The following audio clip from Wednesday's press conference features DREAM Act supporter Dan Arellano, a veteran and member of the League of United Latin American Citizens, and UT graduate Julieta Garibay, who was brought to the U.S. as a 12-year-old and hopes to someday be a military nurse.