DREAM Act Campaign Officially Launches

Today, the Catholic Church in Maryland joined other groups in launching the Educating Maryland Kids coalition, which has formed to campaign in support of the Dream Act. Voters will be asked to VOTE YES this November affirming the Dream Act, which enables kids who graduated from Maryland high schools and whose families pay taxes, to pay in-state tuition regardless of immigration status.

“We say YES to educational opportunities for all. We say YES to our immigrant sons and daughters. We say YES to students who just want the chance to study with their fellow classmates and use the gifts that God gave them. We say YES to giving these Dream students the opportunity to pursue the American dream – and all by just having them pay the same in-state tuition rate as other Maryland students,” said Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, a partner in the coalition.

Bishop Denis Madden, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, spoke at today’s press conference along with Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Karina, a Dream student.

Bishop Madden spoke of Jesus’ call “when I was a stranger, you welcomed me.” “These children,” said Bishop Madden, “are no longer strangers to Maryland. They have lived, worked, and studied side by side with their classmates for most of their lives. We should welcome them as our own as they continue to work hard to realize their dreams through higher education. We should – we must – support them, by supporting the Dream Act.”

Maryland Catholic Conference advocates for the Church’s public policy positions before the Maryland General Assembly and other civil officials. The Conference represents all three dioceses with territory in the state – the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Archdiocese of Washington, and the Diocese of Wilmington.