SAMPLE LETTER:

Please revise with information about your institution and other information at your discretion. To expedite receipt, please send via fax or in the body of an e-mail. Copy our Government Relations Office via fax (202-261-5082) or e-mail (govrel@hacu.net).

Date

The Honorable
United States [Senate/House of Representatives]
Suite
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear [Senator/Congressman/woman _______ ]:

On behalf of [YOUR INSTITUTION’S NAME], I respectfully request your leadership and support on a matter of major importance to colleges and universities in [Your state] and to the nation’s work force needs and future prosperity.  

As you know, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2007 (the DREAM Act) has been introduced in both Chambers of Congress (SB 774 and HR 1275) to address the challenge of long-term immigrant youth who are in the process of completing or have completed secondary school as exemplary students, but are unable to attend college due to their residency status and rising college-attendance costs.

The DREAM Act, which will allow states to offer in-state tuition to eligible immigrant students who would otherwise face higher out-of-state tuition costs, is of great importance to HACU’s 400 U.S. member colleges and universities that collectively serve more than two-thirds of the 2 million Hispanic students in higher education. Many of these institutions are located in communities with large and fast-growing immigrant populations where many of these youth live and attend K-12 schools.

The DREAM Act will open the door to college for numerous talented students and allow them to obtain the advanced knowledge and skills that will enable them to contribute more fully to our country’s economic strength and security. We also strongly support the provisions delineated in the bill that would make it easier for immigrant students who have met long-term residency and other requirements to seek permanent legal-residency status.

On behalf of my institution and the students we serve, I am requesting your assistance in contacting the Chair and Ranking Member of the [Senate/House] Judiciary Committee (Senators Patrick J. Leahy and Arlen Specter or Representatives John Conyers and Lamar Smith) and all other members of the committee to support the DREAM Act. Please provide them with a copy of the attached “HACU Policy Statement on Immigration and the Future of the Nation” which was adopted unanimously by the HACU Governing Board on March 25, 2007.

As a distinguished member of the [U.S. Senate/House of Representatives] and a strong supporter of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, your leadership is much appreciated in championing the effort to support Hispanic higher education. Once again, we ask for your support for the long-overdue DREAM Act bill. Thank you in advance for your support.

Respectfully,

Name
Title
Institution