November 16, 2010
Member Advisory

HACU applauds California Supreme Court for its ruling and asks supporters for final push to help pass the DREAM Act

San Antonio, TX – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) strongly applauds the California Supreme Court for its November 15 unanimous decision to allow specified students, including certain undocumented students, to pay in-state tuition in California’s colleges and universities. In light of California’s ruling, HACU is calling on its members and all interested individuals to help secure passage of the national DREAM Act by visiting www.actonthedream.org and clicking on the ”take action” button to send a message to their U.S. Senators.

“HACU is pleased that the California Supreme Court has ruled that California’s in-state tuition provisions have been upheld as being in compliance with federal law,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.“Although we expect opponents to continue their challenge, we remain confident that providing students with access to higher education and success will continue to be the law of the state, and hopefully soon the country.We will continue to advocate for a DREAM Act at the federal and state levels, and urge Congress to take action soon on the DREAM Act.”

Senate and House Leadership are currently making decisions on their legislative agenda for the Lame Duck session.Although not typically a time period that legislation moves swiftly through either chamber of Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have given indications that the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 (The DREAM Act) is on their list of legislative priorities for this year.

HACU has taken a strong position in advocating for the DREAM Act as an essential piece of legislation.In June, HACU launched the Act on the DREAM Coalition, which has mobilized higher education associations and other supporters to advocate nationally for the DREAM Act.HACU has continued a strong push on Capitol Hill and through grass roots efforts to pass the DREAM Act, seeing this Lame Duck session as a critical time to pass the legislation.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represent approximately 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. HACU is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas where it will celebrate its Silver Anniversary during its annual conference “25 Years of Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success,” October 29-31, 2011. More information is available at www.hacu.net.

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HACU contact
Tessa Benavides
(210) 576-3260