December 18, 2010

HACU Media Contact
Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia
(210) 954-3553

Statement by HACU President and CEO on Senate failure to move forward on the DREAM Act in its vote

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) expresses extreme disappointment over the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act of 2010 (DREAM Act) in a procedural vote cast on December 18th.The House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act earlier this month, the first time either chamber has passed the DREAM Act.As a higher education association, we are dismayed that once again failure to pass the DREAM Act in the U.S. Senate has derailed efforts to provide a path to conditional legal status for the estimated 65,000 undocumented youth who graduate from high school in the U.S. each year and meet a series of stringent criteria.

Today’s vote by the Senate is a loss to the students who have earned a chance to legalize their status and a loss to the nation that fails to fully benefit from the talent of these young people in its workforce and military.

HACU will continue to press for passage of this legislation in the 112^th Congress.

-HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores-

HACU and the DREAM Act
HACU has been a tireless advocate for the passage of the DREAM Act. HACU has led efforts with more than 25 national organizations in the formation of the Act on the DREAM Coalition, which has mobilized higher education associations and other supporters to advocate nationally for the DREAM Act.

About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 with a founding membership of 18 institutions. Today, HACU represents over 400 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). More information is available at www.hacu.net. HACU will celebrate its 25th Anniversary when it hosts its annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, October 29-31, 2011.

###