“Affording the opportunity of a quality education to all college-bound students – regardless of their immigration status, will help the very diverse populations of our community in the Bronx and New York to succeed. As a sponsor of the New York State Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, I have led the fight in favor of granting our future leaders access to key benefits such as tuition assistance, scholarships and educational opportunity programs. All that is needed is a New York State high school diploma, and an aspiration to attain a college degree.

New York – and the Bronx in particular – has always boasted a diverse community, where English is not the only language that is spoken at home for so many families. Who we are varies by country, background and culture; it is what makes our borough and our state great. The DREAM Act unequivocally extends the American dream of fair and equal opportunity to all New York college-bound students.”