Texas Dream Act Repeal Opposition Grows

Texas Legislature moves forward with SB 1819 efforts to repeal State Dream Act Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas While opposition to the Texas Dream Act repeal effort moving forward in the Texas Senate continues to mount a growing number of forces from both within and outside of Texas have begun speaking out against SB 1819  a bill that promises to terminate in-state tuition rates to all undocumented students across the state. Saying it could be stalled during debate in the Senate SB 1819 is expected to be debated on the floor of Texas Senate as soon as next week.    Juan Escalante an undocumented immigrant and Masters in Public Administration candidate at Florida State University recently explained in a new Huffington Post blog:

Opponents of the this bill are not giving up the fight ... the El Paso Times reported that SB 1819 could be stalled during debate in the Senate. Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) on Wednesday told Quorum Report he would not support an anti-Dream Act measure introduced by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) and supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Under Senate rules 19 of the 31 members must sign a petition to allow a bill to be considered by the full Senate. If all 11 Democrats and Eltife decline to sign that means only one other Republican is needed to block Campbells bill.

Senator Eltife has confirmed his opposition in other public statements and revealed his suspicions that there could be other Republican Senators who would oppose the bill.

I dont speak for other Senators ... I think there is a chance that there are other Republicans who are against repealing the Texas Dream Act. I think you are punishing the wrong people DREAMers. The system is completely broken the federal government has got to fix the immigration system Eltife has said.

Activists like Karla Perez an undocumented student at the University of Houston and President of the Youth Empowerment Alliance provided the following comment when asked about her thoughts on the recent developments:

After the passage of SB 1819 through the Senate Subcommittee on Border Security and the Veteran Affairs & Military Installments Committee this week we find hope in the recent statements of Senator Kevin Eltife (R-SD 1) that he will vote against SB 1819. We hope that other Republican Senators will stand on the right side of history with Texas DREAMers and also oppose these efforts to repeal our in-state tuition if they truly have Texas best interests at heart.

The repeal effort has received some national attention as there are implications for Republican candidates who seek the GOP nomination for president. As the clock continues to tick expectations grow on what the future of the Texas Dream Act will be. At the State Capitol yesterday Mark Wiggins of KVUE-Austin described the broadening community outcry against SB 1819 as well as the resulting deep rift" within the Texas GOP:

Businessmen and clergy Republicans and Democrats gathered on the State Capitol steps Monday to urge lawmakers not to repeal the so-called Texas DREAM Act. Current and former members from both sides including the bills original Democratic and Republican co-authors passionately defended the legislation. This is something thats going to affect thousands and thousands will not forget if they make the wrong decision said state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. (D-Fort Worth). One of those who could be effected is University of North Texas at Dallas psychology major Ramiro Luna. I arrived here when I was seven-years-old. So Texas is my home. This is the only place that I know Luna said. An aspiring political leader with dreams of someday giving back to his community Luna benefits from the law passed with bipartisan support and signed by Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) in 2001 which allows certain undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition rates… …While the legislation could come to a vote in the Senate its unclear how much support it has in the House. Powerful conservative economic interests including the Texas Association of Business have loudly opposed the measure. If the bill emerges from the Senate successfully all signs point to a heated clash to come."