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By Michael Lopez

Something tells us that Jerry Brown will get a lot more Latino votes if he decides to run for office again. The California governor signed his state's DREAM Act into law this past weekend, which means that undocumented immigrants can now get financial aid from local public universities.

Granted, the California DREAM Act is a far cry from its national counterpart. The U.S. Dream Act (which has yet to pass) would actually award citizenship to undocumented students in college. California's law make no such promise, but it is encouraging for immigrants seeking higher education.

Governor Brown signed the first part of the legislative movement back in July and, with his second signature now in place, the DREAM is officially moving forward. He spoke up after signing the dotted line, praising everyone who works to pursue their education.

"Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking," Brown said. "The DREAM Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."

But not everyone in the state is happy about the bill. To help balance the budgets, money allocated to the DREAM Act may be taken away from grants given to low-income students. That has many citizens up-in-arms, particularly because poorer American academics may no longer be eligible for financial aid.

Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly has called California's DREAM Act a "colossal mistake."

"It is absolutely, fundamentally wrong and unfair,” he said. "And it is an insult to people who have worked and played by the rules, including those who have come to this country legally."

As expected, many anti-immigrant groups are also upset with the measure. But the bill's author, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, believes that the California DREAM Act will greatly benefit the state and could be a turning point for the rights of undocumented citizens in the U.S.

"The signing of now both parts of the California Dream Act will send a message across the country that California is prepared to lead the country with a positive and productive vision for how we approach challenging issues related to immigration," he said. "It's the smartest thing for us to do to permit these students to get scholarships and be treated like every other student."

The California DREAM Act will officially take effect in 2013.

Do you think the California DREAM Act is a step in the right direction? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, California, California DREAM Act, DREAM ACt, Gil Cedillo, Immigration, Jerry Brown, Politics, Tim Donnelly

By Michael Lopez

A few weeks back President Barack Obama pledged his support for Hispanic Heritage Month and now he’s carrying through on that promise. Appearing at a live online roundtable today, the Commander-in-Chief answered questions about immigration, the DREAM Act, and even the possibility of a Latino President.

"I am absolutely confident that within my lifetime we will have a Latino candidate for president who will be very competitive, and may win," Obama stated at the conference.

Though, by the sounds of it, the President didn’t believe that candidate would come from the Republican party (or at least not now). Obama went on to explain how the GOP lacked leadership on topics like immigration reform.

"Only a few years ago, you had some Republicans who recognized that we needed to fix our immigration system," Obama said, referring to his predecessor, George W. Bush. "Right now you do not have that kind of leadership coming from the Republican party."

But that of course begs the question, what would Obama and his fellow Democrats do to help with the issue? The Prez was quick to bring up the national DREAM Act again, which would give undocumented college students and military personal a path to citizenship. He said he has continually pushed Congress to pass the bill and that he is more than ready to sign it.

Obama also addressed issues like Puerto Rico’s statehood (which he believes will remain a commonwealth) and Cuban relations.

"We are open to a new relationship with Cuba," the President went on to say. "If the Cuban government starts taking the proper steps to open up its own country and provide the space and the respect for human rights that would allow the Cuban people to determine their own destiny."

All of Obama's remarks toward the audience did sound very encouraging. But will he follow through on his promises to help the Latino community? Perhaps the real answers will reveal themselves after the 2012 Presidential Election.

Would you vote for Obama in the next election? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cuba, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Immigration, Politics, President Obama, Puerto Rico

By Michael Lopez

In case you haven't noticed, President Barack Obama has put a much stronger emphasis on acknowledging Hispanics these days. Is it because he feels more drawn to the Latino struggle? Or is it because he wants some votes in the next election? That remains to be seen. But what is worth noting is the White House's big plans for Hispanic Heritage Month.

The President and First Lady kicked off HHM with an appearance at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Awards. Better known as the CHCI's, the gala brought out Tr3s faves like Luis Enrique and even Prince Royce (who sang the national anthem). Notable honorees of the night included civil rights leader Orson Aguilar and Chris Weitz, who directed the critically-acclaimed A Better Life.

At the reception, Obama made a impassioned speech to the 3,000 CHCI guests, emphasizing job creation and the national DREAM Act. The DREAM, if passed, would give undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship via college or the military.

"I will do everything in my power to make the DREAM Act a reality," Obama said. "The truth is reforming our immigration system is central to repairing our economy."

And, per a recent White House press release, the HHM acknowledgements do not end there. Prominent Latino members of the Obama administration will be writing posts on the White House blog and video interviews with community leaders will be available on the President's website.

Additionally, FEMA will conduct a "Hispanic Heritage Month Preparedness Summit" on Thursday, followed by a special message from First Lady Michelle Obama at the evening's HHM Awards. Later in the month, the Oval Office will hold a special screening of the documentary Citizen USA, which profiles modern-day immigrant issues in America.

When summing up Hispanic Heritage Month, the White House website made a point to include a snippet of Obama's famous interview with Jorge Ramos where he said,

"Hispanics constitute the country's largest and fastest growing minority group. They have had a profound and positive impact on our country through, among other things, their community's strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. Our country was built on and continues to thrive on its diversity, and there is no doubt that the future of the United States is inextricably linked to the future of the Hispanic community."

Do you think President Obama sincerely cares about the Latino community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags A better life, Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, CHCI, Cultura, DREAM ACt, Hispanic Heritage Month, Politics, President Obama, Prince Royce

By Michael Lopez

As you know, we've covered aspects of the DREAM Act initiative for quite some time. On the national level, it offered a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants seeking to attend college or join the military. And though the federal DREAM legislation failed to pass, governor Jerry Brown has enacted an alternate version of the bill in his state of California.

"I'm committed to expanding opportunity wherever I can find it," Brown said during Monday's bill-signing ceremony. "And certainly these kinds of bills promote a goal of a more inclusive California and a more educated California."

Democratic Assemblyman Gil Cedillo authored the California bill, which has quite a few differences from its national DREAM counterpart. For one thing, this version would give undocumented students privately funded college scholarships and would not allow them to secure citizenship.

Those who receive money to attend college will still keep their illegal immigrant status, which, we imagine, would make it pretty difficult to secure work after graduation. But an education is an education, and the measure does provide plenty of incentives to work hard and focus on school.

Brown, who received a good deal of Latino votes in last year's gubernatorial election, has stated that this bill was a "gesture of goodwill" towards the people who helped get him into office. But, as expected, the California DREAM Act is not without its critics.

Several high-profile Republicans have spoken out against the measure, saying that U.S. citizens may now be denied entrance into schools because of increased competition. They also find it unfair that undocumented immigrants will be getting financial assistance.

The fact that the money will be privately funded helps trump that argument. No taxpayer dollars will be covering the undocumented students' tuition. Though if Cedillo has his way, that may not always be the case. He is currently pushing for a variation of the bill, which would allow public money to be incorporated into the Cali DREAM Act too.

Perhaps one of the DREAM students themselves, best summarized the measure. Speaking to Reuters, undocumented UC Berkeley undergrad Julian Rivera said,

"It doesn't matter where you come from, it doesn't matter what your background is, it just matters that you have passion for something and you want to do it. This is a country that has given us that freedom."

What do you think about California's DREAM Act? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, California, California DREAM Act, DREAM ACt, Education, Gil Cedillo, Immigration, Jerry Brown, Politics

By Michael Lopez

Since the founding of our country more than two centuries ago, the annual State of the Union address has provided our nation's presidents the opportunity to speak directly to U.S. citizens about our country's problems, successes, goals and agendas. This week, President Barack Obama did exactly that, addressing such issues as innovation, job creation, taxes, health care and immigration, and pushing Congress to pass The DREAM Act.

“I know that debate will be difficult and take time, but tonight, let’s agree to make that effort,” he said, adding that he was "prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows."

"Let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further enrich this nation."

President Obama's call to action revives a contentious debate about immigration reform. Despite Democratic efforts to push the bill through Congress by the end of 2010, Senate Republicans blocked the measure in September, which would have allowed undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to remain in the country pending two years of college or military service.

“I think it was good that he mentioned it, but I was hoping for more," Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., told Fox News. "When he talked about it, I thought there’d be a broader discussion than what I heard.”

Republican Texas Rep. Lamar Smith disagrees, in large part because of the country's current economic situation.

"The President should put American workers first," Smith said. "While more than 14 million Americans are desperately looking for work, seven million illegal immigrants have jobs in the U.S."

Honestly, it's virtually impossible to delve into specific details about everything happening in America during a one-hour speech. But we're glad he stood up for this landmark legislation.

What did you think of President Obama’s State of the Union address? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Daniel Hernandez, DREAM ACt, Immigration, Politics, President Obama, State Of The Union, the DREAM Act

(image via trail2010.org)

In a few weeks, an estimated 65,000 undocumented immigrants in the U.S. will graduate from high school, watching their dreams crumble as they struggle to survive. To combat this and other injustices, people across the country will gather on Saturday (May 1) to protest our immigration system.

MTV Tr3s Senior Producer Daniela Capistrano spoke with the Trail of Dreams group about their event in Washington D.C. and the journey that brought them there.

Juan, Felipe, Gaby and Carlos — undocumented Hispanic students in their 20s — took turns on Friday (April 30) introducing themselves to me through a crackling speaker phone, doing their best to condense years of unspeakable hardships.

All graduated high school with honors but were unable to attend universities. All were prohibited at various times from applying for a drivers license or library card. Sadly, each one of them shared similar stories of working odd jobs for less than minimum wage and standing by helplessly while family members were brutally dragged to jail and deported.

These are the voices of the Trail of Dreams group — young activists committed to convincing President Barack Obama to pass the DREAM Act (The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act). Beginning in January 2010, they marched 1,500 miles with other undocumented students and allies to Capitol Hill. On Saturday (May 1) they will stand with over 1,000 other students to demand the basic rights that many of us take for granted.

The DREAM Act, a bipartisan legislation pioneered by Sen. Orin Hatch [R-UT] and Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL], would provide qualifying undocumented youth with a 6 year long conditional path to citizenship that requires completion of a college degree or two years of military service.

"Nobody feels good about the situation these kids are in," says Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for reduced immigration. "It was the decision of their parents to violate the law that put their children in this difficult situation."

For Carlos Roa, a 22 year old Trail of Dreams member who left Venezuela in 1987 with his parents, the DREAM Act would mean a chance for a new start — without living in fear.

"Senior year was depressing," Carlos recalled. "Friends were looking forward to graduating and their futures, while I felt like my life was going backwards and down the drain. I remember the assistant principal asking me, 'What are you going to do after high school?' I didn't know what to tell him. I ended up saying I was going to join the armed forces, knowing that I couldn't legally do that. After high school, I ended up working [low paying] odd jobs, 6 days a week. It was a difficult time."

After Carlos' mother passed away from cancer in 2006, the honor student who had dreamed of being an architect found himself unemployed and evicted. "It was tough for me," Carlos admitted. "I was 18 years old and I couldn't do anything. About a year after her death I told myself I could no longer live being undocumented or voiceless."

Carlos proceeded to submit his story to newspapers and magazines, eventually reaching Julia Preston at the New York Times. Her response (and other support) led to his involvement in the Trail of Dreams campaign.

(See more photos from their journey in our "Trail of Dreams" photo gallery!)

Gabby Pacheco, a 25 year old activist who remembers racing home after school to watch "TRL" on MTV, feels that everything changed when immigration came to her door. "After that, my activism hit another level. When the Trail of Dreams project was presented to me — after earning 3 degrees and seeing how life was going no where — I knew I had to do something."

Pacheco and her friends are tired after their trek to D.C., but not defeated. They also understand that others are afraid too. On their 1,500-mile walk, they were exposed to the other side of the immigration issue. Felipe Matos shared what it was like to be confronted by a minutemen member who was convinced it was their fault his wife was dying:

"Through out this journey, we've seen the power that sharing stories has on people.

A man in South Carolina who's eyes were watering because he was so angry, [approached us] to say that his wife needed an organ transplant. Because there was no donor, the [doctors] told them she only had a couple of months to live. He told us, 'It's all your fault because immigrants are talking all resources, she will die because of you!' We saw him as a man deeply in love with his wife, who was deeply concerned for her. We shared our story as students, as leaders who have only tried to contribute and we listened to his story and pain.

By the end, Gabby gave him hug and afterward he said, 'I'm sorry, you're completely not what I expected you to be.' So, lots of hearts and minds have changed along the journey. By sharing stories with the President, hopefully we can end this suffering."

Believing in Obama's campaign promises to support the Dream Act and immigration reform, the trekkers are refusing to be satisfied with simply meeting with a White House official — "We want to talk to him," Pacheco says.

For Juan Rodriguez, a 20 year old student from Colombia who lost all of his family through deportation, advocating for the DREAM Act empowers him to move past tragedy and help others. "I've seen how [current immigration law] has torn apart anything that was meaningful in my life. I want those same injustices to stop happening to millions of people facing terror on a daily basis."

With controversial immigration laws pending in Arizona and other states, even U.S. citizens who simply appear Hispanic are in danger of harassment from immigration officials. "We have to do something," Gabby explained. "No more talk — now it's time to act."

Supporters who would like to sign the DREAM Act petition can do so by simply texting TRAIL to 30644 on their mobile phones.

For more ways to show your support, send your feedback to @Trail2010 on Twitter, visit trail2010.org to learn more about the DREAM Act and participate in ongoing immigration events in your town.

The views expressed in this post by Daniela Capistrano do not necessarily reflect the views of Viacom, MTV Tr3s, Blogamole, MTV Networks or any other subsidiaries.

Tags DREAM ACt, Immigration, May 1st, protest, SB 1070, Trail of Dreams

With Barack Obama finally settled in at the White House...

Latinos are not wasting any time pressing for the issues that we want resolved. We helped vote him in and now we want acción. So, when calling in favors, which topic is at the top of our agenda? Immigration, of course! The Hispanic Caucus got together recently with top activists and politicians including the National Coucil of la Raza and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund to address top national issues -- immigration was at the top of the list. The Hispanic Caucus has now sent a letter to Obama asking for him to make good on his promises regarding immigration reform.

As part of that reform, it seems the DREAM Act is making a bigger comeback than Britney Spears this year. Thanks to a huge youth initiative via Myspace and Facebook, Latinos got the DREAM Act voted one of the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America" on change.org. This pushes the Dream Act into the official White House agenda for voting.

La lucha continues! For more ideas on getting involved in immigration reform visit www.dreamactivist.org. [change.org]

Photos via Getty Images

Tags Barack Obama, Change.org, DREAM ACt, Hispanic caucus, Latin news, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, National Coucil of la Raza, palabra politica, Politics