Guatemalan-born David Campos has overcome his status as an illegally present immigrant kid in the US to become a legislative leader in San Francisco. Campos earned scholarships to college and law school and became a prominent civil rights lawyer in the Bay Area. He now serves on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing the famous Mission District. He previously served as general counsel to the San Francisco Unified Schools District and as Police Commissioner.
David's another great example of the good we will unleash if we pass the DREAM Act.
I'm not a fan of much of what Durbin has said about H-1Bs, but it is only fair to note that his criticisms have mainly been limited to non-immigrant visas. Also, he usually is more supportive of a bill when there are provisions that fund re-training of US workers to help address shortages. That's protectionism, sure, but it is not as extreme as proposals many have advocated.
Posted by: Greg Siskind | April 01, 2009 at 06:37 AM
Also, I don't know anyone who supports Dream and then says "but keep those immigrant visa levels unreasonably low"
@ Dave,
Thanks for your support to those who played by the rules. But to respond to your quote above, Isn't Mr Durbin one of them? Would not it be common sense to include provisions to kids who have been waiting along with their parents to become PR's but aged out because of the screw ups USCIS did? Mr Durbin's association with Mr Grassley on S 1007 (what ever that bill is in the past congress) and the provisions that will hurt the actual beneficiaries of EB ( particularly those who are in 6th year and beyond) puts him at odds with his own passion and his party line concept "We are the party of the heart". If Mr Durbin wants to go after Employers who exploit and abuse H1B program thats fine. But in the name of bi partisan ship, if Mr Durbin trades in some chips and throws a bunch of provisions that hurt EB folks who should have gotten GC's in epoch, Mr Durbin will continue to be seen as Mr Grassley's best buddy by the EB community. Not that it matters/counts to Mr Durbin.
We and folks on the hill know that this has been happening for a while. Tell me one senator/congressman who has done some thing on this issue.
Posted by: AD | April 01, 2009 at 06:24 AM
Thanks for the plug for Dream!
To respond to AD, many potential beneficiaries of Dream were in legal status at one point ... some aged out and aren't covered by CSPA ... these aren't mutually exclusive groups you're describing.
Also, I don't know anyone who supports Dream and then says "but keep those immigrant visa levels unreasonably low" or "make sure F-1 students can't lawfully support themselves financially while they study." It's not a zero sum game, we are stronger when we work together, not against each other.
Posted by: Dave Bennion | March 31, 2009 at 08:55 PM
Good for Dave,Good for Dick Durbin the messiah and Good for USA.
No one cares about people who age out. The word illegal is either a huge magnet or a repellent. People either brace it and get in bed with it or consider it Cancer.
Plight of students who have been legal here.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24720
Who cares? why should they care? Legislators dont even get any brownie points for doing so.
Posted by: AD | March 31, 2009 at 06:27 AM