Hispanic assemblymembers debate DREAM Act
Some Hispanic members of the State Assembly disagree about the contents of the DREAM Act, which was made loud and clear in a statement put out by the New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/ Hispanic Task Force on January 18.
The statement sent to members of the press by the Task Force slams Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis for insensitive remarks she made regarding the DREAM Acts goal of aiding illegal immigrants, while many American citizens are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy.
We will continue to assist our fellow New Yorkers who are still in need of home repairs and other necessities to survive and rebuild but we are not going to attain that by taking away from the students who need financial assistance for their education, said Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, chair of the Task Force. To create a competition between these issues with the children, who are striving to be productive role models, with storm affected children and families is very disappointing.
Malliotakis, who is half-Cuban, half-Greek and a first-generation American, had contended earlier this month that, given budget constraints, the priority should be helping New York families devastated by Sandy.