State, city helping young immigrants realize their dreams

• Reprints

Updated: November 2, 2011 6:46PM

Arianna Salgado, an undocumented student headed to Dominican University this fall, sat between Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the signing ceremony of the Illinois Dream Act on Monday.

It was a symbolic gesture that tells the rest of the nation that Illinois and Chicago welcome immigrants who are willing and able to get a college education, want to work hard and wish to fully integrate into society.

The singing of the Illinois Dream Act and the recent creation of the City of Chicago Office for New Americans show other states a sensible and practical approach to the issue of immigration exists.

Salgado is one of the undocumented students I talked to when I wrote about the legislative process leading up to the May passage of the Illinois Dream Act. She delivered a rousing speech at the ceremony on behalf of immigrant students who hope to benefit from the new law.

Just like Salgado, these “dreamers” came to the U.S. with their undocumented parents when they were kids. They speak English and grew up thinking of themselves as American. In many cases, their parents did not tell them they were here illegally until they began applying for college.

For years, they have fought to be recognized as Americans and have organized themselves nationally in support of the federal Dream Act, which was defeated last November in the U.S. Senate by a close margin.

But now, at least in Illinois, their dream to go to college has become a reality. The Illinois Dream Act will establish a private fund — administered by a volunteer state commission — to make scholarships available to about 95,000 children of undocumented immigrants who graduate from Illinois high schools.

I would like to underscore this fact: It will not cost the Illinois taxpayers a dime to invest in these talented and committed students.

There was overwhelming support for the Illinois Dream Act because of the campaign the “dreamers” launched, along with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights, which represents more than 100 community organizations. University presidents, police officers, clergy, businesses and legislators, including Republicans, endorsed the bill sponsored by state Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago).

And there is more good news for immigrants in Illinois. A few weeks ago, Emanuel announced the creation of the Office for New Americans. It aims to provide immigrants with information regarding city services, to support immigrant business owners and to promote U.S. citizenship.

Emanuel, who supported the Illinois Dream Act from the start, told me that Illinois has followed a different path than Arizona or Georgia because immigrants have “deep, historical roots” here.

“Our parents — either from Mexico, Poland, Russia or Israel — came here to establish for their children,” Emanuel said. “So immigration is part of the economic and political culture of our city and state.”

Emanuel noted that both the Illinois Dream Act and the Office for New Americans are just opportunities. And it will be up to the “dreamers” and the newcomers to take full advantage of this “welcome mat,” as the mayor put it.

The first challenge is to provide adequate funding for college tuition for the “dreamers.” On Monday, Quinn donated $1,000 at the event. That is a good start, but the funding needs to come predominately from the immigrant community.

The Office for New Americans must show Chicago residents that it is an effective tool to help immigrants settle and contribute to the city — not a useless office.

Other states — including Arizona, Georgia and Alabama — will be watching.

As for Arianna Salgado, she can’t wait to start college.