By Mohamed Othman
Miffed Hispanic students staged a protest on Wednesday in the front of the Tampa district office of US Florida Senator George LeMieux to have him throw his weight behind the DREAM Act and AgJOBS, two proposals aiming to help undocumented students to get better education and financial aids.
After a one-hour protest in the front of LeMieux’s office, they got the answer: “The Senator could not support the proposals; he is thinking about a comprehensive plan.”
“Senator LeMieux would not co-sponsor support the Dream Act because it is a piece of meal and he is waiting for something bigger than this and more on comprehensive immigration reform,” USF student Jessica Sanchez, 24, the organizer of the protest, said after getting a reply from LeMieux’s office.
She said Sen. LeMieux’s office attributed the much-awaited decision to little benefit the two bills would yield, but comprehensive immigration reform on the other hand will cover more people.
Mayra Hidalg, one of protesters, played down the benefits of comprehensive immigration reform as it does not provide better ways to help immigrants.
“DREAM Act targets students, professionals and potential military officials and targets people who are going to contribute to our country and people who want to be here,” she said. “It’s very simple and straightforward.”
