Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced that he helped pass the New York State Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act to expand access to higher education for the children of immigrants (A.9605-A). This legislation will help more hardworking students earn a college degree, begin successful careers and give back to their communities, Assemblyman Thiele noted.

“Children should not be punished because their parents brought them here in search of a better life, making sacrifices and experiencing hardships many of us couldn’t even imagine,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “Let me be clear, these are children who know no other home and we are proud to have them here. We will not turn our backs on them. We will not push them into the shadows. To all ‘Dreamers’: You are New Yorkers, you are valued and you are worthy.”

The DREAM Act would give undocumented college-bound students who meet certain eligibility requirements – such as attending high school in New York – access to the state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other educational assistance programs, including the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Collegiate Science and Technology Program (C-STEP) and similar programs at community colleges.

These students are already benefiting from public education from pre-K through high school and are eligible for the in-state tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools. Cutting off assistance as they venture on to the next part of their educational journey is both cruel and illogical, noted Assemblyman Thiele.

The bill also establishes a scholarship fund with private donations – the DREAM Fund – and expands access to the New York State College Tuition Assistance Savings (529) Program so that children of undocumented immigrant parents with a valid taxpayer identification number can set up tuition savings accounts, noted Assemblyman Thiele.

“Even though the federal administration is shamefully targeting ‘Dreamers’ by dismantling the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, New Yorkers know that America was built on dreams,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “Expanding access to higher education for the children of immigrants is the right thing to do. They have worked hard, and they deserve every chance to soar and make this state stronger.”