Hutchison Video Event
FOR IMMEDIATE CONTACT:
RELEASE
JANNEL ROBLES 832.816.1620
MARIA JIMENEZ 713.213.1678
GUILLERMO LOPEZ 832.335.5149
KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON ORDERS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO DENY
DREAMERS AND DREAM ACT SUPPORTERS ACCESS INTO FEDERAL BUILDING DURING
BUSINESS HOURS
DECEMBER 1, 2010
HOUSTON, TX - A delegation of Houston DREAM Act supporters and Texas hunger strikers -
on their 22nd day without solid foods – were denied access to the Mickey Leeland Federal
Building on orders to the Department of Homeland Security officers from Senator Kay Bailey
Hutchison’s office.
“We are trying to communicate with the Senator and ask her to do the reasonable thing for our
youth. We are disappointed with her for denying us access to a Federal building, for not meeting
with us, and for not standing with DREAM Act students,” says Jannell Robles, Houston DREAM
Act supporter.
DHS officers said that Senator Hutchinson’s office had been closed and were not allowed into
the building. Approximately 50 supporters including community leaders, religious leaders,
professors, students and elected officials held a rally outside as hunger strikers attempted to
enter the building.
“Representative Sheila Jackson Lee’s staff was rational enough to recognize our constitutional
right to have access to the building and invited us and supporters into their office,” said
Guillermo Lopez, Dream Act Supporter and HCC student. Upon visiting with Rep. Lee’s office,
supporters visited Hutchison’s office only to be received with a closed door and a note taped to
the door of her Nov 30th public statement on the DREAM Act.
“The DREAM Act is my last hope as well as for other undocumented students across the
country. We need it this year,” said Lucina Martinez, undergraduate at the University of Texas at
San Antonio.
The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation that would enable young immigrants who were brought
to the United States as children without documents to normalize their immigration status by
finishing high school and enrolling in college or enlisting in the military. The measure has the
support of 70 percent of American voters, leaders of every major religious denomination in
America as well as leaders from the education, business, and military sectors. Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid has pledged to bring the DREAM Act up for a vote this year.
Guillermo Lopez, UH Student denied access to Mickey Leeland Federal Building, 832-335-5149
Lucina Martinez, Texas hunger striker denied access to Mickey Leeland Federal Building, 469-386-1118 Pamela Resendiz, Texas university student denied access to Mickey Leeland Federal Building, 210-693-8533 Sylvia Mintz, Houston Lawyer denied access to Mickey Leeland Federal Building, 832-314-7394 Support: CRECEN, Alianza Mexicana, International Action Center, Mi Familia Vota, Houston Interfaith Worker Justice, and FIEL Houston
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