For Immediate Release: February 10, 2006

Youth Mobilized To Fight Anti-Immigrant Climate Regional Youth Trainings Held Across Country Build Capacity

"Diplomas Not Death" Vigil Kicks off Grassroots Actions

WHAT: Regional Youth Trainings Kick Off and "Diplomas Not Deaths" Vigil

WHERE: Best Western O'Hare 1600 Oakton St, Elk Grove Village, IL (training) Speaker Hastert's District Office 27 N. River Street, Batavia, IL (vigil)

WHEN: February 25, 2006 at 9:00 am (training kicks off) February 26, 2006 at 3 pm (Vigil)

(Washington, DC) Less than a year since national news coverage of a rare one year deferred deportation for one undocumented student and public spokesperson for the DREAM Act, young people from around the country are mobilizing to fight the anti-immigrant climate on Capitol Hill and in legislatures around the country. The DREAM Act would remove barriers to obtaining higher education for undocumented children who graduate from American high schools and would also provide a path to obtaining legal status.

Hundreds of dynamic young people will strengthen their organizing and leadership skills through regional youth trainings. Chicago hosts the first of five trainings to connect young people together to fight for passage of the DREAM Act and build power in their communities for immigrant rights. A "Diplomas Not Deaths" vigil at House Speaker Hastert's office in Batavia, IL will follow the first training and shed light on the numerous deaths along the border and the lack of opportunities for undocumented high school graduates.

The DREAM Act was re-introduced last November with strong bi-partisan support yet still needs to pass. Passage of DREAM would remove children from the toxic battlefield of the immigration debate and become a positive first step to immigration reform. The two day trainings are coordinated by Center for Community Change and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) and will galvanize young people from all walks of life, including other young people living in fear of deportation who may not be so "lucky" as to get a temporary deferment. Additional trainings are taking place in Newark, Phoenix, Portland and Nashville on weekends through early May.

For interviews with training participants, please contact Germonique Jones at 202-339-9331.