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While many UCLA students were enjoying their last few weeks of summer vacation, others were fasting to pass legislation that will make dreams come true.

On Sept. 13, students across the country began a two-week fast to show their support for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which would allow undocumented students the ability to receive financial aid and loans.

The Dream Act was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in October 2003 by a bipartisan vote of 16-3, but no progress has been made since. If the act does not pass before Congress ends its session in October, Dream Act supporters will have to redraft the legislation.

Between Sept. 13 and Sept. 25, hundreds of Dream Act supporters came together at the USC campus, including students from UCLA, Santa Monica College, USC and nearby high schools.

Many of the supporters, including UCLA students, showed their dedication by fasting.

“I starved myself for a week because I know a lot of friends that were in this situation, where they came on a tourist visa and overstayed it for their education,” said Han Kim, a third-year East Asian studies student.

The main goal of the Dream Act fast was to receive support from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., as the bill has been at his desk since October 2003.

Those who oppose the Dream Act believe that its passage would hurt the community, because one legal resident would have to be turned away from state schools to make room for every undocumented resident in the system.

Opposers also feel that the Dream Act will open the doors to providing amnesty for illegal immigrants.

But the Dream Act does have many elected officials on its side, some of whom attended the fast at USC.

“A few congressmen stopped by and were very supportive. City councilmen were supportive, too,” said Horacio Arroyo, youth peer organizer of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.

The fate of the Dream Act lies in the hands of politicians, and having support from many of them made the fast easier for many students.

“(Fasting) was the only thing I could do to bring such urgency to let politicians know,” Kim said. “It was very cool to see them.”

During the two-week period, fasters wrote poetry and songs about the Dream Act.

“It was a small sacrifice, but it was all very worth it. I am grateful I had the chance to do it,” Kim said, referring to his participation in the fast.

Many remain optimistic that the act will be passed, but others are already preparing for the future.

“Chirla has already started developing messages for next year,” said Horacio Arroyo, youth peer organizer of Chirla, adding that she is optimistic that the act will pass. “If this year we miss it by a little bit ... we are confident we will pass it the next year.”

Arroyo’s group is part of a bigger team advocating for this cause.

The Dream Team has worked together for the past two years to pass the Dream Act and is made up of the UCLA Ideas (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success), as well as Chirla and the Korean Resource Center.

The student portion of the UCLA Ideas organization dedicates its time to help the 65,000 undocumented students who graduate high school each year.

“If high school students don’t have any hope to go to college and get a job, if society doesn’t show support, they just drop out of high school and live their life on the street,” said Dae Joong Yun, who works for the Korean Resource Center and fasted for the full two weeks.

Regardless of the status of the act, many undocumented students are still motivated to complete college and find jobs.

The fast was the last step for supporters to demonstrate their wishes of making the dream Act come true, as Congress adjourns in November.

“We did the fast because there is urgency day by day for our undocumented students who live by fear of deportation . . . in the shadow and on the ground,” Yun said.

Though the Dream Act reaching congress has been a multiple-year process, its supporters have grown over time.

“We have a lot of support from the community. ... Many elected officers endorsed the fast and showed their support,” Yoon said. “We did our best. Now its time for the elected senators to do their job.”

Despite what happens this year, Dream Act supporters say they will continue their efforts to make the Dream Act a reality.

“I hope anybody who wants a chance for education can get that chance, and that there will be no laws or restrictions, no walls for anyone that wants to learn,” Kim said. “Education is a human right.”

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