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Despite setbacks, some UCLA students continue to take part in efforts to enact the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which some believe will open greater opportunities for children of undocumented immigrants.

Introduced in 2003, the act would offer lawful permanent resident status to qualified undocumented students who are in the progress of completing their college educations or are serving in the military.

Given the Hispanic population at UCLA, the fulfillment of the DREAM Act remains an important issue to some students.

In the coming months, some members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council plan to team up with other students to advocate the DREAM Act.

With progress currently stalled in Congress due to legislative debate on the act, student groups on campus are taking various other approaches to push the bill’s enactment.

One way some are seeking to aid immigrant students is through financial aid reform.

“We will be working to ensure that students can afford university education regardless of immigration status,” said Jeannie Biniek, USAC external vice president.

USAC will create a financial aid task force to evaluate the financial needs of all UCLA students, and plans to work with the Financial Aid Office to create a policy that treats immigrant students equally.

“Everyone deserves higher education. ... It’s their right,” said Sulma Hernandez, campus organizing director of the external vice president.

Improving Dreams, Equality Access and Success, a student group conceived to address the needs of immigrant students, will strive to reach the general population with its message about the significance of the DREAM Act, while USAC’s efforts will focus on the legislative sides of the issue.

The organization will host a conference in May, where it plans to discuss the legislation of the DREAM Act with community and political leaders.

Certifications to practice professional services, such as medicine and law, require documentation of legal residency, making permanent resident status necessary to higher education students.

Permanent residency can also ensure in-state tuition and secure federal loans and access to work-study programs.

“We have a shortage of underrepresented minority doctors and teachers ... yet a population of perfectly eligible workers are going to waste,” said Saray Gonzalez, co-chair and project director for IDEAS.

Members of USAC are participating in the push toward the realization of the DREAM Act, though not as a council.

Opponents of the DREAM Act say the bill will decrease public concern about illegal immigration and further complicate homeland security.

“We do not want to reward illegal immigration, but we also do not want to punish those who wish to be educated citizens and who have followed the criteria outlined in the DREAM Act,” said Faith Christiansen, chairwoman of Bruin Republicans.

The criteria for acquiring permanent resident status under the DREAM Act include college graduation and a minimum of two years of service in the military.

At the end of the conditional period, successful applicants that complete the requirements are granted lawful permanent resident status.

Currently, California enforces Assembly Bill 540, which grants in-state tuition at public institutions to nonresident students, including immigrants. Students can only receive the tuition if they have attended and graduated from a California high school and are in the process of attaining lawful resident status.

AB 540 only provides tuition benefits, unlike the proposed DREAM Act, which awards legitimate resident status as well.

A sister bill of the DREAM Act, known as the Student Adjustment Act, is currently in review at the House of Representatives.