Harvard's Faust Backs path to legal residency

Harvard's Faust backs path to legal residency
Illegal immigrant bill called 'lifeline'
By Maria Sacchetti
Globe Staff / May 21, 2009
Email| Print| Reprints| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size – + Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust yesterday backed federal legislation that would clear the way for illegal immigrant students to apply for legal residency, an endorsement that stunned students and drew criticism for a president who has largely steered clear of fierce debates.

In a letter this week to federal lawmakers, Faust expressed "strong support" for legislation known as the Dream Act, which would allow students who have been in this country since they were 15 to apply for legal residency under certain conditions. She acknowledged that students with "immigration status issues" attend Harvard, and said the bill would be a "lifeline" to such students.

"I believe it is in our best interest to educate all students to their full potential - it vastly improves their lives and grows our communities and economy," she wrote in a letter to Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Representative Michael E. Capuano, thanking them for their support for the legislation. "This bill will help move us closer to this goal."


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/21/harvards_faust_backs_path_to_legal_residency/

Posted by [Yessenia Garcia]