You remind us of a well-known but often overlooked truth: that America is a nation of immigrants, whether you’re a first generation immigrant, or your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or even further back, were immigrants. Each wave of immigrants has faced some form of animosity and xenophobia from more established Americans, and yet each wave has also helped to make this nation the diverse, entrepreneurial, and vibrant place it is today.

As far as I know, PICC, the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, is the nonprofit immigrant advocacy organization that is working most on the DREAM Act in the Philadelphia area. I’ll put you in touch with them. I’m sure they’ll be happy to have you on board.

Thanks for sending this story. The story reinforces my belief that immigrants provide our counntry with incredible resources and strength. People who overcome all those adversities to come here are those that we need to build a stronger and more just country I have been working though my local parish to try to get our representative, John Adler to support the Dream Act and immigration reform including a path to citizenship. If you know any other avenues to support this effort, please let me know. I would be glad to help. My own granparents come here from Ireland in 1880 before there were any restrictions on immigration.