Emanuel and Durbin push bill to help educate undocumented immigrant children

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By Abdon M. Pallasch Political Reporter/apallasch@suntimes.com May 13, 2011

Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Dick Durbin headlined a rally for immigrant rights Friday.

During the mayoral campaign, Emanuel’s rivals accused him of side-lining immigration reform in favor of other issues.

While Emanuel won all the city’s black wards and most of the city’s white wards, he did not do as well in the Hispanic wards.

But on Friday, Emanuel pledged his full support to the state’s “Dream Act” — which aims to help raise private money to put young undocumented immigrants through school — and also to the much more ambitious and less likely federal Dream Act, which would grant citizenship to illegal immigrants for military service or completion of college....

“If we keep the pressure up, keep our voices loud, we will pass the Illinois Dream Act,” Emanuel said, noting his own family’s immigrant background. “It’s only fitting that ... on the issue of immigration reform, Illinois does not follow the path that some are beating toward what Arizona has done, Passing the Illinois Dream Act, we will show the country a different path.”

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