Senators Gilbert Cedillo and Gloria Romero, and Assembly-members Mike Eng, Kevin De León, and Anthony Portantino

The UCLA Labor Center and IDEAS, a UCLA student organization, organized a hearing and conference on undocumented college students to educate the public at large about pending legislation and to learn directly from undocumented students about the impact of the proposed legislation on their lives. On May 19, close to three hundred people attended this event and heard the testimonies of twelve students who described the formidable obstacles facing undocumented students and their hope that comprehensive immigration reform will change their lives and allow them to fully contribute to American society.

State Senator Gilbert Cedillo chaired the proceeding, and the other members of the panel were Senator Gloria Romero and Assemblymembers Mike Eng, Kevin De Leon, and Anthony Portantino. The focus of the hearing was the pending legislation in Congress (DREAM ACT) and the California State Assembly (SB 165 California Dream Act) that would provide a just and legal remedy for the thousands of undocumented students who graduate each year from California high schools.

After the hearing, the conference and workshop sessions began with remarks from L.A County Federation of Labor Secretary-Treasurer María Elena Durazo, Angélica Salas from the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Josh Bernstein from the National Immigration Law Center,

Labor Center Director Kent Wong, and student organizers. Participants also attended working sessions on resources for AB 540 students, pending legislation and education campaigns, and outreach and education. The Labor Center will release a student publication in the fall of 2007 detailing the experiences of undocumented college students.