Four immigrant youth are walking from Florida to Washington, D.C. on the Trail of Dreams to raise awareness of the DREAM Act, a bill pending in Congress that would provide a path to legal status for undocumented youth brought to the U.S. as children by their parents.

The walkers on the Florida Trail of Dreams have faced down the KKK and an anti-immigrant sheriff in Georgia, and have been welcomed all along the East Coast by immigrant communities engaged in the struggle for immigration reform.

Inspired by the walkers' courage, a group of immigrant youth from New York set out on April 10 on their own trek to Washington. The New York Trail of Dreams walkers are pushing for passage of the DREAM Act and a moratorium on deportations of all DREAM-eligible youth. They will arrive in Washington, D.C., on May 1 to meet the Florida Trail of Dreams.

Join us in welcoming the NY Trail of Dreams walkers to Philadelphia on Monday, April 19, 11:00 a.m. at University of Pennsylvania campus (details below).

Some undocumented youth were brought to the U.S. as children, even as infants, and have grown up in this country indistinguishable from their peers except for one crucial piece of paper that would allow them to live here without fear. Most currently have no way to apply for legal status, no way to even get in the mythical line that is supposed to exist for people to enter the country legally. Let me make it clear: For these DREAM Act-eligible youth, or "Dreamers," there is no line. This includes Dreamers like Prerna, who entered the U.S. with a visa, whose mother and sister are both citizens, and who spent several years waiting for her green card only to be foiled by the labyrinthine immigration system and bad legal advice.

Every day, Dreamers are deported, even those who were brought here as babies and speak no language other than English. Tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Dreamers have been deported since the DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001. Dreamers like Gabriel, one of the walkers on the NY Trail of Dreams, have grown skeptical of politicians and organizations who claim to be fighting for the rights of immigrants but have still not managed to pass the DREAM Act, or even to bring it to a vote since its most recent introduction in March of 2009.

Yesterday I had the privilege of walking with the NY Trail of Dreams walkers 12 miles through the outskirts of Philadelphia to Temple University. I was happy to see the level of interest of pedestrians and people driving by. 9 out of 10 were supportive. They were impressed by the level of commitment that would lead someone to walk 250 miles in support of a cause. What most probably didn't realize is the courage these walkers have exhibited in exposing themselves publicly, risking arrest and permanent separation from their families in the U.S. They have grown tired of the broken promises of those in power, those who claim to be fighting for their rights. I am talking about Senator Schumer, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Senator Reid, and Senator Menendez, among others. These Dreamers have demonstrated courage and a deep understanding of civic engagement; will leaders in Washington listen to them and push for passage of the DREAM Act this year, or will they continue to support the enforcement-only status quo until the last Dreamer has been deported?

Please join immigrant youth and supporters in welcoming the NY Trail of Dreams walkers as they pass through Philadelphia on their way to Washington D.C. The event will recognize those leaders in Pennsylvania who have agreed to co-sponsor the DREAM Act (Senator Specter and Representatives Fattah, Brady, and Sestak) and ask those who have not to do so (Senator Casey, we are looking at you!)

When: Monday, April 19, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: University of Pennsylvania campus, Meyerson Hall, Room B3 (210 South 34th St. at Walnut).