Living their American Dreams

from Fatima Lopez, Development Director, National Immigration Forum

Cesar Vargas graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, just like Senators Charles Schumer of New York and Bernard Sanders of Vermont. And like his fellow Madison alumni, Cesar wants nothing more than to serve his country - in his case by becoming a military lawyer after he graduates from the City University of New York Law School, where he is in his third year.

What is your American Dream? What can we do as a nation to keep the American Dream alive? Visit KeepersoftheAmericanDream.org on Facebook and share your thoughts.

The Senate's decision this week to not take up the DREAM Act, which would have created a path for undocumented students to achieve legal immigration status, keeps Cesar from fulfilling his dream. At least for now.

Cesar was brought by his parents to the United States from Mexico when he was 5 years old. Nonetheless, he considers himself to be "Brooklyn-born-and-raised American." This week he vowed to continue to fight for his dream of becoming a military lawyer in the Marines or an intelligence officer.

"Most people say that we were destroyed, but now we've got to turn up the volume," Cesar said. "We're ready to go for the next battle."

Do you know someone who never gave up and is living their American Dream? Visit KeepersoftheAmericanDream.org and dedicate a square to them!