Font Resize- Local immigration stories
- Mar 7:
- Highway changes for undocumented immigrants are in the works
- Feb 22:
- Colorado Senate gives first OK to in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants
- Study finds foreign-born workers contribute much to Colorado economy
- Inmigrantes aportan millones a economía de Colorado
- Feb 21:
- Cambiaría la situación de los indocumentados en las carreteras de Colorado
- Feb 13:
- Coffman afirma en Aurora que ahora favorece legalización de inmigrantes
- Coffman tells Aurora crowd he favors legal status for immigrants
- Feb 4:
- Congresista Coffman propone aceptar a ciertos indocumentados en las fuerzas armadas
- Invitan a vigilia de solidaridad por inmigrantes detenidos en Aurora
- Jan 31:
- Redada en Greeley es recordada con temor
- Stories related to the Dream Act
- Nov 14:
- CU student leaders to lobby Legislature for lower tuition for undocumented students
- Nov 12:
- Colorado Dems push for immigration reform and DREAM Act
- Nov 8:
- 'Dreamer' tells her story on how her future may change
- Aug 7:
- Universidad de Denver abarata matrícula a inmigrantes irregulares
- Aug 4:
- Undocumented immigrants can apply for legal work and identities
- Aug 3:
- Gobierno de EEUU pide a dreamers optar a programa sin miedo
- Jun 27:
- 'Dreamers' salen de las sombras y luchan como estadounidenses
- Jun 26:
- Cambios en política inmigratoria crean beneficios para estudiantes y escuelas
- Jun 22:
- Red pro-Dream Act amenaza a Obama con reocupar sus oficinas
- Jun 20:
- Column: Important answers about deferred action and DREAM Act students
DENVER - Two activists on a hunger strike occupied a Colorado campaign office for President Barack Obama on Thursday to demand that he sign an executive order allowing children of undocumented immigrants to enroll in college and the military and pursue U.S. citizenship.
Obama campaign staffers were using a back door to access the Denver field office as the protesters occupied a couch. The office was closed to the public.
Veronica Gomez, 24, of Antioch, Calif., and Javier Hernandez, 23, of Denver, vowed to only drink fluids until Obama implements the DREAM Act, which would allow the children of undocumented immigrants to enroll in college or the military as a way to eventually establish citizenship or permanent residency in the U.S.
Gomez and Hernandez are undocumented immigrants who graduated from college.
"We're not playing games," said Hernandez, a native of Mexico. Other activists planned similar protests at Obama campaign offices across the country, he said.
In a written statement, the Obama campaign said it agrees that "DREAMers" who serve in the military or go to college should become citizens.
However, it said passing the DREAM Act, which has stalled in Congress, "requires that Republicans stop standing in the way."
Gomez and other undocumented immigrant protesters were walking from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the DREAM Act. She and Hernandez decided to occupy the Denver office because Colorado is considered a presidential swing state, protester Jonatan Martinez, 25, said.
Police said no action would be taken unless they get a complaint. The campaign said it planned no immediate action.
Tuition for undocumented immigrants is a sensitive issue in Colorado. In April, state lawmakers rejected a measure to join 12 other states that allow undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state or subsidized tuition at state colleges, rather than out-of-state tuition.
On Thursday, board members at Metropolitan State College of Denver decided to offer undocumented immigrant students a lower tuition rate that is half the out-of-state tuition rate. College president Stephen Jordan said the new rate would affect about 300 students this fall.
