The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act went into effect this week across Washington State following a bipartisan vote in February. The law officially makes Washington the fourth state to approve state financial aid for undocumented college students.

Following the efforts by California, New Mexico and Texas, the Washington legislature gave final approval for the state's DREAM Act (Senate Bill 6523) on Feb. 18 in a 75 to 22 vote and was later signed by Gov. Jay Inslee. According to Inslee, the state's DREAM Act represents a "new future" for Washington's students.

"I and most of us here call this bill as the DREAM Act because that's what we've all been pushing for years. And because people need to know: The Dream Act has passed. Some call it the Real Hope Act. But whatever you call it, what's important is what it will do for thousands of bright, talented, and hard-working students across Washington," Inslee said, during the signing of the bill on Feb. 26.

The law officially went into effect June 12 and applies to high school graduates entering college and who have lived in the state for at least three years.

According to One America, Washington's DREAM Act should increase graduation rates among immigrant students and strengthen their ability to pursue higher education. One America also noted nearly one in six Washingtonians are Asian or Latino, and both groups add "tens of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs" to the state's economy.

Washington's approval has left New York politicians to question the Empire State's own efforts.

New York's DREAM Act efforts have been turbulent. On May 21, 2013, the state's DREAM Act passed the Assembly and was delivered to the New York Senate. It wasn't until Jan. 8, 2014 that a decision in the Senate was made. The New York Dream Act "died" in the Senate and returned to the Assembly the same day. The Assembly would pass the act again on Feb. 25. On March 17, the Senate voted, and the measure failed with 30 ayes, 29 nays, 1 absent and 1 excused. For the New York DREAM Act to pass, the bill required 32 ayes. All Republican members of the New York Senate voted no, along with Democrats Simcha Felder of Brooklyn and Ted O'Brien of Rochester.

Ten days before Washington's measure went into effect, the New York Assembly voted and passed the DREAM Act for the second time this year.

"Immigration status should never, ever be a barrier to pursuing the dream of a higher education. Here in the Assembly we have fought relentlessly for these students because we cannot stand the injustices they are facing. The fact that many of these immigrant youths end up deferring or completely forgoing their dreams of a higher education because they cannot afford it is heartbreaking and blatantly unfair," New York's Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said on June 2, adding Gov. Andrew Cuomo would sign the bill into law if it arrives on his desk.

With Washington's DREAM Act official, the lead sponsor of the New York bill commented on his state's progress and cited upcoming elections as a reason for the bill's flop in the Senate.

"Washington's Republican-led state Senate managed to pass the DREAM Act this year. New York, however, long-regarded a welcome home for immigrants, was unable to do the same," said Democratic Assemblyman Francisco Moya from Jackson Heights, Queens. "My colleagues in the Senate allowed their fear stand in the way of what's right; they let election year politics cloud their vision. If only my colleagues in the Senate could muster as much courage as our counterparts in Washington State."

Moya stated the "critical measure" deserves another vote in the Senate before the current session ends, which is June 19.

"Some would like to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that our DREAMers don't exist, in the hopes that they will disappear. However, the reality is that they are part of the fabric of our state, and it's time we treated them as such," Moya said.

According to Capital New York, Cuomo stated he's not "optimistic" with the latest legislation session.

"I would have liked to see public finance pass," Cuomo told reporters. "I would have liked to see the Women's Equality Agenda passed, including a law that guarantees a woman's right to choose in this state. ... I would have liked to see a DREAM Act. I'm not overly optimistic on what we're going to get done."

An email to Silver's Assembly office regarding Washington's DREAM Act and the New York Senate was not returned.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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