New York Dreamers are pressing for the passage in the new legislative session of the New York Dream Act. During his re-election campaign, Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised to get the Dream Act done.

In early December in front of his midtown office, despite the pouring rain, Dreamers rallied for the Undocumented Power March to remind Cuomo about his campaign promise. Joining the rally were undocumented youth-led organizations the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC) and Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast (RAISE).

"We won't be used as political pawns to win campaigns," said Dominque Hernandez, field organizer with NYSYLC "The governor must live up to his promise to see the New York Dream Act put into action by including the bill in his executive budget."

Dreamers know the likelihood of passage of the bill with a Republican majority Senate is slim. But Dreamers say the New York Dream Act failed in the Senate by only two votes in 2014 with no Republican votes.

The New York Dreamers Act will open up state financial aid (TAP) and scholarships for undocumented youth who have grown up in the United States and wish to purse a college degree. Passing the bill would give students access to higher education that is often restricted by financial limitations and would help them to further provide for the families and communities. A student has to live in New York for at least two years, graduate from high school in New York, and obtain a high school diploma or GED. If passed, it would affect the lives of many young people who struggle to start or continue their college education due to financial obstacles.

The states of California, New Mexico and Texas have passed similar measures to the Dream Act. New York University recently announced its own financial aid policy for undocumented students. Hernandez said New York University made the decision necessitated by the state leaders' failure to pass the Dream Act in the four years since it was first introduced.

Dreamers will be listening for any mention of them and what Gov. Cuomo intends to do when he gives his inaugration address on Jan. 1 at the World Trade Center site marking his second term in office, or during his State of the State address on Jan. 7 in Albany.