Story Published: Oct 30, 2007 at 6:30 PM PST
PASCO -- Action News has told you about Lucy Bottomley before.
She's a British girl who was raised in Walla Walla but didn't know she was here illegally, until recently, and is about to be kicked out.
Lucy hoped the DREAM Act would offer a solution.
The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would have applied to illegal residents who entered the country before they were 16, who have been here at least five years and who planned to go to college or join the military.
Lucy fit all the requirements but when the senate killed the DREAM Act bill last week, it put off much hope for staying.
The DREAM Act was eight votes shy of passing.
But when the senate killed the bill it killed the dreams of thousands of children of immigrants, including Lucy.
"You do get your hopes up but you do keep in mind that it could go the other way," Lucy Bottomley said. "And that's what I've been doing the last two and a half years."
The bill couldn't convince congress but Ricardo Sanchez is not giving up the fight.
He lobbies for the legislation as and for Lucy.
"This is an excellent example of what's wrong with our system," member of the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board Ricardo Sanchez said. "She stands here with honors grades and is ready and willing to go to college and even serve in the military, and we're turning our backs on her."
"He came in at the perfect time and said this is what we're going to do," Lucy said.
Ricardo spoke to students at Columbia Basin College Tuesday.
The college may officially vote of a resolution to support the act in a few weeks, even if it won't pass this year.
It's part of Sanchez's broader effort to gain support for the DREAM Act in educational spheres.
Thirteen school districts have already passed their own resolutions in favor of the bill, including other local districts like Pasco, Yakima and Sunnyside.
Sanchez introduced Lucy to the crowd of CBC students. "She's an amazing girl and she deserves to stay here," Sanchez said. "She's just part of the package now." Sanchez expects the DREAM Act to pass in time but that's exactly what Lucy does not have. Even with an extension, she's set to be deported January 8. "Immigrants are trying to fix what's happened to them and they can't do that without the DREAM ACT," Lucy said. "So we're just going to keep on fighting and hope it passes."
Lucy probably won't be here in time for the DREAM Act to go through congress again, but she's still pushing for other options.
Local reps and senators may push a private bill that would specifically sponsor Lucy.
In the meantime, Sanchez will speak on Lucy's behalf next week in Washington, D.C.
He hopes to set up a meeting with senator Patty Murray to help sponsor that private bill.
To get more information about the DREAM Act or to help Lucy in her campaign to stay in the U.S., check out the LEAP website.
Or email Ricardo Sanchez at http://leapwa.org/contact.htm
