After months of debate and rallies in support all over Illinois, The Developmental, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Act passed today in the Illinois State Senate by 45 to 11.

The Dream Act is a piece of legislation that provides undocumented students a pathway to citizenship, along with opportunities for education.

Jose Sanchez, president of La Colectiva and junior in LAS, said he was “feeling great” about the result of “overwhelming support” in the Senate.

“It sort of surprised me, but what it lets me know there is really strong support behind this,” Sanchez said. “Hopefully when it gets to the house, we will carry that momentum over.”

Sanchez explained there are two primary things the legislation does.

It helps high school counselors across the state provide resources for undocumented students, he said.

“It would create a scholarship fund that would be privately funded,” he said. “Through that scholarship fund, they would be able to give money to undocumented students.”

Sanchez explained that while it’s not that undocumented students are unable to be accepted into universities, there is often a lack of financial access to the institutions.

A rally in support of the Act was held previously held on the south side of Chicago on April 30.

At the rally, University president Michael Hogan, along with other university presidents and state lawmakers spoke about the importance of the Illinois DREAM Act.

“Illinois DREAM Act is a step in the right direction,” Hogan said. “Our University should educate the best and brightest and no student should be denied because of outdated immigration laws.