ACTIVISTS FAST IN SUPPORT OF RESIDENCY BILL PLAN WOULD GRANT LENIENCY TO ILLEGAL-IMMIGRANT STUDENTS.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

Rose Amarante, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who lives in the San Fernando Valley, will end her fast today in support of a bill she said would feed the dreams of young people seeking a better life.

She and more than 50 other activists have fasted at the University of Southern California over the past two weeks, backing a U.S. Senate bill to give conditional residency to illegal immigrants pursuing college educations or military service.

``When I graduated high school I wanted to be so many things - an astronaut, an English teacher - but all the doors were closed,'' said Amarante, who attends community college. ``I feel like, 'Why do I get straight A's if I can't get a job?' But if you don't have dreams you don't have anything.''

The bill, which would affect at least 65,000 people a year, would allow immigrants six years of conditional residency if they entered the United States when they were under age 16, have been here more than five years and have graduated from high school. During that time they must either complete a community or vocational college, join the military or complete two years toward a bachelor's degree to become a permanent resident.

Amarante, who came to the United States at 9, said she fears that because she is not a citizen, she'll never find better than a low-wage job.

Critics, however, say the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minorities Act, introduced by Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Richard Durbin, D-Ill., in 2001, would only encourage illegal immigration.

``It may not be the primary reason that people come to this country. But it gives people that idea if they come here and manage to get their kid through school that will ultimately be rewarded with a taxpayer subsidized education at a state-run university and ultimately citizenship,'' said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group opposed to illegal immigration.

But Angelica Salas, president of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights based in Los Angeles, said critics are ignoring the fact that immigrants already are here.

``These young people have been here all their lives; some speak English better than Spanish or Korean. It's urgent for them.''

The bill has support of 47 Republican and Democratic senators and is awaiting a Senate vote. Supporters claim Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has been reluctant to place it up for a vote during an election year.

On Friday, labor activist Dolores Huerta and Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, will be among several leaders nationally joining a daylong fast.

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com