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Majan Jean believes she got a miracle last summer. The 19-year-old illegal immigrant from Haiti received an 11th-hour reprieve from deportation when U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and others interceded on her behalf. Secure on U.S. soil, where she has lived for the last seven years, she is attending community college. Now she is turning her attention to efforts to pass legislation for those with stories like hers. "There must be a reason for me being here today," she said. "And the reason behind it is, I will stand here today to fight for those who cannot be heard." Jean was at the state Capitol Tuesday with immigrant advocacy groups and state officials to support both federal and state legislation that would make it easier for children of undocumented immigrants to obtain their education. The groups are pushing for state legislation next session that would extend in-state tuition rates at state universities to immigrants working to secure citizenship. They also support federal legislation known as the DREAM Act _ Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minorities _ that would remove the threat of deportation for students who entered the country before age 16, have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and have graduated from high school. [more

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