WASHINGTON, D.C.

The commencement ceremony on this hot Washington, D.C., afternoon was an emotional one for many of the students gathered. They weren’t being recognized for years of hard work to achieve their dreams. It was recognition of the dreams denied to them — undocumented immigrants who could not attend college — that elicited tears.

Gathered for a mock graduation ceremony, nearly 500 immigrant students and their supporters descended on the nation’s capital earlier this week to bring attention to the plight of undocumented students and rally for passage of the DREAM Act.

Sponsored by the United We DREAM Coalition, the ceremony was part of a growing campaign in which students nationwide participated in local commencement exercises to garner support for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for many undocumented students brought to the country by their parents.

“It wasn’t until you applied for your first driver’s license … [or] needed a social security number to apply for college that the impact of your future dawned on you,” said Josh Bernstein, the commencement speaker and director of Immigration at Services Employees International Union.

“Your dream turned into a nightmare,” he said.

The ceremony recognized the struggles and achievements of three undocumented students who received awards for leadership, courage and spirit.

Benita Veliz, a St. Mary’s University honors graduate from San Antonio, Texas, received a leadership award for her activism and personal accomplishments. Born in Mexico, Veliz came to the United States at the age of 8 when her parents entered on tourists visas and never left.