Lawmakers Should Pass the DREAM Act

It will attract more illegal immigrants, especially ones who are under the age of 16. It is just like any other form of amnesty to help illegals become legal. Therefore the DREAM Act seems as that it will fail. It may still have its chances to continue to work but it is just another way for younger kids to become legal in the United States. Those kids who have lived a majority of their lives being under 16 years of age will be helped and as Krikorian says. “The core principle behind this amnesty proposal is that it is aimed at those who have grown up here and are, psychologically and emotionally, Americans (Krikorian, 505).” Growing up in the U.S helps the children know more about the United States history which will help the amnesty process of the DREAM

The reality that immigration policies and registration requirements create for undocumented students is a grim one; despite their scholarly capability, thousands upon thousands of undocumented students who have completed high school do not continue on with their education because of the lack of legal paperwork (DREAM Act). This has been the story line for countless undocumented valedictorians, like Grecia Cantu, who’s dream of going to Baylor University to become a teacher was plucked by a simple mandate of Congress (Smith). Despite having a presidential scholarship to Baylor University, Grecia’s future is hampered by her illegal status in the country and the inactivity of the DREAM Act in congress, which is due largely to its brisk opponents. Critics of the legislation falsely advocate that it grants preferential treatment to undocumented students (Malkin 1). In reality, the DREAM Act only grants qualifying individuals with a temporary residency, a driver’s license, and a work permit (Giving the Fact). This allows the students who meet the criteria the same tuition rates as natural-born citizens and a legal way to work and drive in the country. Another resounding critic among the opponents of the bill includes the common misconception that the DREAM Act will provide amnesty and forgive the federal offense immigrants committed when they entered the country illegally (Smith). In truth, only immigrants who entered the country during their youth, before age 16, are eligible for the benefits of the legislation. Once they apply, they will have to fulfill the requirements of completing a 2-year college or serve a 2-year term in the armed forces to finally receive resident status, not citizenship, after 6 years of proved residency (Creating Opportunities). If Congress allowed this legislation to

In the United States, many families are currently being affected by the Dream Act’s failure to pass. The Dream Act would have given many undocumented children the ability to have a pathway to citizenship. The Dream Act believed in the importance of social support within the family by supporting family unification. However, due to its failure to pass, millions of undocumented children are now at risk of being deported and having their families divided. Although the U.S. government created a new policy known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), it is not providing immigrants with the same opportunity. DACA instead give undocumented people the opportunity to not be deported for a maximum of three years, but will never become a pathway to permanent citizenship. The Dream Act and DACA ultimately affects the physiological, emotional, and mental health of the immigrants who reside within the U.S.

Out of those million immigrants there are about one out of five children under the age of eighteen are either an immigrant or a child of immigrants parents. (Orozco, 2001). The majority of immigrants are from Latino or Asian origin. The United States has been experiencing a large wave of people coming into this country to start a new life from what they had before. Every region in the country is experiencing the growth of immigration every year. With this new immigration the U.S is witnessing immigrant children take over public schools. Today immigrant students are becoming the fastest population to grow in the child population in the United States (Hamilton, 2010). Many parents send their children to the United States and separate themselves from them because they want them to have a better life and live the American dream. Many kids go to school at a young age and get through high school and college and even start their careers. But many of them have to live in fear of being found out. They can’t trust many people, even the closest one to them (Vargas,

Many proponents of the DREAM Act argue that “these kids were brought to the United States before they had a say in their life circumstances. Denying them hope and opportunity is punishment for an act beyond their control” (Fitz). Supporters of the DREAM Act continually advertise this argument; They claim that the children are innocent, and the United States is treating these children unjustly, but not rewarding them with “legal residence and expensive college tuition subsidies is simply withholding benefits to which they never had any entitlement in the first place” (Mehlman). These children are innocent, and deserve to be given an opportunity to come to the United States and have a good education, but it should not be through the DREAM Act or illegal immigration. It is not un-American to prioritize United States citizens, and other immigrants waiting to enter the country legally. A gross misconception is that DACA is only opposed by a radical few who want to hurt innocent children and families, but “a recent Quinnipiac University poll shows that Americans across the political spectrum favor tougher enforcement of existing immigration laws over rolling out the amnesty welcome wagon.” (Malkin). Despite this poll, many patrons of the DREAM Act think that continued amnesty is a right the United States is taking away, when in truth, the general public supports tougher immigration law. The DREAM literally goes against popular opinion, as it sponsors amnesty, and not harsher immigration

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), is a proposed bipartisan legislation that is meant to provide amnesty and relief

Undocumented students are becoming a growing outrage in the United States. It has been a constant battle amongst the students, the schools, and the Government. According to collegeboard.com, statistics shows that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools each year (collegeboard.com).After graduating high school they face legal and financial barriers to higher education. This paper will address the importance of this growing outrage and discuss the following that corresponds to it.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act of 2011, proposes to allow children of undocumented immigrants that were brought to the United States before their fifteenth birthday who have lived in America for at least five years straight to apply for permanent residency once they graduate from high school or achieve a GED. Conditionally, these children must be admitted into a college and complete a two-year degree or serve two years in the military. They must also be free of criminal convictions and have an honorable character. In addition, the DREAM Act would reverse current law to allow states to provide taxpayer subsidized in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. An estimated 1.1-2.1 million illegal

DREAM Act." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2016.

The DREAM Act throughout its history has been repeatedly rejected by the US Congress and has been through many difficulties to be approved. This law has caused many frustrated attempts of undocumented immigrants and activists of this benefit. It is critical a thorough analysis of what this bill seeks to have so a better understanding of where it comes from and where it goes.

Wooldridge’s editorial is one of the controversial discussions both at the congress level and the country at large. This argument is one of those that thwart or impede the implementation of the DREAM Act which is to help the children of undocumented immigrants to enjoy some privileges such as obtaining in-state tuition and others.

In recent months, undocumented immigrants across the country have been stripped of their rights. One thing that is on the minds of many citizens nationwide, is whether or not undocumented immigrants should receive instate tuition in the states they reside in. More specifically, it means whether undocumented students should pay higher rates than citizens to attend a university or college even if their work ethic is smarter than those with citizenship. More importantly, we’re oppressing, discriminating, and alienating a whole group of people due tour pride getting in our way. Particularly, undocumented students and their parents are getting affected by this situation as the whole point they came here was to have their children or themselves

The DREAM ACT (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) is proposed legislation that allows young and high achieving illegal immigrants to serve in the US military, and continue with higher education. This action will open opportunities for population that is essentially already American and who through academic achievements and clean criminal records. Also, the bill will allow eligible young immigrants to attain legal citizenship status. Those minors must pass background check and

Young illegal immigrants who would be able to benefit from the DREAM Act have difficulties when it comes to have access to higher education and high paying jobs because of their illegal status. And passing the DREAM Act will help them reach their educational and professional goals. Passing the DREAM Act will contribute in lowering the high-school dropout rates and will motivate young illegal immigrants to go to college. Moreover, without the DREAM Act, most of the young illegal immigrant are ineligible for most types of college financial assistance such as Federal loans and Pell grants. Additionally, many scholarships require applicants to have US citizenship or the

LEGOMSKY, STEPHEN H. “Undocumented Immigrants: Health, Education, and Welfare.” In Defense of the Alien, vol. 19, 1996, pp. 79–82.