This paper will examine the impact of the social, cultural and economic factors that benefits for the New York government of investing in higher education for undocumented students through the New York DREAM Act (NYDA). I will also explain the justifications of providing higher education to undocumented immigrant students. According to the Pew Research Center, it is estimated that there are approximately 750,000 thousands undocumented immigrants within New York State (Passel & Cohn, 2014).
Many of the undocumented students who have attended New York schools from kindergarten through 12th grades after graduating high school, they are unable to continuing college education because they are ineligible or do not qualify for any student aid. The
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The act would allow young undocumented college students who have grown up in the New York area and who meet the guidelines to qualify for in-state tuition in order to access state financial aid and scholarships for higher education (New York Dream Act TAP Into the Future). The act does not provide permanent legal status outright to potential beneficiaries. Rather, it allows students to submit the application for legal permanent resident status on a conditional lawful permanent resident (LPR) status if, upon enactment of the law, they are under the age of 35, have lived in the United States for at least the last five years prior to the legislation’s enactment, arrival in the United States before the age of 16, have not been convicted of a felony or certain misbehaviors, and have obtained a New York State high school diploma or its equivalent issued (i.e., a General Education Development diploma or GED). The conditional lawful permanent resident status would be removed after six years if students successfully complete at least two years of college education or military service and if they preserve good moral behavior throughout the six years period (Fisseha, …show more content…
Now in March 2015 Governor Cuomo has declared to push for the New York Dream Act to continue after the budget negotiations were completed. However, the Dream Act, has been passed in the State Assembly, would have minor chance in a Senate which is controlled by Republicans. The spokesman for the majority leader, Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican, Scott Reif, stated to the New York Times reporter Lis Robbins: “Like most New Yorkers, he doesn’t believe taxpayers should cover the cost of free college tuition for illegal immigrants while hardworking, middle-class families here legally take out student loans that will take them years to
The Dream Act, the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act is a bipartisan legislation pioneered by Sen. Orin Hatch [R-UT] and Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL].The undocumented students will granted a conditional legal status. Within the 6 years the student must be able to obtain a degree from a four year university. After the 6 years passes the conditional status becomes a legal American citizen. The following is the detailed qualification process obtained from the official web site of the dream act:
In “Undocumented students’ Access to College: The American Dream Denied,” Chavez, Soriano and Olivia (2007) have stated that millions of students who live in United States are undocumented immigrants; most of them come to U.S at a very young age. They completed their high school and achieved great academic success, some of them even got admitted by well know universities. From 2002 onwards , Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) , authorized by the late Marco Antonio Firebaugh , allows any student who has completed three years high school, and received a high school diploma or equivalent in California, regardless of their immigration status, are legally allowed to attend colleges and universities (Chavez,Soriano and Oliverez 256).Even though they are eligible to apply and be admitted to universities, but they are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid, without the help of financial aid, it is extremely difficult for them to afford tuition. In this case, it severely limits undocumented student’s chances for upward mobility.
The DREAM Act plays a big role in the nation’s effort to have the highest proportion of graduates in the world by 2020 (Miranda). Allowing this to pass would reduce the drop out rate significantly all throughout the country. 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school every year. In Luis Miranda’s Get The Facts On The Dream Act, Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan has stated that passing the Dream Act will allow “these young people to live up to their fullest potential and contribute to the economic growth of our country.” It gives students the incentive to go through school and get a degree. When undocumented students are attending school, some colleges wont accept them. Knowing that, they do not have the drive or interest in pursuing a college degree. A lot of immigrants now will finish high school, get there diploma, then go find a job. Having this bill passed will change the education in the United States forever.
California School CEO Tom Torlakson urged state immigrant students not to be afraid to make the California Dream Act, a college financial aid program for undocumented students attending state universities and community colleges .
Development, Relief & Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. It still has yet to be passed and
Many undocumented citizens graduate high school or obtain a GED diploma, but cannot apply to college or even obtain employment legally due to their status. Even if a student can be enrolled in college, valuable and necessary services such as financial aid will not be available to them because they are undocumented. This most often results in sending this person back to their home country, otherwise known as
Imagine a world with an educated youth. Now imagine a parallel world where children are fighting to keep a smile on their faces, because, in truth, it is the only thing they have. In reality, this is what is happening. Youth, who have the privilege to be American citizens, are granted a very fulfilling education with a promise of a career. Children of illegal and undocumented immigrants do not have such luck. Some undocumented children in America have very promising futures and even a degree under their belts, but they cannot apply for a job because they have no proof of citizenship. A controversial topic is the matter of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education, for Alien Minors) which permits undocumented immigrants to obtain
Every year thousands of undocumented students graduate from high school with uncertainty about a post-secondary education. Many of these students do not have the financial means, and are often too scared about their legal status to continue their education. This issue is extremely prevalent in the state of California, hosting 2.6 million “alien residents”, it has the largest population of undocumented immigrants (Gonzales, 2006). Immigration policies have been controversial topics in the United States for a long time. Although there is still an ongoing debate about reforming the current immigration laws, there has been progress in making post-secondary education a possibility for undocumented students. This paper will focus
An educational reform in higher education would eliminate the many educational and occupational barriers undocumented students face today. By permitting access to undocumented students into postsecondary education and earn a degree would eliminate poverty and unemployment levels in the country. It is essential to give as many young people undocumented or not the opportunity to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education to strengthen the economy of the United States. The younger generations are the future of this country and undocumented students are not the exception. These young students also play an important part in society today and if given the opportunity to earn a professional degree will most definitely impact American society in the years to come.
A social policy that was discussed in the capstone project is the Dream Act. Higher education is a right in which every one should obtain. However, in the United States some politicians and appointed officials believe that the right to higher education should be given to only legal citizens. The Dream Act is the first legislative that was introduced to give the undocumented individuals a way through citizenship. Dream stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors. The Act is a legislation prepared by both the Democrats and Republicans that would allow marginalized students who grew up in the United States a chance to provide to this country by serving in the U.S armed forces or pursuing a higher education. This Act applies to those brought to the U.S as minors by their parents and who know no other home. It is stated by politicians that this Act is good for the U.S economy, security, and for the entire nation. That’s why the DREAM Act has long appreciated bipartisan support. It’s restricted, directed legislation that will allow only the best and brightest young people to earn their legal status after a difficult and lengthy process (the white house, 2010).
The Dream Act is on foreign immigrants that want to have the opportunity to come to America for a better education. Discussing the Dream Act’s history background and how it is affecting people in today’s society. According to “Dream Act” states, “In the following years, however, a rising number of states passed their own programs that reflected goals of DREAM, particularly focusing on helping young illegal immigrants gain access to higher education.” The Dream Act debates on whether to pass the form because President Barack Obama has wanted to pass it and give the illegal immigrants a chance to get an education and work in America. This will be addressed in my paper for the American Dream Act on how people in the United States want to give people a chance to become a citizen in America. In addition, the illegal immigrants have a resident home and they do not have to be homeless in the United States because people are willing to help the immigrants to have a better life.
Approximately 200,000 to 225,000 undocumented immigrants enroll in American institutions of higher education and represent 2 percent of all students in college (Suarez-Orozco, Katsiaficas, Birchall, Alcantar, & Hernandez, 2015). Undocumented students have low rates of enrollment to programs of higher education in comparison to documented students. When undocumented students begin college, they go through struggles to adapt and assimilate to college life. As a result of feeling disconnected to the campus they attend, undocumented students may look for different options for support, such as clubs and centers offered for students. In recent years, there have been legal changes set in place to support the success of undocumented students enrolled in higher education, which include in state tuition, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. These changes have given undocumented students more choices and access to
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act), is a proposed bipartisan legislation that is meant to provide amnesty and relief
It is under state law that anyone under the age of 21 is entitled to an education regardless of their legal status. Extracting students of undocumented immigrants from school to prevent them from receiving an education is unconstitutional according to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe. Taking a
We live in a generation where undocumented individuals are seen as the inferior part of the United States nation. The DREAM Act has become a main issue in the United States. With the abundance of people in the United States of America, the DREAM Act has impacted a wide range of undocumented individuals. The DREAM Act stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. Parents from all over the world come to the United States illegally to help their children achieve a better life. The act was first introduced in 2001 and has not been passed since. In result of the failure of the Dream Act, Former President Barack Obama introduced DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival. People who were brought in to the United States before the age of 16 and had been living in the country since June 15, 2007 are able to apply for a renewable two-year visa (Vickroy p. 1). Nevertheless, opponents argue that people who are protected by the DREAM Act are illegal and should be deported immediately. The DREAM Act is beneficial to the United States itself and to undocumented individuals.