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. According to Bray (2016), DACA is not sufficient in quantity and quality to meet the demands of every immigrant. Although the act has benefitted countless undocumented immigrants, it does not provide a stable future because it only allows “children that were brought to the U.S. who meet other requirements to apply for two years from deportation (removal), as well a work permit” (294). Nonetheless, the act does not offer long term benefits and like many social policies, it has strict requirements such as; age, education, continuous residence in the U.S. since
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
The public engagement of the white House posted on their web 10 reasons why they needed the Dream Act. Summarizing argument's that two secretaries including other people have made for the act. The dream act will help our economy marketing easier for immigration enforcements efforts on undocumented immigrants "Who pose a threat to our country" (Zehr, 2010,). The development relief and education for aliens minors act or dream act provide a path for legalization for undocumented high school graduates who meet the requirements of completing two years of college, military service, have entered United States before the age of 16, must be between the age of 12 and 35 to complete the application, good moral character, and no criminal record. If the congress passed the dream act it would add $329 billion to U.S. economy impacting it by $181 billion creating 1.4 million new jobs and more than $10 billion increase revenue by 2030. Many Dream Act opponents call it an immigration amnesty. They say the proposal would immediately reward immigrant children with conditional lawful permanent resident status – and, in just a few years, they would become U.S. Citizens. Their criticisms do not reflect how immigration agencies operate immigration reform will be addressed by the Obama administration this year. Republican senators they were ready to announce the outline of a broad immigration reform bill that would include a path to “earned legalization”
About half a million children are born to undocumented immigrants every year. These children are not given the opportunities that they so rightly deserve. They spend their entire lives in the United States and are considered illegal immigrants. They are given no choice, but to live their life as an undocumented immigrant. That is what the DREAM Act is trying to solve. The DREAM Act, or Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors is a proposal that would provide permanent residency to undocumented immigrants who meet certain eligibility requirements (The DREAM Act). If the DREAM Act is approved, then the education will be improved. It will improve the economy, the military will receive a significant increase in recruitments, and
On September 5, 2017, Michael D. Shear and Julie Hirschfeld Davis wrote the article, Trump Moves to End DACA and Calls on Congress to Act. On this day, President Donald Trump said that he would be putting an end to the DACA Program that was created during Barack Obama’s Presidency. President Trump is now discussing the issue of revoking DACA due to his early comments in the election about immigration laws, “The announcement was an effort by Mr. Trump to honor the law-and-order message of his campaign, which included a repeated pledge to end Mr. Obama’s immigration policy, while seeking to avoid the emotionally charged and politically perilous consequences of targeting a sympathetic group
Passing the DREAM Act would give a fair chance to countless undocumented immigrants like Amy to finish their education, get a job, and live a life free of fear of the country they live in. A majority of the country supports the DREAM Act as well. The Center for American Progress found that “sixty-six percent of voters support the DREAM Act, while 72 percent of Latinos said it was ‘extremely important’ or ‘very important’ that Congress pass the bill” (Guzman, Jara). The DREAM Act would give an equal playing field to immigrants that are trying to survive in
DACA is deferred action for childhood arrivals, it’s relief from deportations and work authorizations which is renewed every two years for those brought to America as children illegally. DACA recipients are often called, “dreamers”. Those who fail are eligible for deportation. Trump ended the DACA program leaving millions of undocumented people to lose their privilege in working and going to college to end up deported. Recently in the U.S., President Trump and his administration announced plans that could lead to end of the DACA Program. As part of the wind-down, no new DACA applications will be accepted. Those currently enrolled in DACA can continue working legally until their permits expire. Senior officials said they don’t plan to share
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, also known as the DREAM Act, is an American legislative proposal for undocumented immigrants who came into the United States as children to obtain a legal status if they attend college or serve in the military. However, the DREAM Act does not help all immigrants wanting an education even if they come into the U.S as young children; they must meet certain criteria. To fall under the DREAM Act, a person must have entered the U.S. before the age of sixteen, must have been here for five years or more before the enactment of the Bill, must not have committed a crime, must graduate from high school, and must complete at least two years of college or military service.
Immigrants within the DACA program do pay taxes, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates the amount paid in taxes by immigrants to be around 2 billion dollars. Being in the DACA program also does not qualify this group of people for the same benefits as citizens. For example, DACA recipients do not qualify for Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act. There should not be worry about the participants benefiting from the U.S. without giving to society. The concerns about crime and violence coming with the recipients of DACA are wrong because the regulations and checks each recipient must follow. Referring to the previous sections where I discussed the regulations, each immigrant wishing to benefit from the program must prove
According to CNN, on September 5, US Attorney General Jefferson Sessions gradually terminated Mr. Obama’s policy of “Dreamers”, which is DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and will be completely terminated in six months. This policy was introduced in 2012 to allow illegal immigrants who, under 16 years old enter the United States to apply for two-year repatriation and to allow them to apply for a work permit. As this policy allows renewal, it essentially allows illegal immigrant children to live permanently in the US. Based on DACA benefits for thousands of children, I think the government should keep DACA because terminating the policy and evading nearly a million young people who come to
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
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
With Trumps decision to end DACA, Congress is now the appropriate forum to address the issues revolving around DACA, because now they have the opportunity to change or remove the policy. But I think the policy should stay in tacked because it will affect thousands of young adults and change, or take away their opportunity’s, they will also put thousands of people of risk of deportation. DACA stand for Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an immigration policy made by President Obama in 2012. The policy allows children that arrived to the U.S before the age of 16 and had lived here since of June of 2007. When they apply for it, it last for two years and they are eligleble for renewal. As of now there is about 800,000 undocumented immigrants that are protected under DACA. What will be the point of ending something that is giving so many people oppornuty to become something of themselves?
On June 15, 2012, President Barak Obama gave a brief speech on a new Department of Homeland Security Immigration policy. This new policy will benefit thousands of undocumented students living here in the United States that were brought by their parents since they were young children from their native home. A policy called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. As President Obama mentioned in his speech about what undocumented students are, he mentioned part of a sentence that got to me. President Obama stated the following, “They are Americans in their
Taking U.S citizens rights away or is it just an opportunity to illegal aliens? This is one of the many arguments people have been stating about the dream act. This program was passed to help illegal immigrants grow in education. It was not to acquire U.S citizen’s rights, in fact it was passed because many immigrants want to give back to the country that has offered them many things. This program also known as DACA was proposed by the president Barack Obama and has been applied to many illegal immigrants since 2010. It is an aid for immigrant students that want to go top college and stay in school. Being part of the Dream Act is not giving illegal aliens U.S citizen’s rights, it is allowing young immigrants to have the opportunity to get
The undocumented students that will benefit from the Dream Act are students that are practically U.S citizens but not by birth. Some opponents to the Dream Act don’t realize how much these students have suffered throughout their life. The article, “Standing up for Immigrant Students,” mentions all of these hardships and struggles; children are exposed to many dangers when crossing the border, and once they settle in the U.S they face other hardships and struggles like learning a new language, meeting the expectations of their instructors, and being discriminated against (4-5). Despite the obstacles they encounter in their path, many manage the way to do well in school and many overpass American students and become leaders in their community. Being undocumented becomes a major issue for undocumented high school graduates who want to continue their education because it’s nearly impossible to attend a University and get federal help because a valid social security number is required. These young adults are some of the best and brightest students in this country;