The Dream Act

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.

After 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed and passed the Immigration and Naturalization Act, immigration reform became a major debate (History.com). Though is a hot-button issue with passionate arguments for both sides, it is clear that immigration reform is necessary for the nation's future success. The current immigration laws are useless due to the length of the current naturalization process. This process is quite frustrating for immigrants due to the time and cost incurred, along with the language barriers associated with completing the documentation. For the United States of America to sustain its moniker of an American Dream, it is of the utmost importance that we charge the federal government with revising and improving immigration reform.

Immigration has become a very relevant topic in the past few years and has sparked various arguments between Americans. No agreement has been reached regarding immigration reform, possibly because many people view it as an immediate amnesty rather than a possibility of legalization for hard-working immigrants. Despite of the negative meaning associated with it, an immigration reform would be beneficial to the U.S. in social aspects, such as having undivided families, and by stimulating economic growth.

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 Democratic Party has fiercely advocated for the enactment of the DREAM Act. Republicans however have strongly opposed it and have left little hope for any reform for illegal immigrants. However not passing the DREAM Act and stalling on reform for illegal immigrants is doing an injustice to these immigrants and most importantly to American citizens. Today many US citizens suffer from a depleting economy and anything that can help revive it should and must be done. I see the DREAM Act as a great opportunity to aid and provide relief to the economy.

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

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

Many United States citizens say that illegal immigration is a crime. According to (Border Control) an entry into the United States illegally should be a misdemeanor and is like sneaking into the country as a violation. Many things about illegal immigration laws is that why is it illegal to come to a better country to try to better their lives as people. It is understandable that the country that they were born in has a low-income environment and it is not their fault if they are willing to do anything necessary to make it in this world.

Although the issue of immigration policy has been at the center of political debates, largely discussed in the media and newspapers, no one has yet found a solution to this ill-defined problem, that would comply with the America’s core values. While I think the immigration policy does need a reform, the solution to this problem certainly is not a deportation of all undocumented residents.

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

Those who oppose the DREAM Act argue that undocumented individuals are defrauding the government because they do not pay taxes. Some argue that by allowing undocumented people to obtain citizenship will increase illegal immigration. Those who oppose the DREAM Act believe that a better solution would be to increase access and ability to legal immigration. Others who oppose immigration entirely forget the history of the United

Despite the years of Republican obstructionism in Congress, as well as a breathtaking lack of respect from his political opponent, President Obama reformed the healthcare and immigration system. President Obama signed the ACA into law in March 2010 and promoted a broad immigration reform. Although it did not become law, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, (DREAM Act) set the stage for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. “Immigration and Executive Action” article writes:

The american dream can be defined as freedom, success, and opportunity and may differ from person to person. So what does the american dream mean to you? As for me a Mexican-American raised my whole life in the USA, my vision of the american dream is the same of most first generation immigrant children. That dream is to succeed in where our parents could not, such as pursuing an education past high school and embarking in a career. Although seemingly easy to any individual born in this country or individuals granted legal residency , the task is actually quite challenging to those who come from a family of illegal immigrants looking for a better tomorrow. With The Federal Dream Act Law the voices of immigrants who are looking to

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.

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