The Education For Alien Minors Act

The United States experienced major waves of Immigrants during the War time and the 1800’s and early 1900’s. 25,000 Asian Immigrants went to California for a gold rush and migrated there by the 1850’s. A lot of Immigration had to do with slaves and such. During the 1890’s Central, and Eastern Europe came to America, so did the Italians and Jews. The start of Immigration was different from today’s time. Back then people who migrated to the United States was easy.

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;

Every year, about 65,000 American high school graduates are undocumented youths. Even though most of them have worked hard in school and seek further education or a high paying job, as any American would, their legal status, or lack thereof, makes it nearly impossible to achieve those dreams. Also, they live in fear of deportation, never to draw attention to themselves. Since 2001, Congress has been exposed to many attempts at a final solution for this issue. But is there really a solution for undocumented young adults who came to the United States as youths and now face so many problems with their lack of legal status? The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) provides an opportunity for undocumented young adults to have a permanent resident status by following specific guidelines. (Adding to thesis later)

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

Development, Relief & Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. It still has yet to be passed and

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:

Through amnesty policies such as the DREAM act, illegal immigrants will have more access to a better education. This act will allow “students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young, a chance to contribute back to the country that has given so much to them and a chance to utilize their hard earned education and talents,” (Basic Information about the DREAM Act

Also the dream act is helpful because it lends them financial aid and they get a social security to then pay the country back. While they get educated the country is getting a reward as well. Like in the case of Carla Chavarria, she works in graphic design and still goes to college during the night time and with the money she gets she is paying her college tuition (Gonzales). This is what every student in the United States faces right after high school. They get a job and go to college. But, unfortunately some immigrants stop going to school because they cannot afford the tuition and the books. They get a job in the fields and work because they do not get hired for being resident. The hope they had to achieve their dreams just fade away because they know they can not get educated like everybody else. When the dream act was passed many immigrants got faith and very happy because their dreams were going to actually become a reality. In a way this is very helpful to illegal immigrants that want to be successful and live a stable life.

U.S. as an immigration country, has a long history of immigration. It is a complex demographic phenomenon that has been a major source of population growth and cultural change of the United States. People came here because of varies reason, the major reason among them are fleeing crop failure, land and job shortage, rising taxes, and famine. Nearly 12 million people immigrate to the United States between 1870 and 1900, making it the world largest immigrate country.

The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors, more commonly known as it’s acronym, The Dream Act, is a parliamentary proposition to allow illegal aliens and their children to have the option of continuing their education into college. There are some differentiating opinions of this proposition. According to Yeh Ling-Ling, the main reason for Congress not supporting this bill is due to the lack of funding which will only increase the nation’s debt. With this being said, the students attending college through financial aid will be able to repay the debt they once claimed. It’s designed mainly for the people who have graduated high school or obtained a GED in America, but due to the immigration laws are unable to attend College or a higher academic setting.

Although the Dream Act seems to be an easy first step for young Latino immigrants in achieving the "American Dream", but the policy itself contains many internal flaws that cannot be disregarded. The Dream Act is not enacted for several reasons. One, by granting financial aid to undocumented students would violated the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996, which mandates that, "unauthorized aliens shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a state (or a political subdivision) for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such benefit...without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident" (Ruge et al., 2004, p. 262). Second, "good moral characters" is a vague phrase that cannot be measured as to how each person identifies "good moral characters"(Munoz, 2009, p. 8). Lastly, opponents of the dream act argued that the enactment of this policy would interfere with the benefits and interests

The Dream Act is very important to many undocumented students because they are not able to go to college because they weren’t born in United States. The Dream Act allows them to go on to their professional careers. Dream Act stand for development, relief, education, alien, and minors that’s the purpose why they call it the Dream Act. First time that the Dream Act was introduced was in August 1, 2001 by Dick Durbin and Orrin Hutch in the senate. Since that moment they have been reintroduced several times but have failed to pass. The requirement of the Dream Act are entered in United States before in the age of 16 year old, lived in the country for at least 5 years, graduated High School or GED in United State, person demonstrates good moral character, and pass criminal background checks and reviews.

There is always that one student that has a strong work ethic and when things get exacerbated they keep working and just do not quit. These students are students who are eager to learn who want succeed, but when it comes to the end of their high school career, what happens? There are approximately 65,000 young adults that are undocumented and graduate each year from high school ( “The DREAM Act Immigration Access to Higher Education.”). These students want to achieve something prominent for themselves they have the grades and the qualifications so that they can attend college. The main obstacle standing in their way is citizenship or residency. This complication prohibits them from being able to apply for government

Hermes, 2008 is a study that discusses two things: One being how the DREAM Act will establish a path for legal status and eventually earn legal residency through two years of higher education or military service and the second this is how repealing a provision of federal law

DACA-Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an executive action given by the President of the United States in 2012 that temporarily protects certain amount immigrant youths from deportation and grants employment authorization. This mandate does not offer a pathway to legal status, but it does allow millions of young immigrants to receive an education and incorporate into society. The Harvard Graduates Gonzales, Ruszczyk, and Terriquez note that “illegality has a particularly negative impact on the economic and social incorporation of undocumented youth” (3). It is very difficult to overcome adversity when you do not have the tools needed to succeed, but with patience, persistence, and hard work everything is possible. It is also necessary to clarify that family’s legal documentation status its also important, because it directly affects the student’s academic performance. One parent acknowledged, “Unfortunately, this is a country of systems, and if we don’t become part of the system, it’s going to be very hard. We are learning that the legal part might be omitted depending on the kids’ effort[s]. There are doors that are being opened . . . with the Dream Act, so in