The Project : The Dream Act

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

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)

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

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

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.

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

In a flat world, the United States cannot afford not to help undocumented students. This is especially true in Yakima, Washington. In 2010, Washington alone had roughly 230,000 illegal residents. That number is important because a lot of the businesses in this area are agricultural based and not many jobs would require you to pursue higher education. The Dream Act would allow certain undocumented residents who meet the requirements to pursue a higher education or enter the military. Although I am in favor of passing the Dream Act nationwide, I would like to add a mentorship program, much like the University of Washington’s CAMP program, for those who are doing the 2 year minimum of college, which would start while they are in high school and follow them throughout their college careers. This act would encourage curiosity and passion, closes the gap at the bottom, and closes the numbers gap while simultaneously decreasing the education gap at the top. Imagine the possibilities.

Since the inception of this country, we as a nation of immigrants have struggled with the question of who should be a citizen and who should not. It is no surprise that illegal immigration greatly affects our nation and is now one of the leading debates our country faces, polarizing our society on many levels. This paper addresses the debate over the ‘Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act’, (DREAM Act 2011, 2011); a proposal purported to be the solution for innocent victims of illegal immigration. It discusses possible consequences of ‘The DREAM Act’ and how it may play a negative role in our society, legal system, and moral standards.

Suppose you, an immigrant, have lived in your home for more than half of your life, and was suddenly deported because you weren’t born in that country, would that be fair? In order to understand the situation as a whole, attention, care and patience should be devoted. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, is an act that if the person meets the requirements, they are able to continue an education, are granted permanent residency, and can later transfer into eligibility for citizenship. The government argues that by granting them amnesty and a right to permanent residency, this will cause a chain reaction for more immigrants to come to the United States. Americans should be for the Dream Act because it gives opportunity

Many immigrants come to America in an effort to achieve a better life, and with hopes of achieving the “American Dream”. Many adults are grateful for any work that pays, but for their children the hopes are to get an education and become what they could not. Even with these opportunities many children of undocumented citizens are finding that once they complete high school their efforts of attending college are all but a dream. To assist this population the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) was proposed by Republican Senator Hatch Orin of Utah in August of 2001. It was an amendment to the Illegal Immigration Reform Control and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IRCA) of 1986, and was an effort to repeal

I believe the American Dream Act should be applied to many illegal immigrants. Many immigrants who come here for a better life lack the educational needs because it is to expensive for them to go to college. If the American Dream Act ratifies immigrants would need to serve in the U.S. military or go for two years of college for a residency here at the United States. This act might approve, for the reason that there is more democrats as lawmakers. Illegal immigrants don’t even try to harm the U.S. they come here thinking it will give them a better life. So i accept that the American Dream Act purports immigrants and it should be passed.

To sum up, the Dream Act actually can help a lot of undocumented immigrants in their life or help them to achieve their dream. But it failed to become a law because not many people support this act. So the smart, hard-working children need to face an uncertain future because they cannot continue their education, work, or join the military. They can just live in the dark side and turn away from the light, it is so pitiful. Also, America is missing out a lot of talented workers, vital tax revenues and other economic contributions. So why not let the Dream Act become the law to help the undocumented immigrants.

On the other hand, I also believe that the DREAM Act movement also has its own reasons for an immigrant to be out as undocumented in the US, aside from visibility purposes and opening up a community to form a collective identity for the movement. According to Liana Gamber-Thompson & Arely M. Zimmerman “‘being in the shadows’ is worse than being a public activist because, if he were ever deported his entire network of activists and allies would know (202). Also, according to Zimmerman, he has noted that “coming out narratives have been employed well beyond LGBTQ movements, which members of the fat acceptance and disability rights movement also embracing the concept” (197). Zimmerman’s observation signifies that the intersectionality that exists

America the land of the free has been an open place for anyone to come and make a better life for themselves and their families. Our freedom has created more opportunities and open fields for anyone of any race, ethnicity, or sex to be able to flourish. Freedom to do almost as one pleases had been more of a crowd drawer than anything else throughout all of history. Freedom of religion, speech, and many legal freedoms of rights even today is a massive promoter of immigration and movement to the U.S. This immigration and movement across the boarder is exactly what The Dream Is Now is targeting. The documentary gives voice to and puts a human face on the undocumented children of immigrants who are desperate to earn their citizenship and give back to the only country they've ever called "home." The film also goes beyond the personal experiences of the individuals but places their stories in the larger pictures and explores the consequences of continuing our current policies and maintaining the status quo. Consequences not just for these young people today, but for our country's future because our future is not what we do today but what our children and the young group of people around us do.

The case also protected students from deportation within school property. Then in 2001, a legislative proposal called Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) was proposed to the senate.