The Pros And Cons Of The DREAM Act

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

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.

Imagine that you are a senior in high school. You are nervous and excited to start the process of getting a job and attending college. You obtain a couple of job applications and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to fill out. Naturally, as you fill out these forms you ask your parents for your social security number, however, this is the moment you find out that you are undocumented. Shocked and in disbelief, you can’t help to see all your hopes and dreams go down the drain. Nevertheless, like many other undocumented students, you discover there is still hope for your situation. For instance, your research leads you to former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects minors who were brought to this country illegally as children. Created through executive action in June of 2012, DACA gives young undocumented immigrants: protection from deportation and a work permit. Subsequently, on September 5th, 2017, the Trump administration rescinds the DACA policy, and approximately 800,000 young immigrants will become eligible for deportation at the end of six months. Therefore, the only way to update our immigration system is for Congress to pass immigration reform, which offers a pathway to citizenship, plus, acknowledge that the 14th Amendment applies to homosexual conduct and illegal aliens.

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;

In the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of people whose safety in this nation is in jeopardy. The recipients of DACA, a deportation protection program, rely on its benefits to remain in the US. Not only does DACA keep many people safe, but it provides a variety of benefits outside of simply being protected from deportation. The impacts of DACA on society, the economy, and health vastly outweigh the possible negatives it has on the United States.

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

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

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.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA) has helped stimulate the United States financially; by canceling it the Trump Administration has doomed our economy. Lawmakers have quite a task ahead of them as they try to traverse the tumultuous territory that is the DACA cancelation. However, one of the largest, if not the largest, problems that this move has created is the threat it poses to the nation’s economy. Bombastically, the Trump Administration made a move that seemed to be supported by its followers. Yet, further analysis of the cancelation seems to greatly cripple the United States, estimating that the nation stands to lose $215 billion if the former DACA recipients are deported.

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

Some people say that we should not have the Dream Act passed nationwide. One reason that it is opposed, is that many think that it sends the wrong message. The message implies that if you can just get your children across the border, you can get your child on their way to becoming a U.S. citizen, allow them the chance to better their lives, and get their parents on their way to becoming U.S. citizens. This is in fact not all true. It’s true that by getting their children here their children are

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 Obama administration in 2012 decided to launch the Deferred Act for young children arrival, which gave them temporary access of independence. The Migration Policy Institute states, “in 2014, it announced a new deferred action program for parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents” (n.d., para.1). The socioeconomic factors that lead to this legislation has a strong impact on this Act. There are exactly 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States waiting to become authorized so that they can start a bright future walking the path of success and continuing their own milestones. Gilma Celis believes that “the social and economic benefits of the implementation of the Dream Act would be beneficial to society” (2012, para.1). Many citizens who are from the United State do not understand that this Act is here to help illegals. It offers citizenship to the illegal immigrants who strive for a better life. “Immigrants up to age 35 who arrived in the United States before age 16 provided they complete two years of college” (Camarota, 2010, para. 1). Those that are given these benefits will receive in state tuition. Steven Camarota explains, “given the low income of illegal immigrants, most can be expected to attend state schools, with a cost to taxpayers in the billions of dollars” (2010, para.1). What led to this legislation is the simple fact that illegal immigrants are dreamers who believe