Monday, October 4, 2010

DREAM Big

As the immigration debate continues and comprehensive immigration reform seems further and further delayed, we saw a glint of hope a couple weeks ago as the DREAM Act reached a vote in the Senate.  Unfortunately this hope was stifled once again as it failed to pass through the Senate.  The DREAM Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act which also housed a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.  Since the bill was first introduced, expectations have been lofty, but frequent defeats have unfortunately demoralized young individuals looking for a desirable future in this country.  As we near mid-term elections, we must look at the voting histories of individuals like John McCain, who previously supported the DREAM Act, but recently voted against it.  Surely this idea is not as polarizing as the current Senate vote suggests.  As the bill failed to receive any Republican support, I am wondering whether this is simply political posturing, or if it is truly a single partisan idea.

What is the DREAM Act?
The DREAM Act is a piece of legislation that would allow a path to documentation for the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants that would qualify.  The DREAM Act has been proposed to offer individuals who meet certain criteria the opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college.  As it is difficult seek a college education with undocumented status, the DREAM Act would alleviate the stress brought on to good students who need to end their education after high school because of their legal status in the United States. 

Who qualifies for the DREAM Act?
-The individual must have entered the United States before the age of 16
-The individual must be present in the United States for at least 5 years before the bill is enacted
-The individual must have graduated from a United States high school or obtained a GED
-The individual must be between the ages of 12 and 35
-The individual must have "good moral character"
(DREAM Act Portal)

What would passing the DREAM Act mean?
Passing the DREAM Act would mean that students of good academic and moral standing would no longer have to live in the shadows.  The DREAM Act would reward students for their achievements, just as students with documentation are rewarded.  It would pave the way for new leaders of tomorrow.  Those who claim that undocumented immigrants do not contribute to society should embrace a bill that will allow them to seek higher education.

My take
Although I understand that I am fairly biased, the DREAM Act makes very good sense to me.  The individuals that would benefit from this act came to the United States as children, often not by their own will.  These individuals have demonstrated that they would like to succeed in an academic environment or in the military.  The DREAM Act makes it possible for these students who have undoubtedly already overcome much adversity to no longer live in fear and fully embrace a future in the United States.  Our current system allows for individuals to live almost their whole lives in the United States while attending public or private schools, yet when it comes time for college, an undocumented immigrant is the first to be closed out.


This is not the first time that the DREAM Act has come to a vote in the Senate and will not be the last time.  Please learn more about this bill and make an educated decision for yourself!  Passing the DREAM Act requires political participation from all those who support it, so if you are in favor, please urge your Representative or Senator to support the DREAM Act.

1 comment:

  1. yo Charmin, how's it goin? I hope all is well. I finally caught up on all your posts. It sounds like you've got a lot going on, but with the long hours comes the opportunity to form great relationships. That's the part of my job I enjoyed the most during JVC - connecting with people who've had very different life experiences from what I know.

    I have a question for you regarding the DREAM Act. The first two stipulations for qualifying for the act require proving when someone entered the country. For people who simply overstayed their visas, this won't be difficult; but how will those who crossed without papers be evaluated? I don't know if you've heard that much detail about the act, but the article I read didn't mention anything about that aspect.

    From what I read, it sounds like the DREAM Act is a great first step toward more comprehensive immigration reform. However, we need changes that apply to more than just college- and military-bound minors.

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