The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, also introduced as H.R. 1842 and DREAM Act will provide undocumented students with a pathway to citizenship. “DREAM Act,” is bipartisan legislation which addresses the situation of young persons who grew up in the United States and graduated from American high schools, yet are unable to continue their education and reach their highest potential because of their legal status (Mahony, 2012). I will be analyzing the benefits of to this fairly new act, defining the social issue, addressing the effective and ineffective approaches to the problem, providing a social analysis, economic analysis, political analysis, and presenting the outcomes of this policy.
Each year, approximately 65,000
…show more content…
The “Immigrant Children’s Educational Advancement and Dropout Prevention Act of 2001” (H.R. 1582) during the 107th Congress, was enacted to allow undocumented immigrant students to first apply to be protected from deportation and then apply to become a permanent resident if they met a number of similar criteria as the DREAM Act now (Barnett, Pamela, 2016). "GUTIERREZ TIES IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL TO EDUCATION STATUS” (Congress Daily, 2001). Then the “Student Adjustment Act of 2001” (H.R. 1918) was created as a limited version which lowered the age eligibility and was also the first bill to be given the short title of “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act” or “DREAM Act.” Since first introduced in 2001 by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), the DREAM Act has come up for a vote several times. The act failed to pass in the U.S. Congress twice in 2003-2004 by a 16-3 vote and again failed in 2006 by a voice vote without dissent as an amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill (S.2611). The DREAM Act has provisions to extend citizenship to illegal immigrant children but was denied multiple times until considered as a stand-alone bill (S.2205). It soon garnered a bipartisan majority vote of 52-44 in the Senate but failed to reach the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. Many Republicans like Ted Cruz, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Mitt …show more content…
However, this problem has been becoming more well-known to people recently since the uproar of the GOP Presidential debate in 2011. “114,000 potential beneficiaries with at least an associate’s degree would be immediately eligible for conditional Lost Policy Release (LPR) status. 934,000 children under 18 could be eligible for conditional LPR status in the future, which would provide them with incentives to finish high school and pursue a postsecondary education or join the military. 489,000 potential beneficiaries could be eligible for conditional LPR status in the future if they obtain a GED” (Batalova, Jeanne, & McHugh, M., 2010). A myth about the DREAM Act is that it is an amnesty. Opponents claim that it puts students in the front line for green cards. The fact is that the DREAM Act requires responsibility and accountability of students who also meet initial requirements. These young adults who qualify and apply would receive conditional permanent residency status that is valid for six years (NAFSA, n.d.). In fact, according to a recent analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, just 38 percent of all potential beneficiaries will successfully complete the DREAM Act’s rigorous process and earn permanent immigration
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 citizenship and later get a job. Is this topic really a law… or a lifestyle? Should we really be arguing on the matter of life or death?
With the opportunities afforded by the government, a few goals, ambitions, and exert, dreamers have surpassed many stigmas that plaque the conversation on immigration. Although the parents are responsible for the illegal status of dreamers, amnesty, if provided, could eradicate one of the major concerns that many dreamers have. Americans share undeniable similarities with immigrants of DACA. Both dreamers and Americans desire the best for themselves and their families. Dreamers and Americans also create opportunities for their success. And last but not least, Americans and dreamers collectively love, honor, and respect the United States, a country which was established by
There are not many positive outcomes expected to arise from this major shift in Texas’ population. In recent years, the Texas Hispanic population has shown to have lower education levels when compared to other races within society. “The average income of an undocumented immigrants’ family is 40% lower than that of native born families or legal immigrant families, causing most people from illegal immigrant background to be the first in their family to attend school.” (Glidersleeve, 41). By having a lower education, this can cause a majority of Hispanics to have low wage jobs which causes a vast amount the Hispanic population to rely on government support for assistance in health care and child care. This issue could be resolved by the Texas government by pushing and expanding the field of education to ensure that a majority of the Hispanic population obtain at least high school diplomas. This may not be an easy goal to obtain but can be done by making education more accommodating to the Hispanic population through the expansion of Spanish speaking schools and through scholarships for college. Ultimately education is the basis of everything in a person’s life and it is vital for a society that a majority of a population attends
In the book “They Say I Say”, Brandon King writes an essay bringing multiple perspectives on what Americans golden way of living is. The “American dream” is what most American citizens all strive for. Early settlers came in to try to achieve “the dream”. Those who already lived in America choose to stay because of its grand possibilities. The United States of America is the only place in the world where you have the rights to freedom of speech. What is the American dream? It used to be said that you could come to America and go from rags to riches; you could come with nothing and achieve everything you ever wanted. Take a second and think. We all ponder upon, is the so called “American dream” dead or alive? This has been a steamy topic
Dream Act bill is one of the pathway where the Congress can provide to legal status. The article states: “The DREAM Act would provide a significant boost to our economy, adding $329 billion by 2030. Legal status provides DREAMers with a powerful incentive to get more education, as the provisions are tied to completing high school and some college or military service.” (Fitz) This article demonstrates that when the Congress had given a legal status to undocumented immigrants especially the youth will help them to finish their education. Because of their legal status they will have higher education, which also means they will be obtain a better
However, others may disagree, but in addition to lacking nce their arguments are also insignificant. Although there is a controversy on this matter, America should welcome immigrants that are already here. Immigrants may earn legal status as well as cost just as much or less than deportation. But, so what? Why is this notable? Well, here’s why, the future is on the line and we have to take charge. If leading undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, includes all of the previously mentioned advantages, there is no point to do otherwise. If we don’t go through with this, imagine the troublesome possibilities, imagine the costs, imagine the risks. It is necessary to lead undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, and your help is needed. Share this essay, spread the outlook, get involved, and do what you can to make sure, we are where we need to be in our
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.
The DREAM Act legislation should pass and become a law; in a way this will be beneficial for both parties involved, for the young immigrants and for the U.S. If this is not possible an alternative should be sought out. The DREAM Act could be embedded into a comprehensive immigration reform, or the government can look to give the dreamers and other immigrant’s temporary legal status. “The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would offer the undocumented youth the chance at legal reside...
In his book Lives in Limbo, author Roberto Gonzales explores undocumented student’s experiences through interviews and data retrieval. In U.S. dominant culture, the transition from adolescence to adulthood is believed to entail moving from full-time schooling to full-time work and from financial dependence to financial independence, living independently, getting married, and starting a family of one’s own. (Gonzales, 2015, 95) For undocumented youth, the transition to adulthood is more complicated, and as they leave adolescence, they enter the condition of illegality. Laws aimed at narrowing the rights of those unlawfully in the United States prevent these youths from participating in key adult rites of
On the other hand, many people like Michelle Malkin strongly believe that lawmakers should reject the bill and preserve the status quo because the bill would create “advantages for illegal immigrants over the many US-born students who struggle to attain higher education” (Malkin). While both worry about the equality of students in the U.S., they both disagree on whether illegal immigrants deserve the
In August of 2001, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the first iteration of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (or, the DREAM Act). It was intended to be a companion bill of sorts to his party-mate Senator Chris Cannon’s Student Adjustment Act of 2001, which had been introduced a few months before. The Student Adjustment Act of 2001 was meant to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 so that undocumented immigrants would be eligible for higher education benefits such as in-state tuition in the same way as documented residents of the state in which they lived, and to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give permanent resident status to middle or high school students who grew up in the United States, which would qualify them for both Federal and State assistance funds for higher education (Student Adjustment Act, 2001). Hatch’s version of the bill was introduced to Senate and the House of Representatives over and over in the years to come (it was reintroduced in the 108th, 109th, and the 110th Congress) and was tacked on as an amendment to many other bills related to immigration at the time, including the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Acts of 2006 and 2007.
Some policies and laws will support immigrants’ dreams. Other laws limit the available support based on resident status. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 states “non-citizen immigrants are no longer eligible for federally funded Medicaid (health coverage for low-income Americans) and other income-maintenance programs such as Supplemental Security Income” (Lee, 2009). Also in 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), made most legal immigrants ineligible for publicly funded services such as Medicaid for the first five ye...
This article discusses how the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) not only benefit its recipients but also all Americans through its effects on the U.S. economy. Through DACA, many dreamers received the opportunity to pursue higher education degree with the available in-state tuition and financial aid. Additionally, numerous beneficiaries contributed to the economy by working across different sectors of the economy. A significant percentage of dreamers received jobs that are better paid or better fits the education and training; some even opened up their own businesses and created new jobs for other people. Surprisingly, the rate of business starts in DACA recipients is higher than the rate for the American public. With increased
Currently, there are 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the United States; 6 million of those immigrants are Mexican-born (Preston). Within that undocumented population are individuals who were brought to the States as children. These individuals have grown up in the American culture and consider themselves American, but struggle with being treated as second class citizens due to their undocumented status. On June fifteenth of 2012, the Obama Administration announced the executive order Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This order will allow immigrants who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children to apply for work permits and avoid deportation (Hennessey and Bennett). President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is not only beneficial to it applicants but also to the United States as a whole.
Although it is very difficult for these children who come to find this country as their own, it doesn’t take away from the fact that their parents broke the law when they came here illegally. For every heartbreaking story that one of these children would tell, there is another heart breaking story from a child who is waiting through the legal immigration process to be reunited with their parents. I believe the DREAM Act would unfairly allow one group of people to benefit while there is other groups of people who are doing the right thing, would have to wait even longer due to the immigration laws that applies to them. You cannot bend for one group of people, everyone should follow the law because if not the whole law system falls apart. According to Senator Johanns, "I am not unsympathetic to the plight of children in this country illegally who are facing difficult circumstances… yet offering citizenship to illegal immigrants would not be just while so many are waiting to enter the country legally and also desire an American education for their children" (Johanns 1). I don’t believe that they shouldn’t follow their dreams and become part of the “American Dream,” but it is important to go through the process that is there right now that applies to