Imagine being a child told that you are living in the land of opportunities, where all your dreams can come true. However, these opportunities require that you follow the law, give back to the community, and achieve high standing in school. For one of my friends, this idea was embedded into her mind since she was young and it became her ultimate goal. For the sake of her privacy I will refer to her as Carla throughout the paper. Her parents made the decisions to come to America when she was only three years old. Up until now, the only place she had known as home was Portland, Oregon, where she made all her friends and memories. In preparation to grab a hold of opportunities like going to college, receiving scholarships, getting a drivers license or applying for a job, she pushed through hardships by thinking about the opportunities that await her. It is estimated that more than ten million ‘undocumented’ immigrants reside in the US today; this number is rapidly increasing by 700,000 every year (Kane and Johnson, 2006). As an effort to provide these undocumented youth, like Carla an opportunity to go to college and apply their education towards a, Sen. Orin Hatch and Richard Durin proposed the Dream Act in 2000 to help these undocumented youth obtain a 6 year long conditional path to citizenship, if they complete college or serve two years in the military (The DREAM Act). Carla was the valedictorian of her class, the presidents of two clubs, and volunteered hundreds of hours in high school. One day she received news that would shatter her hopes and dreams. She found out that she was not eligible to apply for scholarships or attend her dream school because of the title she possessed: ‘undocumented.’ When all her dreams were shatte... ... middle of paper ... ...by $2.3 billion over the next 10 year (Valencia, 2010). The research also reports that once these individuals become educated, they will be less likely to depend on welfare, they will make added informed decisions regarding healthcare, personal finance, and most importantly retirement. This could help the government spend money on more important things like education. The DREAM Act will open up thousands of opportunities for undocumented immigrants, who through their academic achievements and clean criminal records have proven themselves able to be responsible, active, intelligent, productive American citizens. Before opposing an Act or a Bill, he or she should find evidence that illustrates the harmful effect it would have on society. As Americans, we hold in our hand the dream of these individuals so make the decision rationally. Don’t let talent go to waste.
Part Three of the book “Just Like Us” written by Helen Thorpe is comprised of illegal undocumented individuals residing in Denver Colorado. The individuals consist of a group of four Mexican young adults all with the dream of one day attending college and finally obtaining a legal status within the United States. In this portion of the readings, Yadira, Marisela, Clara, and Elissa are entering their senior year at their University and have defined the odds of successfully completing college while maintaining an illegal status. Helen Thorpe clearly demonstrates a passion in tracking individuals that are determined to become legal citizens within society; however, lack the proper advocacy and documentation to do so. Part Three of the book envelops
Even if these students have achieved the highest honors and have the brains of an engineer, they aren’t able to reach their greatest potential because they simply do not have documents. Those who are undocumented are doomed to working backbreaking jobs that pay substantially below minimum wage. Spare Parts has challenged and shown me that it takes an immigrant double, or even triple the amount of toil to achieve anything in life. These boys endeavoured through adversities that many of us will never encounter. Luis luckily had a green card, but Lorenzo, Oscar, and Cristian were all living under the fear of deportation. They all wanted more after graduating from Carl Hayden but their dreams quickly vanished because the reality was that they’re illegal immigrants. When we hear the word “immigration”, we automatically think “illegal”, but what we don’t see is that these illegal immigrants are trying to reach their own American Dreams by coming to America. As the author includes Patrick J. Buchanan’s perspective on immigrants, “...families came to the United States to leech off government services.” (35), it shows us how immigrants are perceived.
In spectacularly calloused fashion, the Trump administration recently announced the termination of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. With thousands of hard-earned collegiate degrees, blossoming careers and immeasurable amounts of gratitude and patriotism, DACA recipients have inspired the successes of future generations. Yet, with the stunning overconfidence of a seasoned gambler and the bumbling inexperience of an amateur, President Trump may have just jeopardized the futures of thousands of dreamers and America’s identity, gratifying his own electoral base through the destruction our nation’s identity.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” That statement holds strong for immigrants in America. Equal access to opportunities allows immigrants to achieve the American dream. Their success correlates with America’s success because of the contributions immigrants provide to America. Unfortunately, the current immigration policy in America denies many immigrants the American dream. It is crucial to understand the historical context of immigration in America. Initially, most immigrants were from Europe and were not restricted by any immigration laws. Now, most immigrants come from Latin America but are restricted to severe immigration laws. The Latino/a community is one of the most severely affected groups because the current immigration system disproportionally affects Latino/as. Recognizing how the experience of Latino/a immigrants have been both similar and different in the past from other immigrant groups and dispelling common misconceptions about Latino/as today bring an awareness how Latino/as are affected.
Now in its 10th year of existence, the California Dream Network (CDN) has been at the forefront of immigrant youth organizing and civic engagement in Cali- fornia. A program of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), the CDN began in 2003 as an effort to reconnect and continue organizing the alumni from CHIRLA’s high school program for immigrant youth, Wise Up!, as they entered college and founded immigrant student support and advocacy groups.1 The CDN’s purpose is to address the needs of undocumented immigrant students, and to engage them in campaigns to promote social change around immigration reform and access to higher education. The CDN began as a network of 11 university- and college-based organizations serving immigrant students across the state. Today, the CDN has over 50 member organizations spanning many of California’s community colleges and universities.
Again O’ Neil brings to light the struggles faced by immigrants in another article: “Young Illegal Immigrants Coming Out of the Shadows”. In her article, she recognizes the voices of those who critique the way the governments handles immigrants in this excerpt: “Even critics who are sympathetic to their [immigrants] cause say the federal government has failed to secure the U.S. borders and that it 's too costly to provide schooling, hospital care and other public services to non-citizens”. In spite that providing for non-citizens can be difficult to accommodate, that does not mean they should be completely turned away from government aid. O’ Neill states the following about the children of immigrants who manage to complete an education: “But only a federal law can give undocumented youth green cards, so even those who manage to graduate find themselves stuck: qualified lawyers, engineers and teachers who can only work menial jobs, in the shadows, like their undocumented parents”. After trying to make a life for themselves through education, undocumented youth still struggle to achieve what could come easily to a citizen even though they put the same, if not more effort, into getting where they are
If we talk about undocumented immigrants in United States, we usually focus on the benefits and jobs they take from our country, but have we ever stood in their shoes and imagine what life is like for an illegal immigrant? To live as an undocumented immigrant is a bad situation, but I believe to be a child of an undocumented immigrant is even worse, because their choices are limited and they are unaware of their rights to attend colleges. In this research, I will focus on undocumented immigrant students, who are unable to afford for higher education, and the fear of their unknown future which is mainly cause by their undocumented status. The largest invisible group in America, to explore “what are the struggles and unsolved problems of undocumented students?”
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
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 an education and succeed in life.
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.
... Act is trying to solve. The DREAM Act needs to be passed because if it is, it would improve America’s economy, higher the levels of education, improve the military’s recruitments and readiness, and give all these undocumented immigrants the life that they deserve.
Every year, millions of illegal immigrants escape from their homeland to the United States to live an American Dream. Many believe that the U.S is the “land of freedom and opportunity” that can promise you a better quality life for yourself and family members. Its crucial to understand how difficult, one must struggle in order to live in America. The US current policy allows for “..merely 620,000 immigrants to gain citizenship per year” ( Goldsborough 2012) How can this be the land of opportunity if we're the land of no opportunity for citizenship? There are many positive and negative issues that occur with the immigration reform. One can argue that passing the Comprehensive immigration reform can serve our people and country huge success. Work on intro?
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...
The theme of education and undocumented students has been a key issue for many decades. Undocumented students are often deprived from higher education because of their migratory status. They not only have to face discrimination and fear of deportation, but also after high school, they have to face the crude reality that their dreams of success and educational achievement are far from becoming a reality due to their lack of opportunities. Many personal stories shared in William Perez and Douglas Richard’s book “Undocumented Latino College Students: Their Socioemotional and Academic Experiences.” Relate to their fears, difficult conditions, emotional challenges, limitations, and other circumstances that multiple undocumented students live daily
"Immigrants and the American Dream." Society 33.n1 (Nov-Dec 1995):3(3). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale University. 26 Sep. 2006.