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 the lives of undocumented immigrants will thrive. Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch first introduced the Dream Act on August 1, 2001 (The DREAM Act). The purpose of the DREAM Act is to help undocumented immigrants have the opportunity to enlist in the military or to attend college and have a path to citizenship (The DREAM Act). In order for these immigrants to be able to be eligible, they have to meet five requirements. First, they must have entered the United States by the age of sixteen. Second, they must have been present in the US for at least five consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill. Third, they must have graduated from a US high school, have a GED, or been accepted into a college. Fourth, they must be between the ages of twelve and thirty-five at the time of applying. Lastly, they have to have good moral character (Basic Information About the DREAM Act Legislation). If the DREAM Act passes, it would have such an important impact on the economy (Miranda). Passing this bill will make... ... middle of paper ... ... 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. Works Cited “Basic Information About the DREAM Act Legislation.” Welcome to the DREAM Act Portal. N.p, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014. “The DREAM Act.” Immigration Policy Center. N.p, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014 Mewes, Trey. “Explaining the State’s Dream Act.” Austin Daily Herald 16 Aug. 2013, n. pag. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. Miranda, Luis. “Get the Facts on the DREAM Act.” The White House. The White House, 1 Dec 1 2010. Web 24 Mar. 2014. Morse, Ann. "New Rules for Young Immigrants." State Legislatures 38.10 (2012): 8-8. MAS Complete. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Ahead of the decision by current president Donald J. Trump to phase out the DREAM Acts’ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, (DACA), dreamers are pursuing amnesty options the ensure their stay within the United States. The Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals program, (DACA), grants two-year deferments to immigrant minors and young adults facing deportation because of illegal immigration status. In a response to the current president’s decision to phase out of the DACA program, former president Barack Obama included that, “dreamers are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper” (Obama, ). Dreamers have become model citizens, quite parallel to Americans. Dreamers attend school, go off to college, obtain degrees, and become employees, even owners of businesses, and corporations. Dreamers make contributions to the economy by working, culturally adjusting and honoring the laws put forth by the United States of America. Although dreamers do not live in the country legally, dreamers feel a part of its fabric. And with the uncertainty surrounding the ending of the DACA, dreamers are pursuing the amnesty option to
Hennessey, Kathleen and Brian Bennett. "Obama urged to reduce deportations; Immigration reform advocates push the president to take executive action, or risk losing Latino voters' support." Los Angeles Times 8 March 2014: A.7.
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.
Preston, Julia. “Immigrants May Become Legal Under Agency Plan.” The New York Times 2 Oct. 2009, A15 sec,:A15.
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
The lives of millions of immigrants are affected everyday due to limited access to acquiring legal citizenship. Out of that group there are 2.1 million children and young adults under the age of 18 that are eligible for permanent citizenship at this time (The DREAM Act). In 2001 Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch presented a Development Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act that provides a path to becoming a legal citizen. The DREAM Act has yet to be passed, but there is a temporary Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)(The DREAM Act). The DREAM Act will provide options and opportunities for people to continue their path of life in America. The DREAM Act should be passed as it will benefit our economy, positively affect and strengthen our military, along with increased access to education.
The American Dream is so important to our country and especially for our generation to take seriously. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life you have always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. The American Dream was much easier to attain a few decades ago compared to today. However, it is still possible. The economy was better fifty years ago than it is today. People are in greater debt now and the United States is in higher debt than it was fifty years ago. The American Dream is still possible despite the lack of improvement within social mobility in American society over the past years. The American dream is achievable by being able to live a middle-class lifestyle and that lifestyle is obtainable through hard work and perseverance, even in light of obstacles such as racism. “The American Dream is still achievable, however, the good news is that people at the bottom are just as likely to move up the income ladder today as they were 50 years ago” (O’Brien 1). The ability to attain the American Dream is hindered by race, the middle class, and giving up facing adversity.
Erika, Lee. "U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Laws and Issues." Journal of American Ethnic History. Vol. 20. Issue 2 (2001): n. page. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
After about twelve years of the DREAM Act floating around in congress, many people on both sides of the issue are unsure of what will happen. For some, the fact that it has been around for long without much progress means that the DREAM Act will not pass. On the other side of this issue, the dreamers, continue fighting to keep the DREAM Act alive, so that all the immigrant students can continue to post secondary education, and not have to stop their education at the end of 12th grade. These young immigrants were brought here when they were younger and have lived in the United States most of their life. They are known as dreamers because many of them cannot continue their education due to the barriers placed on them because of their undocumented status. Those who wish to continue to a post secondary education have to pay higher out-of-state tuition rates. The passing of the DREAM Act will provide a path to legalization for educated and dedicated individuals who will continue to contribute a lot to the U.S. economy and in many other ways. The majority of undocumented students were brought to the U.S. when they were small children, and they “should be allowed to have the chance to stay in the country call home” (Bennion).
What is the American Dream? When this question was asked on the first day of class, there were many different answers as to what makes up the American Dream. Some people said having a good job, having a nice home, and making good money. While others said living in a country where one has political freedom, we have equal rights, and there is safety for children. Educational opportunities, such as going to college as came up in the discussion. However, the components of the dream, can be different for each person, especially for those who are migrating to this country. One example was found, in an article that appeared in the newspaper USA Today, titled "Immigrants Want Land of Opportunity". In this article different people give their versions and opinions of the American Dream. Jesse Valdez tells the story of how her mother came into this country from Mexico, in hopes of finding a better life. However the better life was not for her it was for her children. She gave up ever
Proponents to the DREAM Act will say that providing amnesty to the illegal immigrants will help the economy, but that is false, amnesty will only further hurt the economy, and honest American citizens. According to Jack Martin and Eric A. Ruark, authors of “The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers”, illegal immigrants cost U.S. taxpayers over $113 Billion dollars annually (Martin & Ruark, 2010). Broken down, this means over $29 billion on the Federal level, and $84 billion on the state and local levels. Over $52 billion of the cost at the state and local levels goes to the education of the children of illegals, and this includes the extra cost of special classes to teach them English as a second language. If this so called DREAM Act is approved, it will only increase the strain on our already struggling economy. Most of the illegals are poor, meaning over 57% are on some sort of welfare programs, many more than one (illegalimmigrationstatistics.org). If they are given full status as citizens, as the DREAM Act proposes, they will get full benefits, more than they already do, and they will be able to draw on Social Security Retirement, when it is well known that the Social Security system is already on the verge of collapse. Additionally, most illegals do not pay taxes, and most of those that do get refunds and tax credits that
Until recently the possibility of achieving the dream had been within reach. However, recently the youngest generations of Americans did not and are not growing up with this idea. America’s youth, made up of teenagers and young adults, especially those of color, are not able to reach their American Dream with the same relative ease that past generations were able to do so.
At times these kids are brought into the country at a young age and unwillingly by their parents. As in my case, my mother sacrificed her life in order to come into this country and seek that so called American Dream in order for me to get the best education possible. Allowing ineligible students to receive financial aid will let them pursue their educational paths. According to retired Lieutenant Colonel Margaret D. Stock, there are currently an estimated 2.1 million of students who could potentially qualify for an opportunity like this (Stock 3). This means that all those pursuing college students can have the same opportunity to live the so called American Dream that all Americans strive for. According to Professor Katherine Conway of Manhattan Community
Gerking, Shelby, and John H Mutti. Costs And Benefits of Illegal Immigration: Key Issues For Government Policy. 61.1 (June 1980): 71-85. Print.