The DREAM Act

Kathleen Cox EDU 360

The DREAM Act

http://youtu.be/RGAV7UIN3hQ

What is The DREAM Act?

DREAM stands for
Development Relief & Education for Aileen Minors

Background
DREAM act was introduced to senate on May 11, 2011 Regarding children and adolescent students of immigrant parents who either grew up in the US or have lived the majority of their lives in the US, yet still do not have citizenship in order to go to college or assist in the military

2 Changes in the law:

The DREAM Act would permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent legal status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military; and The DREAM Act would eliminate a federal provision that penalizes states that provide instate tuition without regard to immigration status.

Who Will Qualify?

Students who are
15 years or younger who have lived in the US 5 years prior to the bill Maintained good moral character Accepted to college, graduation from High School, GED

Conditional Permanent Resident Status

6 years under normal circumstances, rather than indefinitely Students would be able to:
Work Drive Go to school Federal Work Study Student Loans States would not be restricted from providing their own aid to these students The time spent in conditional permanent resident status would be available to be used for residency requirements for naturalization

Students would not be able to: --Travel abroad for lengthy periods of time

After Conditional Permanent Resident Status

Unrestricted Lawful Permanent Resident Status would be given if the immigrantMaintained good moral character
Did not attended lengthy trips abroad Graduated from a 2 year college, vocational college, studied for at least 2 years towards a B.A. or higher, or served in the armed forces for at least 2 years

Instate Tuition
Repeal section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), this discouraged states from providing any financial benefits due to immigration status Since section 505 became law, twelve states have enacted laws permitting anyone, including undocumented immigrants, who attended and graduated from high school in the state to pay the in-state rate at public colleges and universities. The twelve states are California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin

PROS:
Immigrants have just as much to offer in the United States as US citizens do Should be given an equal opportunity to go to college, or make a positive name for themselves and should not be punished based on their parents decisions These students love this country and consider this country their home

Cons:

There is a fear that the DREAM act, will only encourage illegal immigration

References
Health Care & Public Benefits. (n.d.). DREAM Act: Summary. Retrieved April 13, 2014, from http://nilc.org/dreamsummary.html Kim, C. (2013). Lost American DREAM of Undocumented Students: Understanding the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act. Children & Schools, 35(1). 55-58. doi:10.1093/cs/cds041 Pros and Cons of the DREAM Act. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of the DREAM Act. Retrieved April 13, 2014, from http://www.usimmigration.com/pros-cons-dream-act.html The DREAM Act. (n.d.). Immigration Policy Center. Retrieved April 12, 2014, from http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/DREAM-Act The DREAM Act. (2011, May 11). YouTube. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGAV7UIN3hQ