22.04.09
College Board supports Dream Act for US immigration reform
Students demonstrate their support for the Dream Act
The College Board has announced that it is supporting the so-called Dream Act, which will give unregistered people living in the US a chance to become citizens through working in the military or studying in the US.
The support is being shown following indications from President Obama that he will look at US immigration reform this year, including providing paths to US citizenship for long-term unregistered immigrants.
The Act would allow students who entered the country illegally at the age of 15 or below, and who have graduated from high school or received a GED, to US citizenship through studying at college for two years or through joining the military for two years. These students would also have the right to request some financial assistance.
A report from UCLA in 2007 says it estimates some 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high schools in the US each year.
The College Board’s Vice President, James Montoya says that the graduates deserve the chance to become citizens and have proved themselves through succeeding in the schooling system. “These are students who have gone through our K-12 system and have achieved in a very high manner,” he says.
Are you one of the thousands studying in the US without citizenship?What do you think about the ‘Dream Act‘? Do you think two years service in the military or studying to earn citizenship are good options for President Obama’s plans of immigration reform? Leave your comments below.
Published by Gareth McConnell Global Visas in US immigration: DREAM ACT, USA Immigration and work visas
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
The DREAM ACT is a good legal initiative and opportunity for undocumented students studying in U.S. schools to be US citizens. However, the DREAM ACT should also include the documented students too – those on dependent visas of their parents like F1, H1B etc. These kids too are living and studying in America for over 5 years. My daughter is currently a sophomore in college majoring in Physics, Math and Bio-chemistry. As a documented student, if she too gets an opportunity to be US citizen under the DREAM ACT it will save her all the anxiety of going through the 10 to 15 years process of getting a job, then a sponsor, then H1B, followed by green card and then US citizenship. She complies with all the requirements of the DREAM ACT except that she is not illegally in the country. Shouldn’t all students like her get a share of the American dream?
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
An EXCELLENT APPROACH!!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 am
Illegal is illegal and noone should be rewarded, especially with taxpayer money by committing a crime, much less citizenship unless they volunteer for active duty first.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 am
Yes, I’m one of the students, who graduated last year with a scholarship of $5,000 and a GPA of 3.8. I think we should get a fare chance because it’s not something we did. I wasn’t aware of my status until after my graduation. However, I’m in college and doing my best and holding up a GPA of 3.81. I want to become a nurse and be a valuable part of this country. I think this DREAM Act is a big step towards the future of Alien students. Its a hope and certainly a dream for all of us. I just can’t wait to go to college like a normal student. I’m working hard, paying for my expenses and trying my best. I really hope we get some support.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 am
Im a student and after reading this i feel its like an encouragement to success…i feel like i’m in the us for a purpose and that is to make it a better place. This dream act will help each and ever home who are illegal.. \nMost illegal student are forced to drop out of school because they don’t have the needs for college and i think that its unfair..as a sttudent in America i fully agree with the DREAM ACT..because we the kids holds the key to the future..
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
SusanR, what do you think of Prez’s comment that he didnt even kno he was undocumented until after he graduated, there must be thousands of people like him. I hardly think it’s fair to blame children for their parents mistakes, they weren’t exactly in charge of their own destiny when their parents decided to move to the US before they were born in many cases. Also, the point of the DREAM Act is for them to volunteer for active duty or education before earning their citizenship!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Gareth, you are right that the children of illegal immigrants had no say in the decision their parents made to come to America, but neither did the children of those here legally.
I am in the same position as Stephanie (post 1) in that I have a 20 year old daughter who fits all the criteria of the DREAM Act, but she is barred from applying for conditional permanent residence if it bnecomes law because she is here legally!
As the dependent of an E2 investor (me) she becomes ‘out of status’ at age 21 and will probably be required to leave the US in her 3rd year of college.
They should remove the word ‘undocumented’ from the DREAM Act so that it applies to all children who had no choice about coming here and who have done well in school and stayed out of trouble.
As it stands, this Act discriminates against the children of those who respected the law!
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I am one of those unfortunate students, who came into the country to visit, only to be convinced at a tender age to stay and get an education so that i could help my parents in the future. Did i understand the system at such an early age, No! Later on, after graduating high school, and moving on to college, I found I could not transfer with my AA. I have been stuck ever since. I live in the shadows; Its like you don’t exist. I love this country, its now like my home. I’ve been here for so long now, I don;t think anywhere else could make sense. I am envious of people that go to school, of people that have their freedom, of people that vote! I am envious of people that have a life. I wanted to be a Doctor; but that dream is fading away. I want a future! As for the excuse of Tax payer money that people seem to use as a resistance for helping their fellow humans and giving them a chance, all i have to say is WOW! You’ll never understand what it feels like to not breathe because you can’t see your future fading in front of your eyes. I want this, and I want this badly. If given the chance, i would jump on it, and continue my journey in life. Go Dream Act!
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
The DREAM Act benefits should not be limited to children who are in the US, without documents. In all fairness, it should be extended to children who are in the country legally, too.
Given the inordinately lengthy process of employment-based migration, children who were brought to the US by their parents legally, and for whom applications for Green Cards have been filed, are facing difficult times.
Threats of ‘aging out’ hang ominously, leading to grown up children being separated from families and having to go back to their native countries. This, after they came to the US on valid visas.
All the arguments in favor of the DREAM Act for undocumented children, apply to the legally present children too, and more.An imperative for extending the benefits of the DREAM Act to cover children who are in this country legally, is evident.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Stephanie and Nina,
Yes, I think Documented children should also be included in the Act. The DREAM Act is being brought in as a humanitarian measure to help children who are left undocumented due to no mistake of their own. To maintain the spirit of the bill, it should be made applicable to all children, whether Documented or Undocumented.
As you mentioned, when parents in Employment based visas are going through the process of Permanent Residence, if these children turn 21, they become undocumented and will have to leave the country and go back to a country that is totally new to them. The funny thing is the parents can continue to stay in the US and wait for their Permanent Residence.
Some people are trying to start a campaign to bring awareness to this and the website dreamactforlegalkids.org has just been started to mobilize interested people.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
As a parent of a child who aged out and is now finishing up his degree on an F1 visa I want to say that he also deserves to have his DREAM realized. We always believed he would get his green card at the same time as me and his father but that was not to be. The legal process took so long he turned 21 before the green card dream could be realized. If this act gives a path to citizenship for those children who ignored the immigration laws of the United States it should also include those who came here as children legally with their parents.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Dream Act should be extended to include children who have come in legally as well. It should not discriminate and punish the children who are here legally and have faithfully followed the law.
It is only fair that the act should provide a path to citizenship for those children who came here legally with their parents.
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
For these of you, who are saying DREAM ACT should apply to everyone that came legally and blabla, DREAM Act does apply to everyone; it does not discriminate. But they must meet the other requirements, such as: arrive to the US at the age of 15 or younger, and graduated from A US high school or obtained a GED, have been in the US for 5 years, and of course; have good moral character. Pretty much this are people that have made their life in America since they were little kids, and some themselves don’t know they are even undocumented. Is like if you were born and when you are 18 years old you find out that you don’t belong. The same as if you were born and 18 years later you find out your parents are not your parents, it would be kind of that feeling.
May 13th, 2009 at 6:23 am
dream act law SHOULD be passed, I came here when I was 9 years old and am graduating this year from high school, my hopes of being succesful in the future are fading away. It sucks, I am jealous of all my friends who get to work, have their license AND pay regular tuition, it really sucks, I feel like I don’t belong..yet, america IS my home, I have lived here for over my whole life. There are a few requirements that are to be met, so it’s not like we are getting rewarded, we had to work hard to not get in trouble and stay in school, and we still don’t get permanent residency UNTIL after we do 2 years of college. I hope this law gets passed because it encourages me to keep on going and working hard, so all i’ve done my whole life doesn’t go down the drain. I am a great student, I have a GPA of 3.6 and am activein spports and community service..please PASS THIS LAW!
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi ana, I really feel for you and other people in your position. I think it’s hard enough being a teenager and deciding what it is you want to do with your future. I can’t imagine how much more complicated and soul destroying it must be for you and others before you. I really hope this unfair proposition is reversed and you are given the same opportunities as the rest of your peers. Good luck and hang in there.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:33 am
The dream act is great, it is hard enough being a teen and trying to survive in this world without having to considering the fact that there is no hope for you; not through no fault of your own, but because your parent dared to bring you to a land they believed will have better opportunity. Only to find there are not ops for you. Then you are looked upon with scorn. Since their parent(s) is/are illegal, obviouslly, and they see their parents pains and humiliations it will be an excellent chance to give these students. This is the point in their lives when the sky is the limit as to what their aspirations are, but they cant even think higher than their ceiling. I see children qualify for programs based on all criteria: grades, financial, age, and test scores but couldn’t get in due to immigration status. I have seen children not able to do a summer job to help ease financial strain on their families because of their status. Yet these children stay in school and keep pressing on holding their heads high. The dream act is the perfect opportunity for them. And I am sure they’ll become valuable citizens even challenge some of us to do our best to compete. And be an asset to our commumities as well. They do have something to offer. They will finally know what it is to be free. I support the Act. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
ok,SusanR,I dont’t think anybody would be rewarded for commiting crimes, what a stupid comment. The immigrants have to show good moral character anyways. Why don’t you do your research first before you say anything. Not every hispanic commits crimes, there’s all type of races commiting all types of crimes not just hispanics. When a hispanic commits a crime all hispanics are dicrminated aganist and crtized for it, but when a white guy commits, it’s just another guy that made a choice, huh. Typical stereotype!
October 16th, 2009 at 3:52 am
what would it take for this proposition to become a law? My child is in her second year of college studying Nursing , a consistent honor student even in High School with a 4.0 grades…. still, she lost hope with her future(with no fault of her own) for simple reason that she became out-of-status with her H4 ViSA because she doesn’t know about the intricacies of the immgration law.I am a permanent resident but,my petitioning her, will just result to at least 7 years of waiting for her to be granted a permanent residency. What will she do now, that the school where she is presently enrolled need some immigration paper-for her to be continously enrolled in the College of Nursing ? With her predicament,I think, the Dream Act is really a reality for future….no longer just a dream.