22.04.09
US immigration reform, the Dream Act to help 65,000 students
All American 'Dream' Act
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The DREAM Act) is a proposal introduced to the Senate and House of Representatives allowing undocumented immigrant students who graduate from US high schools, temporary residency for a period of 6 years.
Although at an early stage and not yet passed to Bill status, it seems likely the Act will get a lot of support. It fits in with President Obama’s message that Americans should work and earn their status as US citizens and everyone should play a role in building the US – it will also add an estimated 65,000 undocumented students a year into the American dream.
To be eligible for temporary residency, undocumented immigrant students must:
• Provide proof of having arrived in the United States before age 16.
• Provide proof of residence in the United States for a least five consecutive years since their date of arrival
• Be aged between 12 and 35 at time of bill enactment.
• Have graduated from an American high school, or obtained a GED.
• Be of good moral character.
In the six year temporary residency permit, students must complete at least two of the following:
• Graduate from a two-year community college,
• Complete at least two years of a 4-year degree,
• Serve two years in the U.S. military.
During the six years undocumented immigrant students can apply for student loans and work study.
If immigrant students successfully complete the conditions they will be granted permanent residency, resulting in US Citizenship.
Failure to meet these requirements results in deportation as does any criminal activity, other than those considered non-drug misdemeanors.
What are your thoughts on the Dream Act, are you one of the thousands lost in the system, given the opportunity would you benefit from this and work for your US citizenship? Leave your comments below.
Published by Gareth McConnell Global Visas in US immigration: DREAM ACT, USA Immigration and work visas
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Please urge your representatives to pass the DREAM Act 2009. It is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart things to. The DREAM Act would help boost our economy and allow America to remain a competitive world power in this age of globalization. These DREAM students are smart , talented, multilingual, multicultural students who have grown up in the US and are just as American as any documented person living in the U.S. THE DREAM Act is something we have waited much too long for and we cannot afford to continue allowing it to fail any longer.\n\nPASS the DREAM ACT 2009
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 am
I do not think illegals should be rewarded with anything…..go Home
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:00 am
If these students can do great things in the USA,just think of the miracles they could do in THEIR own country!,Sick and tired of how we need to feed and fix the world,the real reason these people want to stay here is its free and the best country in the world,each and every one of these letters written forget on purpose to include the word ILLEGAL,they sugar coat it with undocumented worker, never as it is ILLEGAL.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Sick and tired that my taxes are paying for Illegal’s to get free dental and health care when I have to pay for everything I get. I dont care if it is “fair” they should go back to their own country, mom, dad and the kids, and if they cant survive there, tough, face it the World is not a FAIR place to live in.
May 8th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
It’s good that consideration is being taken with the issue.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Absolutely do not pass this. This again rewards people for breaking the law. Why do you people not understand this? You dont let kids of bankrobbers keep the money, do you?
Besides the fact they are already here illegally and they are sucking of resources by using our education sytem through High School, now you want to give them student loans which means there will be less money for students who are actual citizens? Hell no and I cannot say that strongly enough.
The people who put this forward and support this are traitors. They are stealing from citizens to give to non-citizens. It is not right.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Jason, why don’t YOU understand? You can send the bank robber to jail but you wouldn’t send the kid! It’s hardly their fault they’re in the position they’re in. I’m sick and tired of hearing you people moaning on about paying your taxes, it’s a cop-out and a feable argument. The DREAM Act proposes these children work and study, take exams or serve time in the military so they will grow up to be responsible adults. They could end up working in Afganistan or Iraq to protect whingers like you or they might end up working in the local 7/11, either way, they’ll be paying their taxes legally. Or would you prefer we keep going down the same old road treating them like second class citizens and cheating them of a decent shot at life? Who’s stealing from who?
May 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Well said, David. What’s so wrong about educating and making these kids a productive member of society? They were brought here without their consent, and the American dream is for everyone.
May 9th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I agree with David too!
I wish you were in those kids shoes, you would undertand their situation better.
May 10th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
You know what’s strange? The ‘word” ALIEN in the DREAM ACT does not seem to mention documented kids legally in the country. In the 2009 version, the lawmakers and their supporters’ sympathy apparently is only for the UNDOCUMENTED. Did I get it wrong?
May 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
See what many people don’t understand is that illegals also pay taxes. Most live their lives as most other citizens, and because they are illegal they stay away from trouble. I come from a family full of illegals and they work harder than most citizens. I know illegals who have to work three to four jobs, and most are people who have been here for years. Passing the DREAM Act will give children the opportunity to live a good life without having to work several jobs. These kids didnt get to choose whether they came to this country or stayed in their native country. Telling these kids to GO HOME would be like telling an american to go back to England. This is not a reward for breaking the law, its a reward for students who work hard and want to improve our society. The time to pass the DREAM Act is now!
May 30th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
There are many US citizens who have to travel to other countries (Canada, UK, Cuba) for free healthcare. How is that any different than illegal US immigrants coming here for free education?
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
wow some of you people are really ignorant ! you have no idea whats going on around you do you ?! where do you think your ancestors came from? they sure wasnt born here..wow its pathetic how such a powerful country has such a great number of ignorant people..these children shouldnt be blamed for their parents choice to bring them into the U.S. to have a better life, they’re just as american as any child who was born in the country, only thing making them different is their legal status.. the dream act should really be passed since all these kids are smart, intellectual, and will bring this country out of the deep bs their in now.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:48 am
I think that its about time something is being done.
if you read the comments this “IGNORANT PEOPLE” are
writting you will see that all they care about is money.
OH but if you were to be in there positions you would
be supporting no doubt.
I agree with Michelle she has a strong point.
you guys think that i child would want to move
to a country that speaks out another language?
Do you think that they really wanted this?
NO THEY DIDN’T
But when your child don’t have enything to eat at home
you have to think about them and find something better.
they are just here to better themselfs not to take
your stupid money..ok
Or your JOBS.
because i know that “Americans” are not going
to do a job like they do.
think about it before you speak
because that just makes you ignorant.
look were you came from and your ancestors then talk.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 am
I’m 16 and I am one of does kid here in the US going to school,
my parent brought here at age 2 i didn’t know anything at that age so why can’t i have the American Dream. My parents pay taxes, the IRS gave them a IRS number to pay taxes and i don’t have FREE healthcare because i don’t have a SS number. What will i do when i’m out of school if i don’t have my SS to work. Why don’t people understand that we are not here for free “stuff” but to live a good life. At this age i can’t go back to where i was born i don’t know the place. This is my home and where i will stay and hopefully soon to come the immigration reform. So i can stay here living the DREAM.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
They’re illegal. They’re not citizens. They should not be given any special treatment, regardless of how they got here (and how old they were) in the first place. It’s not right nor is it fair.
Michelle…
“wow some of you people are really ignorant ! you have no idea whats going on around you do you ?! where do you think your ancestors came from?”
My ancestors are from Russia, Poland, Sweden and Germany. They all came here through Ellis Island, and oh what do you know? They came here LEGALLY. They weren’t sneaking over. They went through all the processes and did everything that was required for them to become legal citizens, they were not given any special treatment, nor was it the made any easier for them.
Ignorance has nothing to do with it. I don’t see why lawbreakers should be rewarded.
When the hell did it become so difficult for these people to come here legally?
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Thanks for the alternative view point Lisa – pity it sucks. So you’re one quarter Russian, one quarter Poland… yawn…. one quarter Swiss, sorry Swedish, and one quarter German… with all them quarters does that make you any more American than Carlos who left the comment above you or did you not bother to read his comment? Why’s it so difficult for intelligent people like you to understand a 2 year old brought into the USA does not have any say in their future and should not be held accountable for their tax-paying, IRS number holder parents? What does it take to inspire young people like you to somehow relate to your peers? What if Native Americans turned around and told you to you were no longer eligible to the life you’ve only been ever used to because your four quarter BS doesn’t wash with them? Are you afraid of the competition or do you just not realize the full potential these 65,000 people can contribute to the economy when the USA is DOWN and needs all the help we can get. Or would you just prefer we order them to continue taking a seat at the back of the bus?
The USA is the greatest country in the world because we’ve overcome these mistakes and we lead the world in example.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
PLease your one kvastion?did might help young s for imigration in second contry s for better yob?
May 21st, 2010 at 3:03 am
This is just rewarding the illegals!!! don’t pass this law or any other that reward this kind of insult to this nation. Here are my reason for that, if you apply for a Student Visa to be legally educated in the US you need to pay more than out-of-state kids just for the same class without any special treatment, moreover they have no rights to work out side of the institution that provide them with the F-I/I-20 (the legal documentation) none they can apply to any financial aid or student loans. you can check all these well established laws. Yes I do agree that those kids are part of the irresponsibility of their own parents, and they are not here because they wanted to abuse the opportunities of this country, but at the same time when you applied to any educational institution in the US, they ask you your legal status in the country, so you consciously lied about it. More over you are taking away the opportunity to another legal resident or citizen to be in that educational institution, not to mention of the thousands of students that are waiting to get an opportunity to study in this country legally.
I would like to know if these illegal students are granted with financial aid?
Passing this law is just a slap on the face to all the people that are in the system waiting to be in the US legally. I am an immigrant and I don’t take my legal status in this country for granted.
July 21st, 2010 at 11:18 pm
I wonder if I would still be elegible for the Dream Act since I came here one month after I turned 16 and now I’m almost 22. I fullfil most of the requirements except for that one. I’m actually pursuing a bachelors degree in petroleum engineering. Am I going to be disqualified if the bill passes this year??
August 3rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I think the legislation is still to be passed and also you have already been in the United States for the 6-year temporary period