DREAM Act Background

The Problem

There are over 1.2 million undocumented immigrant children that were brought to the United States as infants and young children. They lived and grew up in the United States all their lives and many don’t even remember their home countries – some don’t even speak the language.

However, because their immigration status is derived from their parents they do not have legal documentation and therefore cannot vote, drive or work. They also live in constant fear of apprehension by authorities and deportation. Under current laws there is no legal avenue for these children and young adults to apply for residency or citizenship.  So even though these young adults and children lived here the overwheming majority of their lives, they cannot become legalized.

Many states prohibit undocumented students from attending college or university while others force them to pay out of state tuition -- even though meet and exceed all the requirements for in-state tutition.  Those few students that are able to graduate with a college diploma are faced with the stark reality that they cannot be legally hired nor pursue their desired career field.  

They are the lucky ones as many students are identified by increasingly hostile local enforcement authorities, turned over to the Department of Homeland Security and put into deportation proceedings.  

The Solution

The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is a piece of bipartisan legislation introduced March 26th, 2009 at the federal level in both the House and the Senate. In the Senate it is known as S.729 and in the House H.R.1751. This bill would grant conditional residency to undocumented students and young adults who were brought to the United States before the age of sixteen, demonstrate good moral character and graduate from high school.

To obtain permanent residency students would have a six year period to complete at least two years of study at a community college or university and / or two years of military service.

The DREAM Act is the only hope for over 1.2 million students who want nothing more than to obtain residency and give back to the country they love.