Immigration Matters: America Needs the Dream Act for Undocumented Students
New America Media, Commentary, Deepak Bhargava, Posted: Feb 22, 2006
Editor's Note: Denying educational opportunities to children of undocumented immigrants is un-American and self-destructive. Congress must pass the DREAM Act for the country’s sake.
Author Deepak Bhargava |
Children of undocumented immigrants are in the crosshairs of anti-immigrant advocates’ attacks on new Americans. Across the country, efforts are under way to strip these students of the ability to go to college. If they succeed, this will be a tragedy for all Americans, not only for youth relegated to a permanent underclass.
Fortunately for all of us, immigrant youth and their allies will not take this lying down. Young immigrants actively campaigned to re-introduce the DREAM Act in the Senate last November. The DREAM Act (S. 2075) would remove barriers to obtaining higher education for undocumented children who graduate from American high schools. It would also provide these immigrant youth, who in most cases have never known another home outside America, a path to obtaining legal status.
Access to education is a fundamental American value. United States law guarantees access to primary and secondary education to all children regardless of immigration status. The Supreme Court affirmed this right in 1981. Immigration is a fundamentally American experience. Families come to this country every day – legally and illegally – to escape poverty, oppression and danger and to find opportunity, freedom and safety. Denying innocent young people the opportunity to advance with their peers violates these values.
This weekend, young activists will gather in Chicago for the first of a series of regional youth trainings being held across the country. The trainings will strengthen their organizing and leadership skills to fight for passage of the DREAM Act and combat the anti-immigrant political environment in this country.
One student is Diana, a 20-year old from Chicago who graduated at the top of her high school class. Fortunately for her, an Illinois law enabled her to attend college at the same reduced rate paid by her high school peers. Diana is now a senior at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics. Yet her troubles are far from over. Unless the DREAM Act passes, she may be unable to work or go to graduate school. Like all youth in her situation, she lives in constant fear of deportation.
By passing this legislation, we’re doing more than opening up the doors of education and military service for young undocumented youth; we’re building a stronger society. We’re enabling high achievers like Diana to use their talent and hard work in ways that benefit America and make us more competitive abroad.
The DREAM Act would stem the tide of poverty and lost opportunities that many of these students face. But it is not a free pass. Young people must meet stringent requirements in order to qualify. Students must have lived in this country for at least 5 years and be of good moral character. They must posses a high school diploma or a GED in order to qualify. After that, they would be given conditional status for 6 years, within which time they must have completed at least 2 years of college or military service. Only then would they qualify as applicants for permanent residency status. Hardly a walk in the park.
There are tentative signs in states like Virginia that the political pendulum may be swinging in favor of undocumented immigrant rights. In mid-February, the State Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that would allow students who graduate from Virginia high schools, whose parents have paid taxes for at least three years and who are actively seeking residency status, to be granted entry into Virginia colleges at reduced, in-state fees.
The bill was introduced by Emmett W. Hanger, a Republican and longtime opponent of college education for undocumented students. After presiding over naturalization ceremonies and seeing these new citizens swear their loyalty after years of effort and toil, Mr. Hanger had a change of heart.
Despite the deafening noise of hatred and racism pouring out of our legislatures and television sets, there are signs of a growing movement that believes that every child, family and worker in America should be treated with dignity and has a shot at the American dream.
We must come together to change the communities in which we live and create a society that recognizes the contributions of students like Diana. From Chicago to Nashville to Phoenix, young people from all walks of life are galvanizing to change a nation. Together, we can change the tone of the immigration debate in America and ensure the DREAM Act becomes law.
Deepak Bhargava, the executive director of DC-based Center for Community Change, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, low-income advocacy group.
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User Comments
Edie on Sep 27, 2007 at 11:21:33 said:
A lot of these children can receive a free (and I do mean free) college education in their own country. How many American children get that option? Why should American tax dollars be used to subsidize their education? The Federal Government has cut college financial aid for American children, so why when a college education is free to a lot of these kids in their own country should we limit even smaller resources for American children. This is not right. The predicament these children face is the sole responsibility of their parents and now America is being asked to fix a problem that illegal immigrants caused to their children by coming into this country illegally. The pnly persons who are accountable are their parents.
Edie on Sep 27, 2007 at 11:21:31 said:
A lot of these children can receive a free (and I do mean free) college education in their own country. How many American children get that option? Why should American tax dollars be used to subsidize their education? The Federal Government has cut college financial aid for American children, so why when a college education is free to a lot of these kids in their own country should we limit even smaller resources for American children. This is not right. The predicament these children face is the sole responsibility of their parents and now America is being asked to fix a problem that illegal immigrants caused to their children by coming into this country illegally. The pnly persons who are accountable are their parents.
Alex U. on Mar 28, 2006 at 11:53:06 said:
I am barely a junior in high school becoming a senior next year and I find myself stuck in place because I don't know if i will be able to go to college. I am in the top ten percent out of 900 students in my junior class and have a gpa of 4.1. I am enrolled in the Advanced Placement classes at my school but after my whole life of hard work I am told that it isn't going to help any in my future if the D.R.E.A.M act isn't passed. I would give anything to be born a U.S. citizen but there is nothing I can do about it. I wish that my parents would have come here before i was born.
Harving Jimenez on Mar 22, 2006 at 07:50:44 said:
The Drea Act is by far the only hope for undocumented children who have been here for most of their lives and want to continue an education. Istead of trying to deny us an education why not think of the possitive things that can happen if we were allowed to get an education. So why be envious? we are not trying to take anything from anybody, infact we are trying to contribute to our communities. In other word, the American people will benefit the most from hard working people like us who are willing to sacrafise anything to become part of this country.
davie on Mar 22, 2006 at 01:07:28 said:
The Dream Act is and will become the door for success and opportunity for many young immigrants. Immigrants that only want to make U.S. a better nation. I believe that the Dream Act will not only benefit many illegal immigrants, but will also give the economy a bust, as well help solve many problems like shortage of bilingual professionals such as teachers in Texas. Why bring and give professional from other country visas when you have hard working students that are become professional. U.S. does not need professionals from other countries it needs to legalize illegal professional and student that are in the country.
Nick on Mar 18, 2006 at 10:45:02 said:
Edie, "The pnly persons who are accountable are their parents."
So why are we being held responsible if our parrents are to be held accountable? We are not asking that American citizens pay for us. We want to be part of society. We want to be able to work and pay taxes. We simply want a normal life.
Nick on Mar 17, 2006 at 13:50:04 said:
Edie, "The pnly persons who are accountable are their parents."
So why are we being held responsible if our parrents are to be held accountable? We are not asking that American citizens pay for us. We want to be part of society. We want to be able to work and pay taxes. We simply want a normal life.
juan on Mar 15, 2006 at 14:45:08 said:
The dream act is by far the best and most common sense filled idea there has been out of all immigration laws ever thought of by people. I am currently attending Austin Community College here in texas and trying to transfer over to texas state university for a degree in architectual engineering. I have lived in the U.S. since i was a baby but never really got the chance to be considered a "legal resident" because of my immigration status. Life has been very difficult for me knowing that i am stuck in life and am not able to work or drive legally. so many people like myself would be so happy knowing that there is hope for them and that they have a shot at the american dream. No hardworking students should be stuck in life like myself. Everyone with good moral character who has big dreams of being part of this country should have a shot at being normal like everyone who is born in the U.S. It is also a good idea because there are requirements such as a highschool diploma and a certain amount of time of being in the u.s. which should be helpful to query out all the good illegal immigrants who want to do good and exclude all the illegal immigrants who are criminals and cause nothing but problems which most likely do not have a highschool diploma or even want to go to college. I hope the dream act will pass and relieve many people and myself from this depression of knowing that we cant do anything in life. Please support the dream act.
deisy on Mar 01, 2006 at 13:12:44 said:
The Dream Act can only benefit this country. These are students that are only trying to be a contribution to the America economy. I would personally benefit from the DREAM act. I was brought into this country when I was 1 year old, currently I am attending the University of Texas at Austin, but once I graduate I will not be able to pursue my career as a teacher due to not being legal in this country. This law is not attracting any incoming immigration, it will just benefit students that have been here since a young age, are educated and have a desire to overcome the obstacles of being called an "illegal immigrant." They know no other country but the US as their country.
Faith and Noren (students at Columbia Univ) on Mar 01, 2006 at 10:21:31 said:
Why should these innocent children be separated from their family and friends--virtually everyone they know--and be sent to live ALONE in a country that is foreign to them, where they might not even speak the language??! The children that we are speaking of are culturally American. This is where they've grown up. The only thing that makes them different from your children is their immaigration status. Alot of these children don't even realize what a predicament they are in UNTIL they try to pursue higher education. It is at that point that all their dreams are shattered. Ask yourself, is denying these children higher education really being fair? By denying these children education we are just creating a bigger problem for ourselves. Lack of education and lack of opportunity leads youth to a life of crime and gang violence. Being underpaid and experiencing abuse by employers, who employ these unfortunate people illegally, is also a distinct possibilty. These conditions lead to anger, resentment, and hopelessness. These children, because they are not here of their own free will, deserve a path to legal status--and that path should be through education. If you think that these innocent children should be sent back, then you should be sent back as well. This is a country developed by immigrants. We are all immigrants. Who knows what amazing contributions these students can add to the successes of this country? This is exactly how we became a great nation in the first place.
Edie on Feb 28, 2006 at 22:10:17 said:
A lot of these children can receive a free (and I do mean free) college education in their own country. How many American children get that option? Why should American tax dollars be used to subsidize their education? The Federal Government has cut college financial aid for American children, so why when a college education is free to a lot of these kids in their own country should we limit even smaller resources for American children. This is not right. The predicament these children face is the sole responsibility of their parents and now America is being asked to fix a problem that illegal immigrants caused to their children by coming into this country illegally. The pnly persons who are accountable are their parents.
Erik H on Feb 28, 2006 at 14:39:52 said:
I\'m generally for restricted immigration (not against immigration per se), but this is a great idea. children of illegal immigrants regardless of their status are basically american, and providing a path to legal citizenship via education can only benefit both the student and the country.
Virginia, a country has obligations to its citizens, not to interlopers, even accidental ones. Everyone has a right to education, but that\'s the responsibility of your own country.
tom cornelio on Feb 27, 2006 at 10:48:06 said:
this is one of the best ideas.
now every student has the chance to succed and the 2 year college requirement is a wonderful idea that everyone can have a chance for a better future. if u can go and move on to college u shuld take the chance not settle down for a low paying job and if u dont have the brains for that, 2 years in the army will give u a better chance in life. hopefully this act passes for all students to have a future so EVERYONE can hav an equal chance here in america.
Virginia Garcia-Bunuel on Feb 22, 2006 at 22:49:06 said:
I have serious concerns about the necessity in this Act to REQUIRE two years of military service. Since the Pentagon is spending millions on Latino recruitment, why the REQUIREMENT for military service in lieu of college? It is not difficult to voluntarily join the military. Why are two years of military service equated with two years of college? Do we not have a MORAL obligation to these young people who have had the US as there only home? What reason is there to deny equal opportunity in education?? We do not require military service
of ALL of Ameicas's youth if they do not attend college for two years.
I have no problem with the two year educational requirement as long as students have access to grants or other funds if they need them.
Victor on Feb 22, 2006 at 11:20:26 said:
The Dream Act has my vote! Passing this law could only help, not hurt.
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