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Immigration law reform is one of the many changes President Obama has promised America. Many ideas have been discussed. One of them is the DREAM Act, co-sponsored by Senator Lugar of Indiana and Senator Durbin of Illinois, among others. The basic idea is to allow some illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age and educated in American schools to become permanent residents.
Under the DREAM Act, certain undocumented individuals can become legal residents. The first step in this process is for the individual to enroll in some type of higher education, such as a university, vocational school, or apprenticeship program. Another option is to enlist in the US military. If certain requirements are met, the person may apply for conditional residency in the U.S. Upon obtaining an associate degree or 2-year equivalent within six years of the initial petition, the conditional status may be changed and the person may become legal permanent Can become a resident of the United States.
To be eligible for permanent residency under the DREAM Act, a person must have entered the United States before the age of 16 and have resided in the United States for at least five years without interruption. The individual must also demonstrate the ability to speak English.
Under the DREAM Act, conditional residents will be eligible for private loans to fund their education, but will not be eligible for Pell grants. Under the DREAM Act, 65,000 students can become conditional residents each year, and eventually become permanent residents and citizens if they follow current immigration rules and regulations.
One of the ideas behind the DREAM Act is to make better use of taxpayer dollars that are being used to educate illegal immigrant youth in public schools across the country. If these youth are willing to continue their education through additional schooling or the military, they will be allowed to become a legal part of our society without fear of losing their families through deportation. Furthermore, the DREAM Act initially only benefited those who were most likely to be taken across the border by their parents without their own decision. Many of these individuals have spent more years in the United States illegally than in their home countries.
The DREAM Act may be merged with other legislation as part of a broader immigration law reform in 2010. If other ideas do not gain the necessary support from members of Congress, the DREAM Act can be enacted without additional reform measures. Either way, even proposing such a law gives hope to many people now living in the United States who currently have no way to become legal residents.
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