Congress is getting closer to passing a bill that could add hundreds of thousands of new, upstanding citizens to our ranks.
The House passed the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — better known as the DREAM Act — on Wednesday.
Unfortunately, initial reports say that the measure will have a much harder time gaining the 60 votes it needs to pass in the Senate.
Don’t let this happen. Call your senators and tell them that students brought here illegally shouldn’t receive the same treatment as their parents, and that they deserve just as much a chance to succeed as anyone else.
The act would allow children of undocumented citizens who have been in the U.S. for more than five years, arrived when they were younger than 16 and have a high school diploma or GED to begin the process of becoming a legal resident. The process requires immigrants to complete two years of college or two years of military service.
Currently, it can take up to 20 years to obtain a visa granting legal status, according to the U.S. State Department.
This bill may not be the perfect answer to a difficult issue, but what better way could the U.S. encourage an increasingly innovative work force and strong military than allowing undocumented students — who must meet standards set forth by the Department of Homeland Security — a chance to become legal residents?
Critics maintain the bill will encourage illegal immigration, but they’ve only offered talking points and no real evidence.
Not only is the DREAM Act morally upright, it should save the government money. The deficit would be reduced by $1.4 billion in the next decade if this bill becomes law, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Studies have shown that once federal benefits for these students are finally activated, the deficit could begin increasing again. However, a UCLA study concluded Dec. 1 that just 825,000 new citizens could contribute as much as $1.4 trillion in income over a 40 year period. If 2.1 million undocumented citizens are granted citizenship under the DREAM Act, they could generate $3.6 trillion during the same period.
The House’s action was historic, but now it’s time for the Senate to DREAM as well.
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azphxuli 1 year, 5 months ago
I love this DREAM Act. It is my only hope!!! Hope the Senate removes their head from their rears and take a deep look into their hearts. There are not enough excuses to contradict the benefits of this law. Honestly, I think that any senator who decides to vote against the DREAM Act is just an overly conservative cold-hearted politician. If the DREAM Act doesn't pass, then there is no way I could ever trust that our government is capable of making good decisions.
chas036 1 year, 5 months ago
NO DREAM ACT!!!!! NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS!!!!
These illegal immigrants are nothing but out right felons and criminals and should be treated as such, and not given any reward of citizenship or any other form of legal status in this country.
What to hell kind of country do we have where people who knowingly, willfully and blatantly break our laws and fraud our government on a regular day to day basis as these illegal immigrants do, and then they have the nerve to think that this country should reward them and thier children with citizenship.
It is a well known and proven fact that the vast majority of all illegal immigrants in this country knowingly and willfully commit blatant acts of forgery and use forged documents like social security cards, birth certificates and other forms of legal documents to benefit their own self interests. They knowingly and willfully commit blatant acts of identity theft by stealing the SS numbers and identities of American citizens for their own selfish gains, and they knowingly and willfully use these forged documents and stolen identities to fraud city, state, and federal agencies out of social services. You know what is even worse, these illegals teach thier children how commit these crimes also. Now, can you actually tell me that these are the type of people you want to be our next citizens, people who commit forgery and identity theft on a daily basis without any remorse or respect for the country they live in?.