DREAM Act aims to help illegal immigrants

Liv Swenson

College Reporter

A proposal introduced to Congress is aiming to help undocumented foreign students afford higher education and increase their chances of legally obtaining employment.

“These children have built their lives here. They have no possibility of achieving the American dream. What a tremendous loss to our society,” said one of the bill’s introducers, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, in a statement to Congress.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, commonly referred to as the DREAM Act, intends to aid younger immigrants who entered the United States illegally before the age of 16, usually brought in by their parents. The Act looks to help these individuals by giving them an opportunity to get a higher education and work legally if they have certain qualifications.

It is especially geared toward helping youth who have graduated from high school and are attending college — those who could be a valuable asset to the country if they were able to work and contribute to society.

“The bill has received remarkable bipartisan support in the Senate,” Hatch spokesperson Margarita Tapia said.

The act was proposed as a response to the realization that many young immigrants, who have been part of American society since their families brought them into the country at a young age, are unable to receive and afford higher education or work legally because of their alien status.

“Some students are better off and have money to pay for college, but then there are some who aren’t able to,” Wisconsin International Student Association’s President Jack Vinijtrongjit said. “I really think we should support this.”

While many are optimistic that the bill will pass in the senate, it might not be as likely to pass in the House of Representatives. According to Tapia, the bill is still in the House’s judiciary committee, and a date has not been set for it to go to vote in either the Senate or the House.

However, the DREAM Act has been facing opposition from groups who believe it will do more trouble than good, especially regarding admission into colleges.

“[The act] affords coveted slots to people who are not even authorized to be in the country,” Director of Communications at the Center for Immigration Studies John Keeley said. “We see it as a de facto amnesty.”

In response to criticism, supporters of the bill assure that its provisions are very strict, including eliminating waivers for those who have criminal records that would qualify them for deportation.

Opponents, however, point out that the green card issued to the students would give family members an invitation to come into the country.

“We are concerned about the message it would send, making a problem with illegal aliens. It would represent a new endeavor for Homeland Security during a time when there are so many other issues,” Keeley said.

The bill will most likely be voted on during this session of Congress.