DREAM Act May Vanish if Not Passed in 2010

One of the cruelest, and most illogical, aspects of present-day U.S. immigration laws is that of the fate of young adults who were brought to this country illegally as small children by their parents. The DREAM Act, which is an acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, would cure this injustice.

Quite often, these 18 to 30 year olds have grown up in the United States, attended schools, earned terrific grades, gone on to attend college or join the military, and proven to be contributing, law-abiding community members. Then one day, a fateful connection is made, usually regarding their parents, and their lives are turned upside-down overnight with threats of detention and/or deportation.

Heartbreaking examples are legion of upstanding, high-achieving young adults caught in an immigration trap not of their own making and often previously unbeknownst to them:

•From the Washington Post today - "In many ways, Eric Balderas's story is the typical American dream. He came to the United States with his parents at age 4. He was the valedictorian of Highlands High School in San Antonio and was admitted to Harvard's class of 2013. There, he studies molecular and cellular biology and is about to begin his sophomore year. He dreams of helping to find a cure for cancer.

"But there is one problem: He is not in the country legally. On June 7, boarding an airplane back to Boston after visiting his mother in San Antonio, he was arrested and threatened with deportation."

•From LatinaLista - "... a young, bright college freshman studying electrical engineering on a full scholarship at a local Dallas university suddenly caught in... U.S. immigration policy, and deported back to a country (Bangladesh) he barely remembered -- but only after spending 42 days in detention separated from both of his parents."

•From DreamActArizona.com - "Virginia , an '07 honors graduate from North High School was deported following a routine traffic stop. After her arrest and subsequent four-day stay in a samall holding cell with 35 women with no blankets, no pillows and beds, Virginia signed a voluntary deportation order and was taken, by bus to Nogales , where she was left without any concern for her well being.

"Virginia had been awarded numerous scholarships to attend ASU. She wanted to be a nurse and looked forward to making a meaningful contribution to our community. "

•From the Fresno Bee newspaper - "Arthur Mkoyan's 4.0 grade-point average has made him a valedictorian at Bullard High School in Fresno and qualified him to enter one of the state's top universities.

"But while his classmates look forward to dorm food and college courses this fall, Arthur Mkoyan may not make it. He is being deported.

"Arthur, 17, and his mother have been ordered out of the country. By late June, they may be headed to Armenia. Arthur hasn't seen Armenia since he was 2, and he doesn't want to return."

The DREAM Act, which has been proposed in every Congress since 2001, would cure this inhumane situation by granting conditional permanent residency to persons aged 12 to 35 years old if they meet a long list of specific conditions, and if they either:

•"Enroll in an institution of higher education in order to pursue a bachelor's degree or higher degree or
•"Enlist in one of the branches of the United States Military."
After successful completion of either college or military service within six years, they would be eligible to apply for permanent U.S. residency. They could then get in line to apply for United States Citizenship.

The DREAM Act is fair and just, both for the children of immigrants, and for the United States, which stands to benefit greatly from the rich contributions of these law-abiding persons.

President Obama supports passage of the DREAM Act, declaring on July 1, 2010:

"... we should stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by denying them the chance to stay here and earn an education and contribute their talents to build the country where they've grown up. The DREAM Act would do this..."
The DREAM Act is again languishing in both Congressional houses, despite being sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of more than 100 elected leaders.

Become informed at Profile of the DREAM Act - Immigration Legislation for Educated Minors.

Then URGE your elected representatives to Congress to support passage of the DREAM ACT now in 2010.... because given the angrily partisan mood of much of the country, 2011 may be too late.

If not passed by Congress in 2010, the DREAM Act may vanish as a legislative priority for many years. And that would be a tragedy for a generation of smart, hard-working, law-abiding young adults who want to contribute to our country.

http://usliberals.about.com/b/2010/0...ed-in-2010.htm

I think the best chance to pass DA is right after Labor Day and not after November 2 elections because the Senate will take a "recess" of nearly two weeks, and will come back in session for a few days before Thanksgiving before going on "recess" again until the new Congress in January. Oh, and I forgot about the recess that starts right away in October. "Recess" being code for abdicating responsibility for legislation, but going on a paid vacation at the taxpayer's expense. More like regress, I say. Regressive policies is all they give back when they go on a "recess". I promise you that regardless of the hint of t-bagging there, I am just venting my frustration. I dare any t-bagger find a logical argument against this legislation other than the racist pandering they are spewing to earn their spots in hell. This really is a time of urgency and I just don't trust the Democrats' words on anything related to immigration. History speaks for itself and past history shows us that more that time passes, the more resistance we find to reform this system.

Yes, when speaking to Senators/House representatives/Sponsors it is very important that you bring this up in the message. ITS THIS YEAR OR NEVER.

That would be a catastrophe, this has already been a tragedy for all of us for almost 10 years! I really, really hope this gets done soon, even if it's not done after labor day, at least next year, because the desperation sometimes is so much that it's too hard too bear. Your're right alex it was innapropiate humor, I edited it myself. Let's be serious about this, because it's closer than ever.

Of course...

Unless more immigration-friendly Democrats and Republicans come to the Congress, especially the Senate, it will be difficult for any immigration-friendly bill to be passed by the Congress over the next few years. I fear that more anti-immigration Republicans are likely to dominate the Senate Republicans. Currently, Tea Partiers and crazy right-wingers are going crazy and voting for the most extreme candidates imaginable in the Republican primaries around the country. Having too extreme candidates for the general American voters is likely to reduce the Republicans' ability to pick up seats in the Congress, but it is clear that most, if not all, of news Republicans in the Congress next year will be anti-immigration.

Although the Democrats are unlikely to lose the Senate this year, they are likely to lose some seats in the Senate, meaning that it will be even more difficult to do anything immigration-friendly.

The fact that a Democrat is in the White House will not help the Democrats in the 2010 election unless the Republicans in the Congress do something disastrous and destroy their prospect for the 2012 election.

So, pushing (and, eventually, passing) the DREAM Act (or the Comprehensive Immigration Reform) this year is the best thing that can happen for us whether it happens before the election or after the election.

Mod Edit: Inappropriate humor

if, democrats retain their majorities in next congress, and go ahead with the filibuster reform and we have 51 pro-immigration or pro-dream senators in the congress we can get the reform done without having to have an uber majority or begging republicans for votes (because lets face it, with the shit flying right now with the teabaggers we can't expect much help in the first year and right now enforcement first is the same as saying enforcement only..)

this year or never!

I just want to say is that I would give my life to this country and help create jobs and improve the economy by creating new businesses and being an entrepaneur, but my illegal status prevents me from acquiring credit and the ability to get a driver's license. I just need 18 more college hours and I'll be a graduate, but since I do not have any income any more, I'm just going to sell all of my belongings and move to Cancun to start a new life.

Damn teabaggers. They have a chance a ruining the chances of passing dream next year. That's why dream should pass this year. Then again, teabaggers are against social security, electoral college, and other things that maybe ppl might not vote for them, because they will relize that teaparty candidates are just that, crazy! But I guess they might win some seats, because some ppl are voting based on xenophia towards immigrants, black, guys, etc. Why is that democrat voters sleep on mid-term elections? We need them to turn out to vote for our candidates.

People in this country are incredibly ignorant and that's why these fools with lipton bags on their hats get press coverage and win primaries. Notice I said ignorant, not illiterate, and even then...quite a large chunk of the population are insular and only hold a one-sided view of the States and the rest of the world. A lot of the 'professionals' in the country are trained individuals, but not educated. Big difference. That's how many of them are leaders in the tea party movement. Doctors, lawyers, business executives. And then again, it could just be corruption and big money.