The Supreme court guaranteed free public education for immigrant children till they graduate from high school in this country. This court ruling did not happen until my age group of immigrants were already passed the high school age. If you have not seen for yourself that there is a complete disconnect between older immigrants people from about the age of 38 and older to the generation now which causes problems for the Dream Act. My age group are far more closer then what you have today we stuck together the people that are younger than us do not have that same togetherness which hurts the dream act. My wife and I both being teachers see this every day and it drives us nuts when are talking with parents of immigrant children both here in South Carolina and before when we lived and taught in Texas. There was a huge mass influx of immigrants that came over after we were given citizenship which is good but they have a different outlook on being here and the minimum of what they need to do while they are here. You see it in Texas just like we see here in South Carolina the drop out rate of immigrants is out of control. Its far higher than the black community here in South Carolina not sure anymore about the difference in Texas. You cannot get through to the parents that if you don't have that HS degree you will not be part of a Dream Act or citizenship in the future. Times are changing so fast here in South Carolina and in Texas as teachers we know how strict immigrant laws are going to be.When the Dream act passes there are only going to let in the upper echelon of immigrants students in with that bill. So my wife and I not only scream out at the parents letting them know this, we constantly talk to our immigrant students as well. The truth is if you drop out or you get pregnant and drop out your done don't look for a future here in this country because you just pissed it away. Sounds harsh but its the truth. Being poor is not an excuse there was no poorer than my generation of immigrants. Our parents had nothing they had to take low paying jobs even though they were educated in Mexico and were trained in specific trades they did not succeed in making money until being in this country for at least 10 years. Getting pregnant is not a excuse now days for you not to get your High school degree or GED there are to many programs in place that make it easy for you to take care of this. Again if you can look at the trends that are happening the Dream Act is not going to happen for people that did not take full advantage of there opportunities. I firmly believe the Dream Act when passes is going to have the age group cut and the school requirements raised nobody can look at it and tell me different. And that is not a bad deal for citizenship keep pounding away at school and work hard at it.

Like I said parents that came after my group of immigrants have been fooled into a net of safety because the Government relaxed on the rules so much in the 90's that they are not prepared to take care of there children under a different set of rules. My wife and I never drove a car until we were legal and could afford one the license came at 18. We took the bus everyday till the time we graduated from high school we lived in the dorm when we got to college with no car. Today , I have illegal children driving without a DL with a full load of kids in there car in the same situation. I have parents driving without a DL and car full of children who are not legal and it makes my wife and I want to scream. When all the laws get put in place if you are not legal or do not have a DL don't get in a car with someone that does not have a DL and don't you dare drive without a DL ever. You are just asking to be deported and what a stupid way to go. Sorry , I had to get those two items off my chest but I am sure you are familiar with both issues.

Lastly, you kids that are not out of high school stop worrying about the politics of it stay informed of course but don't get so wrapped up in it that it gets in you to a hateful tone towards either party. Just take care of your business that is all that matters you cannot blame politics on you not doing what you have to do to succeed. Politics and Politicians will flip flop with the wind for instance my parents generation vote Republican and know one could ever change there mind to vote differently. Mexican people in my parents generation are republicans . They were Republicans before they came to the US in those days everyone from Mexico came from strict catholic homes all them lived a conservative life.So when they came to the US they related to the Republican party and then Republicans gave them there citizenship so they believe they are indebted to that party.My wife and I vote democrat not because of immigration we vote Democrat because we are union and democrats protect unions which protect us. In the end the Politics of the Dream Act could come from any direction there is no reason to get so worked up on the politics to the point your fighting with one another. Spend that energy studying and nothing else. Off my soap box sorry so long.