Text of the new DREAM Act that is being introduced for 2011

http://theniya.org/wp-content/upload...-Dream-Act.pdf

I have not read it yet, but will do, just busy atm.

skimming through it, looks similar to the version that was attempted during the lame duck session.

In this one the age limit is set at 35, cannot find any mention of the retroactive clause on this one...

Another difference is that the conditional status is back down to 6 years instead of 10.

They must know that it is unlikely that it will pass. It is more of a symbolic gesture for the immigrant community. Otherwise, they wouldn't change the duration of conditional resident status back to 6 years. In other words, they know that 10 years as the duration of conditional resident status will not increase the likelihood of the passage of the DREAM Act. So, since there is no difference, they just changed it to a more "generous" version (compared to last year's version).

Another thing they seem to be trying to bank on is the recent increase in passing so called state versions of the "dream act" which are really only aimed at providing resources for higher education to undocumented youth.

But I don't know, at least the Illinois Dream Act was seriously watered down to pass the senate the way it did, and right now is facing opposition from the Tea Party which recently joined forces with the Minute Men. I mean... wth, how do they get away joining forces with the Minute Men, its like they are not trying to hide the fact that their views are segregated to one side anymore.

Awesome!

Another good news.

What about Good Moral Character. It does not tell you what is included in there or does it work with the current Good Moral Character laws?

I assume for "good moral character" would be like not getting in trouble with drugs, stealing etc...

It does refer to several pieces of laws to define what would disqualify a person from applying, and that is something that would need to be researched, it might be similar to the lame duck version but there are some changes to this one so maybe there are some changes. I do wonder if they kept that portion that was added in the lame duck version which specifically disqualified those that overstayed student visas, which seems counter-intuitive to me if they met all the other requirements including age and time in the country, as well as high school or GED diploma.

I don't think that excluding the retroactive clause is such a great idea for the future of this country, I mean this bill has been coming up for the past 10 years, in all likelihood if this version passes it would be 11 years, those dreamers from back then are getting awfully close to the age limit and may have gone through the college education in anticipation that the DREAM Act would pass soon, the retroactive clause would have covered them regardless of age as long as they had the degree in their hand and met every other requirement including age of entry, high school or GED etc.

That has indeed been referenced all the time, its curious though, past versions of the DREAM Act, would allow up to a certain quantity of specific substances on only one occasion, in other words, less than that specific amount on one incident would not have disqualified you.

This version does however seem to include the 3 misdemeanor limit or any felony charge to disqualify you, the biometrics seem to be in there as well, and most likely, as the trend has been, absolutely no cost to the tax payers so all fees and potentially additional fines would put on the applicant.