While we were happy to see a picture of the die-in that took place last week on the Plaza in support of the DREAM Act, we were disappointed that it was not accompanied by an article explaining what the Act entails. Additionally, the picture’s caption, which claimed that the DREAM Act “would allow undocumented young people who grew up in the U.S. to become legal citizens,” gave insufficient and misleading information about the Act. The DREAM Act might finally hit the Senate floor next week as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. Given the importance of this proposed federal legislation, we believe clarification on it is necessary.
This Act is not about amnesty, which is suggested by the wording of the caption. While the Act does provide Conditional Permanent Residency, there are specific guidelines as to who qualifies. First, the individual must have entered the country before his or her 16th birthday. He or she must have also been in the country for at least five consecutive years prior to the enactment of the bill. At the time of application, the individual must be between 12 and 35 years old. The applicant must have a “good moral character,” which is judged on an individual basis.
Finally, and most crucially, the applicant must have graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED and have been accepted into an institution of higher education to qualify for conditional permanent residency. This status would grant them a six year period to obtain a bachelor’s degree, complete two years of higher education, or serve for two years in the military. Upon completion, they would be eligible to file for permanent residency.
With so much attention on the immigration debate, it is extremely important to clarify that the DREAM Act is not about amnesty, but rather about education.
Michelle Lozano Villegas, Trinity ’12
Lizzeth Alarcon, Trinity ’12
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