Bleeding heart illegal alien hugger Des Moines Iowa Register Editorial:

Let undocumented students have chance at better future

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs. ... /-1/LIFE04
September 24, 2007
2 Comments

Think of all the young immigrants who grew up in the United States who are watching to see whether Congress finally will pass the Dream Act.

Their parents brought them to this country illegally, some still in diapers. They are undocumented, but otherwise they feel like Americans. They can go to public schools through 12th grade because of a 1982 Supreme Court decision, but then the door to the future slams shut.

Most can't afford college because they can't get federal financial aid. They can't get a job legally, either. They can't even get a driver's license.

It's been estimated that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools each year.

Giving them a future in this country is not only in their interest, but in the nation's interest. The United States needs more young, well-educated workers to compete in the global economy. It needs them to help support the social safety net for older Americans.

Sen. Richard Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, hopes to introduce the Dream Act in an amendment to a Department of Defense bill next week.

The legislation would provide temporary legal status for undocumented young people under strict conditions. They must have come to the United States before age 16, have lived here at least five years, and be under age 30 to qualify. They must graduate from high school, have a good record otherwise, and complete two years of college or military service. Then, they can become legal permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens.

Bipartisan support has grown since the Dream Act first was proposed in 2001. That's because it makes so much sense.

Broader reform of immigration laws is needed as well. But the collapse of efforts toward comprehensive reform should not hold up passage of the Dream Act now. Even opponents of amnesty for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here surely understand it's unfair to punish undocumented children, many of whom have never even visited the countries where they were born. They grew up here. They want to be full-fledged Americans.

The Senate should pass the Dream Act, then the House should follow suit.
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Comments:

Reader Comment Posted by: PeaceMom
on Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:42 am

Out govt doesn't even do this for U.S. citizens. why should it provide all of this for ILLEGALs? Why doesn't the DMR editorial writers do something about helping U.S. citizens first? Oh, that's right... that would mean coming down off the far left bench....

Reader Comment Posted by: DollarsAndSense
on Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:39 am

As long as the first classes include Law Enforcement, Living With Your Own Identity, and My Parents Impact My Future.

Why does this sound like someone suggesting that we help the children of convicted felons? Would people turn to crime just to fund their child's education? Millions of illegal immigrants are hoping for just that.

One of the first things taught in school is that you can't "cut in line". So, the first field trip should be back to the country they came from and for everyone to "get back in line".

Sorry if this sounds cruel, but we are not in a position to solve all of our current citizens needs...they last thing we need is to include another country worth of needy.