Thread: Some illegals oppose DREAM because of the military provision

http://www.democracynow.org/seo/2010/8/ ... a_solution

Debate: Is DREAM Act a Solution for Millions of Undocumented Youth or a Funnel for Military Recruitment?

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act—DREAM—would allow undocumented young people a chance at citizenship provided they attend college for at least two years or enlist in the military. It’s been described as a dream come true for undocumented youth wanting a chance to stay in this country without the fear of deportation. But many antiwar activists warn that the bill will simply funnel more young people into the military. We host a debate between Camilo MejÃ*a of Iraq Veterans Against the War and pro-DREAM activist Gaby Pacheco. [includes rush transcript]



Guests:

Gabriela Pacheco, twenty-five-year-old Ecuador-born student who grew up undocumented in Florida. Earlier this year, she and three other students who call themselves the "Trail of Dreams" walkers walked 1,500 miles from Miami to Washington, DC, calling on the President to stop deportations.

Camilo Mejia, the first GI who served in Iraq to have publicly resisted the war and was imprisoned for refusing to go back for almost a year. He is the former chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War.



JUAN GONZALEZ: We turn now to a piece of legislation that many undocumented youth activists say could be a ticket to their dreams. It’s called the DREAM Act, or the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois and Richard Lugar of Indiana. The bill would allow undocumented young people a chance at citizenship, provided they meet certain conditions related to age, residency and level of education. They would have to attend college for at least two years or enlist in the military. After graduating from college or completing their military service, the bill would allow them to obtain permanent residency with a chance to apply for US citizenship. If passed, the bill could immediately affect the lives of some 700,000 undocumented young people.


On Capitol Hill, the bill is supported by a number of key Democrats, but its supporters are divided over whether or not to link the DREAM Act to broader legislation around comprehensive immigration reform. Back when President Obama was on the campaign trail, at a debate with Hillary Clinton over two years ago, he outlined his support for passing the DREAM Act.


SEN. BARACK OBAMA: Something that we can do immediately that I think is very important is to pass the DREAM Act, which allows children who—who, no fault of their own, are here but have essentially grown up as Americans, allow them the opportunity for higher education. I do not want two classes of citizens in this country. I want everybody to prosper. That’s going to be a top priority.



AMY GOODMAN: It’s been described as a dream come true for undocumented youth wanting a chance to stay in this country without the fear of deportation. But not everyone who supports the rights of undocumented youth is happy about the proposed legislation. Many antiwar activists warn that the bill will simply funnel more young people into the military.


This is UC San Diego professor and anti-militarism advocate Jorge Mariscal.


JORGE MARISCAL: What one has to realize about the DREAM Act is that the military option wasn’t attached. The military option was there at the beginning. The Pentagon helped write the DREAM Act. That’s what people have to realize.



AMY GOODMAN: That clip excerpted from the report "Yo Soy El Army" by Marco Amador and Kouross Esmaeli of Big Noise Films.


Well, today we host a debate on the DREAM Act. Camilo is still with us, Camilo MejÃ*a of Iraq Veterans Against the War. He opposes the DREAM Act. Also joining us from Miami, we are with pro-DREAM activist Gaby Pacheco. She’s twenty-five years old, student, who came to this country from Ecuador when she was seven. Earlier this year, she, along with three other students, took a four-month-long walk from Miami to Washington, DC, talking to people about their experience of growing up undocumented and urging the President to stop deportations. They called their walk the "Trail of Dreams."


We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Gaby, let’s begin with you. Why do you support the DREAM Act?


GABRIELA PACHECO: Good morning, Amy.


Well, I think that fundamentally, when we look at the DREAM Act, it just gives opportunity for young people like myself and thousands of other young people throughout the nation to have an opportunity, a pathway, to be able to become a legal permanent resident. And, you know, this legislation has been, since 2001, up for debate. And unfortunately, we’ve been waiting for almost ten years, and nothing has happened. I agree and I support the DREAM Act, because for many, many years, many students, 65,000 every year, graduate and aren’t able to fulfill their dreams. The DREAM Act is going to give them an opportunity and a pathway to fulfill their dreams.


JUAN GONZALEZ: Gabriela, can you tell us a little bit about your personal experience and how it would affect you directly?


GABRIELA PACHECO: Yes. Well, I came to the United States when I was a young child. My parents brought me here. I grew up as an American. I went to elementary school, middle school and high school. And my aspirations have always been to be able to go to college and receive an education and become a musical therapist. Unfortunately, because of my status, I wasn’t able to do so. I did have the opportunity to go to college, and I’ve graduated with three degrees. I have a bachelor’s in special education. But unfortunately, because I don’t have a legal status as a resident, I’m not able to go to school and—I’m sorry, I’m not able to work and become a teacher and contribute to the society and this community, which I love.


AMY GOODMAN: Camilo, why are you opposed to the DREAM Act?


CAMILO MEJÃ

Being undocumented, you know, you don’t really get the same amount of rights as other students. You know, I was the valedictorian of my high school, but because I was undocumented, I couldn’t get any financial aid or scholarships, and I couldn’t really go to the schools that I wanted to go to. Coming from immigrant communities, many of our families can’t afford to send us to college. And, you know, for many of our young people, there would be no other choice but to join the military

.

Oh, boo hoo. Of course you don't have the same kind of rights because you and/or your parents have broken our laws. Americans go to prison but you get to whine about not getting more freebies. And guess what, there are thousands of American young adults joining the military because they can't get a job - you know, those jobs Americans won't do because you illegals stole them. These American feel that they have no other choice but to join the military for a job and educational benefits. What makes you so special? Other than being a lawbreaker?

"The DREAM Act does not include anything along the lines of financial stability, anything along the lines of healthcare, anything along the lines of housing, whereas the military has all of these things that it’s in a position to offer to the vast majority of these 65,000 students who graduate every year, to say, "Come over here. We will teach you English. We will give you housing. We’ll give you a steady paycheck. We’ll give you all these things, if you serve in the military."

OMG! We still have to teach them English if this thing passes. These are supposed to be the best and brightest who were brought here as young children. What a bunch of LYING crap!

So we don’t want, you know, young people to go and fight and continue to, like, you know, kill other people of color in unjust wars, basically.

Now war is about colored people???!!! What an insult!

NO NO NO to the dream act!!!

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Being undocumented, you know, you don’t really get the same amount of rights as other students. You know, I was the valedictorian of my high school, but because I was undocumented, I couldn’t get any financial aid or scholarships, and I couldn’t really go to the schools that I wanted to go to. Coming from immigrant communities, many of our families can’t afford to send us to college. And, you know, for many of our young people, there would be no other choice but to join the military

.

Oh, boo hoo. Of course you don't have the same kind of rights because you and/or your parents have broken our laws. Americans go to prison but you get to whine about not getting more freebies. And guess what, there are thousands of American young adults joining the military because they can't get a job - you know, those jobs Americans won't do because you illegals stole them. These American feel that they have no other choice but to join the military for a job and educational benefits. What makes you so special? Other than being a lawbreaker?

soon they our people won't even be able to join the military because the illegals are going to take those jobs as well .

Quote:
"The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act—DREAM—would allow undocumented young people a chance at citizenship provided they attend college for at least two years...."

Be on notice that the DREAM Act defines "young people" as persons UP TO AGE 35! Upon qualifying for the education route, they will qualify for a 6 years residency visa which then also allows them to sponsor relatives into the country legally.

Originally Posted by Texas2step

Quote:
"The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act—DREAM—would allow undocumented young people a chance at citizenship provided they attend college for at least two years...."

Be on notice that the DREAM Act defines "young people" as persons UP TO AGE 35! Upon qualifying for the education route, they will qualify for a 6 years residency visa which then also allows them to sponsor relatives into the country legally.

The M for minor in DREAM is another lie!!!