Senator Gillibrand announces support of DREAM Act, to help immigrant students

April 2, 2009 - 10:26 AM

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she's working to pass the DREAM Act. She became a co-sponsor of the legislation, which would provide better educational opportunity for New York's immigrant students.

The DREAM Act would make college more affordable for immigrant students and their families by repealing outdated regulations that the senator says deny in-state tuition and other higher education benefits to immigrant students.

The bill would also put students 16 years old or younger on a path for citizenship upon acceptance to higher education or high school graduation.

The DREAM Act sets clear eligibility guidelines for students to participate. To be eligible, Individuals must:

-Have arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15 or under

-Have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years

-Graduate from high school or earn their GED;

-Serve in the military or attend college for at least two years; and

-Have good moral character.

According to Gillibrand, estimates indicate 50,000 to 65,000 students would benefit from the DREAM Act each year.

The Senator says the DREAM Act would create better opportunity for New York's immigrant students in two ways:

First, it would repeal an outdated section of immigration law that discourages states from providing in-state tuition and other higher education benefits to New York students born outside the U.S., and without legal immigration status.

The bill would also allow students who are eligible for the DREAM Act to qualify for conditional permanent resident status which would put them on a path to citizenship upon acceptance to college, graduation from high school or being awarded a G.E.D.

Under this plan, students would have six years to obtain this temporary status, during which the student must have graduated from a two-year college or vocational college, studied for at least two years toward a bachelor's or higher degree, or served two years in the U.S. military. Any student who commits a crime or serious misconduct would not be eligible.

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