Thread: Act logical for the kids of migrants

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... k0821.html

Act logical for the kids of migrants

Aug. 21, 2005 12:00 AM

Throughout the history of the United States, the population has consisted of a diverse group of immigrants. Most everyone living on U.S. soil has an immigrant heritage. Recently, though, society has become headstrong about stopping the immigration of anyone, especially people hailing from Mexico because of its close proximity.

Many illegal immigrants also bring along their children, who really have no choice in the matter. As these children grow up in our society, they generally go through the Arizona public school system. But after high school, they are unable to use what they learned because their status remains illegal. The Development, Relief and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act is the solution to this devastating situation because it allows undocumented children under age 21 to gain citizenship.

In some areas of Arizona, it's hard to see the problem the DREAM Act counters. Schools in the Phoenix Union High School District can tell anyone what the problem is. These schools typically have more students who are undocumented than most schools in the surrounding suburban areas.
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In the most recent school years, one of Metro Tech High School's top-ranked GPA students was an undocumented immigrant. Year after year, many of these undocumented students receive scholarships for their hard work, but because they are still illegal, these students are unable to use their university degree to gain employment.

About 55,000 to 75,000 undocumented students who live in the United States graduate from high school, but many drop out due to lack of options after high school. Their thinking is thus: Why should a person spend four years doing something that means nothing unless that person is a citizen? The immigrants look at those four crucial years as time they could be working a low-end job and at least be making some money.

After witnessing this catastrophe, an organization called Cadena began to push the DREAM Act (Senate Bill 1291). The act grants permanent residency to students under 21 who have lived in the country for five years, have good moral character (no criminal record) and have graduated from high school.

The definition of a good citizen is someone who follows laws, practices national respect and contributes to society in a productive and positive way. The whole point of the act is to persuade these good students to continue their positive and productive ways of life. If anything, these illegal immigrants are an example for legal citizens who do not realize how good they have it.

In addition to being able to extend their education through college, students benefiting from the DREAM Act will be able to get a decent job, join the military and vote for their leaders. Immigrants most of the time are left with settling for a low-end job without the future of any promotion. This would frustrate anyone, especially a well-educated person.

Our country is always talking about how we need more soldiers. Committed citizens like the ones who qualify for the DREAM Act could be potential recruits. Just because they might have not been born in the United States does not mean they don't love this country as much as any other citizen.

They are as willing to protect our country's way of life along with the freedoms they would love to enjoy.

The 2000 census recorded an estimated 5 million to 7 million undocumented aliens living in this country. If the DREAM Act was instated, another chapter in the melting pot of U.S. history would be added, one that could prolong America's greatness.

If Arizona's senators and congressmen were to think about what exactly the DREAM Act does, it would be ridiculous to rally against such a rational and virtuous cause. Immigrant children had no voice in where their parents moved them. The students, though, took full advantage of the resources available in this country and school system. These ambitious and dedicated students should at least receive U.S. citizenship. If the DREAM Act was passed, it would benefit Arizona today and in the future.



Jeffrey Skrzypek, a recent graduate of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, is the second-place winner in the Morrison Institute's Young Steward of Public Policy essay contest.

Many illegal immigrants also bring along their children, who really have no choice in the matter.

What in the Sam Hill were these illegal alien parents thinking? They MADE THIS CHOICE for their children when they KNOWINGLY snuck them over the border.

Futhermore, ANY parent that would risk the life of any child, via a desert crossing, should be forced to relinquish custody..permanantly.

I call it the "You must be DREAMING act!"

W