Thread: A dream denied

Young, dumb, with bleeding heart...the perfect collegiate libidiot:

A dream denied
Megan Gentzler
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Op-Ed

This past Wednesday, the rejection of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), a bipartisan bill, struck a major blow to six years of advocating for children's rights.

The bill addressed the unfair situation that faces many young people who were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented immigrant children but who have since grown up here, stayed in school and kept out of trouble.

The DREAM Act proposed conditional legal status for those undocumented immigrant children who have lived in the United States for at least five years and came when they were 16 years old or younger. Under this legislation, once the student graduated from high school, he or she would be eligible for up to six years of legal residency. At the end of the six-year period, permanent residency would be granted, provided the student graduated from a two-year college, completed at least two years of a four-year college or served in the military for at least two years, while continuing to demonstrate good moral character.

The rejection of the bill bars the estimated 50,000 to 65,000 immigrant students from continuing their education, regardless of how they excelled in high school. Many of these students are valedictorians, community leaders and star athletes. They come from tax-paying families and are long-term residents of their states. They had no choice in deciding to come to this country, and now, the country they call home is neglecting them.

"Children should not be penalized for the actions of their parents," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday.

"What crime did these children commit?" said Senator Richard J. Durbin, (D-Ill.), the bill's lead sponsor. "They committed the crime of obeying their parents and following their parents to this country. Do you think there was a vote in the household about their future? I don't think so."

These children live in a state of limbo and face unique barriers to higher education, an opportunity that many of us take for granted. When undocumented immigrants apply to college, they are forced to pay the high rates of out-of-state tuition - regardless of how well they did in high school or how long they have been residing in the state. Many of these students simply cannot pay that much money. Therefore, under current law, outstanding students and commendable community members have the door to their future slammed shut.

The act would have eliminated the discrepancy between current immigration laws and the special circumstances of these students. Now, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, upwards of 500,000 children are prevented from contributing to their own society.

The problem that faces these immigrant children is also not an isolated issue. Affordable college education would reduce high school drop-out rates, increase tax-revenue from a more educated workforce and keep more kids off the streets and out of the criminal justice system.

Opposition to the DREAM Act came in a variety of forms. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) admitted that there was merit in the DREAM Act, but felt that it "should be part of a comprehensive approach." Other senators agreed that aspects of the proposal would be well suited for incorporation into a larger act of comprehensive immigration reform.

However, what these senators don't seem to realize is that failing to act this year means that another entire class of exceptional, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future. Some may even be deported to countries they barely know.

Other nerves were shaken because of the implications the bill seemed to have on those who are currently waiting for their citizenship. According to a White House statement, worries arose over "creating a special path to citizenship that is unavailable to other prospective immigrants - including young people whose parents respected the nation's immigration laws."

This concern is based on false assumptions. Had the DREAM Act passed, it would not have magically granted citizenship to all undocumented children, bypassing others who are lawfully waiting in line. The bill simply hoped to pave the way toward citizenship for those students in unfair and unfortunate situations. It would not undermine or obstruct the existing citizenship process.

Because of the decision of a few frightened and uniformed policy makers, America has lost a vital asset: a class of educated and promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society.

There is no denying that the outcome on Wednesday was bleak, but it is by no means an end. These students will not disappear; they belong here. In fact, it has motivated many of them to fight just that much harder for the civil rights they deserve.

As one member of the Student Immigrant Movement, an advocacy group for immigrant rights and immigration reform, said, "We have only lost a battle. Not the war. Students around the country will keep fighting for this. We will pass the DREAM Act sooner rather than later."

Megan Gentzler is a senior majoring in child development and an intern with the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM). For more information about the DREAM Act and related efforts, see the SIM website at www.simforus.com.
http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/s ... 2381.shtml

The Dream Act is just another way to give more righte to illegals than citizens have. Dependants of poeple serving in the military don't get resient tuition in several states.

I am sure they could easily be admitted to any school in their country of origin - but there they might not get Financial Aid and a free ride.

It's absurd - if someone is illegal, they are ILLEGAL, and should not even be here, let alone get any benefits.

How can anyone with a straight face talk about illegals and getting benefits from us, the taxpayers, in the same sentence? And, if the parents are paying taxes, it's because they are using one of our social security numbers!