Hello everyone,

My name is Stanley Ipkis. I have posted once before but that was a long time ago. I would like to briefly introduce myself.

I am currently working as a Process Engineer at a pharmaceutical firm in Australia. I decided to seek unemployment in the United States and had applied to Bristol-Meyers Squibb. I was accepted for a position and now I'm in the process of obtaining a visa and the necessary paperwork to enter the United States. This process is taking quite some time now but I have no immediate urgency to enter the U.S.. Bristol-Meyers has indeed informed me that the position is still open and they are actively involved in my legal process.

As a potential immigrant, I am very much interested in the immigration problem in America and have abused Google in my search for information. It seems that the primary focus is the problem of illegal immigration into the United States, namely through the southern border with Mexico. However, I have also come across information that half of all illegal immigrants in the U.S. are so-called "visa-overstays". Evidently, they entered legally but then stayed beyond their authorized period. I understand that they are also considered illegal immigrants.

I have periodically browsed this forum for information and I have run into your opposition's website, the DREAM Act Portal. It seems this website is dedicated to the passage of federal legislation named the DREAM Act. I researched the DREAM Act, again with Google, and came across the text of the legislation as well as several arguments in favor and in opposition.

I must indeed say that this legislation has quite some merit in it. It seems to focus on students educated in the United States and who have lived in America since childhood. I've browsed the Portal website and have read some of the biographies of the Portal members. It looks like that this DREAM Act would be helping some very talented young people. Although I am vehemently opposed to their illegal actions, I do believe this DREAM Act is worthy of strong consideration based on its merit.

The primary argument against this legislation is that it would benefit a swath of illegal immigrants as opposed to its intended demographic. I'm sure its possible to strengthen the requirements of this legislation to target its intended demographic.

I am posting this not to anger or incite any of you but to understand your thoughts. I would like your opinion on this issue and would appreciate any clarification.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Kindly,

Stanley Ipkis