Who is “Me?”
According to figures used by the United States Congress, an estimated 65,000 undocumented immigrant students graduate from American high schools every year. Imagine being the child of immigrant parents. You are brought to this land through no action of your own. Your parents overstay their visas or otherwise slip into the shadow land of undocumented immigrants.
Meanwhile, you proceed to learn the language and come to appreciate the culture and opportunities of this new nation-home. You graduate from high school and enroll in your local community college or a university. Then your parents are discovered. You now face the prospect of being expelled to a country you barely know.
“The only Tagalog words I know are ‘xxx’ and ‘xxx’!” lamented one young female college student whose parents are Filipino. (These words are merely Filipino menu items.) Unless you were born in this country, your citizenship is legally determined to be that of your parents.
What is the “DREAM?”
Some young immigrant folks have studied their way through American schools. They know the American language and culture inside and out. They now face deportation to places where they will fit in physically, but those will be places where they will be strangers. After all, they are de facto Americans.
Although the US government may formally view it as subterfuge, these youngsters have probably benefited from the investments the government has made in the public school and health systems. Is it wise to expel a young person who is a product of that investment? Why not allow that young educated person to become a happy and productive American – to become a return on that investment?
The Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act – The DREAM Act – would provide for that return on investment to be realized. It would also relieve the anxiety and expense of deportation for both the individual and the state by paving the way to American citizenship.
How to dream the “DREAM”
Of the 65,000 high school graduates mentioned earlier, estimates are that only 7,000 to 13,000 young people would be able to fulfill all the obligations of the bill; this bill does not give carte blanche citizenship to every young undocumented person. Conditions to qualify, while not extreme, do require the sacrifice of complete freedom. They also humanely make allowances for those who are not college-bound, but who could otherwise become happy and productive citizens.
• The young person must have entered the US before the age of 16;
• Must have been present in the US for at least 5 years prior to the enactment of the bill;
• Must have graduated from high school or earned a G.E.D.;
• Has been accepted to an accredited higher education institution;
• Or, must be eligible to serve 6 years of military duty (at least two active);
• Is between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application;
• And must have good moral character (a clean arrest record).
Conditional status, for those who meet the above qualifications, would last for six years, and would permit recipients to work and go to school, or serve in the military, and travel in and out of the country. At the end of that period, they must have at least two years toward a bachelor’s degree, or honorably served two active-duty years in the US military, all while maintaining their good moral character. They could then petition for permanent status.
Passage of the “DREAM” will prevent many nightmares
Variations of the DREAM Act have been fluttering around the US Congress since 2001. Mainly Republicans, responding to growing xenophobia among their constituents, have seen fit to thwart the bill’s passage since then. Democrats, though, have not been entirely immune to anti-immigrant sentiments. The White House has now asked this lame duck Congress to reconsider the bill before the present session expires. This may be the last good chance for passage.
Republicans, many swept into office by the Tea Party movement, will control the House in upcoming sessions. The Tea Party movement has little patience with considering immigration reform in a moral and pragmatic way. Should the bill not pass this session, it will be introduced again, but tacked onto a defense spending bill that will also seek repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
According to a New York Times editorial, “thousands of students, calling themselves ‘undocumented and unafraid,’ have led an admirable campaign of advocacy under the threat of arrest and deportation.” Indeed, activists have held marches, participated in sit-ins, fasted, and held tearful mock graduations. Still, Republicans in the next Congress will probably be hell-bent on squeezing out every last undocumented immigrant.
Passage of the act will allow young college students and potential soldiers – who didn’t ask to come here without papers in the first place—to stay. These young people should be allowed to better themselves and serve their country. They should be allowed to give good return on the investment—an investment already made by a country they already love.
Lazaro Law Group, Professional Corporation represents immigrants all over the United States and US Embassy in Manila. The firm’s offices are located in San Francisco, Makati City (Philippines), and Fremont, Union City California. Telephone (415)278-9577. E-mail:
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; Website: www.LazaroLaw.com.
This article should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information is intended to be general and should not be relied upon for any specific situation. This is not meant to create a lawyer-client relationship.
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