DREAM Act supporters
This week, the Tulsa World was among the many news sources that reported on the proposed legislation for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, which is commonly referred to as the U.S. DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrants who are under 30, have been in the US since before the age of 15, have completed high school in the US, and pass a series of background checks, to start on the legal path to citizenship. Interestingly, the DREAM Act is closely tied to education policy. Qualifying immigrants would be granted in-state tuition at the public universities in their home state and would become eligible for financial aid and scholarships. Their citizenship eligibility would ultimately be contingent on completion of at least two years of college or military service.
The DREAM Act has been stalled in Congress for years, but several states including California and Maryland, have recently enacted it on the state level. Now, Republicans in Congress have begun shopping around a competing piece of legislation, called the ACHIEVE Act. This watered-down version of the DREAM Act is notably different in that it would allow a smaller pool of eligible immigrants to stay in the US and attend college under a special visa, but would require frequent renewal of paperwork. The thinking seems to be that if we generally throw up road blocks for compliance, fewer immigrants will actually be able to take advantage of the policy.
This week’s Tulsa World article caught my attention because it mostly avoided politics, and focused on telling the humanizing stories of those whose lives could be changed by the law. In particular, the comments of 22-year-old Eleazar Valazquez shed light on the injustice of the current situation. Valazquez recounts how he felt when, in the eighth grade, he learned that he was undocumented after he attempted to apply for a local scholarship. “I did well in school, had a high GPA and was third in my class. I thought, ‘So this is it? This is the end of the road for me?’ ”
Young people like Valazquez have spent their entire adolescence in the U.S., hearing the rhetoric of the American dream– that in this country anyone can be anything. But their reality is quite different. And when, at a certain age, they reach the realization that their educational prospects are limited, its no surprise that many become demoralized and angry. By offering the opportunity to obtain both a college degree and a pathway to citizenship, the DREAM Act would create a powerful incentive for youth to stay in school. Sounds good, right?
Surprisingly, the majority of readers whose comments appear sprawled below the Tulsa World article don’t seem to think so. There’s more than one racist slur, and the general sentiment seems to be one of outrage and fear. In all discussions of immigration, there’s this perceived threat– a feeling that if an “alien” group gains, it will be detrimental to everyone else or the greater good of the nation. But what harm is done by allowing smart, motivated kids who grew up in the U.S. the chance to stay here without living in fear of deportation? Even if the social justice angle of the issue doesn’t convince you, there is a different way to look at the “greater good” argument that draws on Human Capital Theory and asserts that all people, whether domestic or foreign-born, will benefit from education and thus contribute more to the society they live in. In fact, some research has shown that passage of the DREAM act could boost the economy by over 3 billion dollars and create over a million jobs in the next two decades. So maybe its time we stop demonizing immigrants, and dream up ways to address social problems together. The alternative is, frankly, a nightmare.
For more on the recent passage of the Maryland DREAM Act see: http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/maryland-dream-act-passes/story?id=17655538#.ULPJJY5Ojy8
References:
Gomez, Alan. “The DREAM Act would boost the economy, add jobs, think tank says.” October 1st, 2012. USA Today. Retrieved at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/01/dream-act-immigration-economy/1598363/
Graham, Ginnie. “Hispanic youths say future looks brighter.” November 25th, 2012. The Tulsa World. Retrieved at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20121125_11_A1_CUTLIN556785
Voices Unidas 