DREAM ACT
History:
- Stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act
- There are too many illegal immigrants in the United States
- According to the article, the US Government wants to protect the young immigrants so they can have a future
- Americans are feeling xenophobia, or fear of foreigners
- Immigration act of 1924, was designed to limit the number of Asians and Southern and Northern Europe, manly Jews, who could immigrate to the United States
- After NAFTA in 1994, more immigrants, manly Mexicans, were coming over illegally
- People began to dislike immigration after the surprise terrorist attack on September 11, 2001
- Made people want safer and more secure boarders
Origins of Act:
- Legislators have sought to protect the status of young people who arrived in this country without knowingly breaking any laws
- Failed to pass multiple times starting in August of 2001
Specifics:
- Doesn't make a person automatically a legal US citizen
- Provides a path for young immigrants to gain citizenship and get some benefits
- Illegal immigrants must have been younger than sixteen when they first came to this country; must have been in the United States for at least five years; must have earned a high school diploma or a GED; and must be “of good moral character
- Must not have any criminal records
- Need to give personal data if you want to gain citizenship under this Act
Support the Act:
- Benefits the economy and the nation security (based on Barrack Obama)
- Gives Hard-Working, Patriotic Young People a Shot at the American Dream”
- Can help with more soldiers going in to help with the "shortage" of soldiers
- Richard Durbin, primary author of the 2001 DREAM Act, introduced the act many times
Opposition of the Act:
