- Have entered the United States before the age of 16 (i.e. 15 and younger)
- Have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill
- Have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university)
- be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application
- Have good moral character
What do you get? It gives undocumented immigrants an opportunity to enroll in the military, or college university, and be on a path to citizenship. The Center for American Progress is arguing against the conservative point of view; this creates amnesty and floods an already highly over-saturated grassy fields of the American Work Force. American Progress states that "the DREAM Act could add as many as 252,000 new scientists, engineers, and technical workers to this country’s critically thin supply. Conversely, failing to pass the bill would rob this country of a critical mass of brain power and technological innovation."
I would have to side more on the right here. Part of me wants to say "sure!" Why not allow them to pay for an education, in most likely public school systems feeding the states more income? However we already have plenty of able minded American Citizens of Hispanic, Europeans, and Asian decent! Is there reason to grant another million people amnesty? With 2.4million students graduating by the end of 2010, we will have 5 "job seekers" for every 1 position. In addition, only 44% of employers are willing to hire recent graduates even into entry level positions. What economic benefit could we gain by educating people who have not followed the steps to gain access to this country, thus relying on the Dream Act to carry them through to the large pile of 9.8% unemployment. Check out the amount of the workforce who WANTS a job column on the table above.
I grew up with illegal immigrants. Trust me, they're following the steps to gain access to this country. They've been in the system for over 20 years (that is over 90% of their lives). It's not about economic benefits it's not about punishing a child for their parents' actions. They've been paying taxes and working their whole lives, shouldn't they have access to the same benefits that I have?
ReplyDeleteA few definitions may help frame this debate.
ReplyDeleteChildren of illegals; they had no say in being here, they are doomed to jobs few would do for less than most make, have no papers to document their existence, face prejudice and hate from those who have exploited their parents.
Children of slaves; See above.