Rubi Martinez
Opinion:Martinez, Rubi 10/01/08? Opportunity at the “dream”? Dreaming in the shadows? Beyond dreaming
Who ever said that dreaming doesn’t cost anything is partially right, that is because the only part of the dream that cost anything, is making that dream a reality.
What happens when you aren’t even permitted to dream or even to make it happen? This is the case of many children that have inherited the burden of being label as “illegal aliens.” It is estimated that about 60,000 achieving illegal immigrant students graduate form high schools every year.
This is the case of thousand of out standing students that graduate every year, potential doctors, engineers, teachers and lawyers that unlike everyone else don’t get a chance of being all they can be. Lets not forget that these are under age minors that were brought to this country with out their consent. They have been brought up according to the costumes of this country.
Many young students that all they desire is to have a chance to pursue higher education and serve I the military for this country that they consider home, just a chance for the American dream.
The Development Relief Education for Alien Minors Act or best known as the Dream Act can provide the tools for these children who have share our culture and values to achieve their dreams. It facilities access for higher education, military service and it provides a path for permanent residency and eventually citizenship, allowing them to contribute fully to our society.
The Dream Act sounds like a great idea to prevent all the talent that we have cultivate from grades k-12 going into waist and that now just hides in the shadows for fear.
It is no brainier, better education equals battery paying jobs and that equals more tax revenue and demand for goods, which over all equals a better economy and a better country.
Now we need to keep in mind that this children have been brought by their parents and legal guardians to this country, they have been living in the U.S. for most of their lives and know no other country than the United States of America.
They face unique barriers such as not being able to legally work in this country, further their education, get loans, and establish credit, contributing to economy and what’s worst living in constant fear of detection.
You and me know or heard of someone in a similar case, or might not even be aware of the current situation of a dear friend to us. If this is the case we should be open minded about it and do something to help because unlike them we have a voice and vote that can be heard. That they don’t have a simple paper doesn’t mean that they are less of a human.
The Dream Act is a bipartisan act that was first introduce to the congress in 2001, was past twice by the Judiciary Committee in 2003-2004 and in 2006 it past fully by the senate. It’s been almost a decade of battle where the act has been polishing for reintroduction two both houses, and every year the act gets more momentum.
In the latest version, the requirements for the Dream Act are: first being brought to the country before they turned 16, and below the age of 30. Second, they need to be living for five years continually. Also graduate from high school or obtain a GED, have good moral character with no criminal record and lastly attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years. People eligible for the Dream Act would be given six-year term to complete the requirements.
The Act will be reintroduce in 2009, hopes are high for the new administration to take these hard working and admirable children into consideration and lets just hope that education is more important than “the agenda.”
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