Rubi Martinez
Whoever said dreaming does not cost anything is partially right, because the only part of dreaming that costs is making it a reality.
What happens when you are not even permitted to dream or even allowed to make the dream happen? This is the case of many children who have inherited the burden of being labeled “illegal aliens.”
It is estimated that about 60,000 achieving illegal-immigrant students graduate from United States high schools annually.
Thousand of outstanding students who graduate every year could potentially become doctors, engineers, teachers and lawyers.
Unlike everyone else, they do not get the chance of being all they can be. Let us not forget these underage minors who were brought to this country without their consent.
They have been brought up according to the customs of this country.
Many young students desire a chance at pursuing higher education or serving in the military for the country they consider home.
They just want a chance at the American dream.
The Development Relief Education for Alien Minors Act, best known as the DREAM Act, can provide the tools for these children who have shared our culture and values to achieve their dreams.
It facilities access for higher education and military service and provides a path for permanent residency and eventually citizenship. This will allow them to contribute fully to our society.
The DREAM Act sounds like a great idea to prevent all the talent we have cultivated through grades K-12 from going to waste. As of now, that talent is hiding in shadows and fear.
This is a no-brainer. Better education means better-paying jobs, more tax revenue and a higher demand for goods, helping the economy.
These 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 U.S.
They face unique barriers such as not being able to legally work in this country, further their education, or get loans and establish credit.
What is worse than living in constant fear of detection?
You and I know or have heard of someone in a similar case, or may not even be aware of the current situation of a friend dear to us.
If this is the case, we should be open-minded and do something to help. Unlike them, we have a voice and vote that can be heard.
Just because they lack the papers does not mean that they are less human.
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan first introduced to Congress in 2001. It was passed twice by the Judiciary Committee in 2003-04, and in 2006 it was passed fully by the Senate.
It has been almost a decade of battle during which the act has been polished for reintroduction to both houses, and every year it gains more momentum.
The latest version lists the requirements for the DREAM Act: First, the student must have been brought to the country before they were 16 years of age and must be currently under 30. Second, they need to have been living in the U.S. for five years continually.
They must also graduate from high school or obtain a GED, have good moral character with no criminal record and attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years.
Students eligible for the DREAM Act would be given a six-year term to complete the requirements.
The DREAM Act will be reintroduced in 2009. Hopes are high for the new administration to take these hard-working and admirable children into consideration.
Let us hope that education is more important than “the agenda.”
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