DREAM Act May Vanish if Not Passed in 2010

One of the cruelest, and most illogical, aspects of present-day U.S. immigration laws is that of the fate of young adults who were brought to this country illegally as small children by their parents. The DREAM Act, which is an acronym for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, would cure this injustice.

Quite often, these 18 to 30 year olds have grown up in the United States, attended schools, earned terrific grades, gone on to attend college or join the military, and proven to be contributing, law-abiding community members. Then one day, a fateful connection is made, usually regarding their parents, and their lives are turned upside-down overnight with threats of detention and/or deportation.

Heartbreaking examples are legion of upstanding, high-achieving young adults caught in an immigration trap not of their own making and often previously unbeknownst to them:

• From the Washington Post today - "In many ways, Eric Balderas's story is the typical American dream. He came to the United States with his parents at age 4. He was the valedictorian of Highlands High School in San Antonio and was admitted to Harvard's class of 2013. There, he studies molecular and cellular biology and is about to begin his sophomore year. He dreams of helping to find a cure for cancer.

  "But there is one problem: He is not in the country legally. On June 7, boarding an airplane back to Boston after visiting his mother in San Antonio, he was arrested and threatened with deportation."

• From LatinaLista - "... a young, bright college freshman studying electrical engineering on a full scholarship at a local Dallas university suddenly caught in... U.S. immigration policy, and deported back to a country (Bangladesh) he barely remembered -- but only after spending 42 days in detention separated from both of his parents."

• From DreamActArizona.com - "Virginia , an '07 honors graduate from North High School was deported following a routine traffic stop. After her arrest and subsequent four-day stay in a small holding cell with 35 women with no blankets, no pillows and beds, Virginia signed a voluntary deportation order and was taken, by bus to Nogales , where she was left without any concern for her well being.

  "Virginia had been awarded numerous scholarships to attend ASU. She wanted to be a nurse and looked forward to making a meaningful contribution to our community. "

• From the Fresno Bee newspaper - "Arthur Mkoyan's 4.0 grade-point average has made him a valedictorian at Bullard High School in Fresno and qualified him to enter one of the state's top universities.

  "But while his classmates look forward to dorm food and college courses this fall, Arthur Mkoyan may not make it. He is being deported.

  "Arthur, 17, and his mother have been ordered out of the country. By late June, they may be headed to Armenia. Arthur hasn't seen Armenia since he was 2, and he doesn't want to return."

The DREAM Act, which has been proposed in every Congress since 2001, would cure this inhumane situation by granting conditional permanent residency to persons aged 12 to 35 years old if they meet a long list of specific conditions, and if they either:

• "Enroll in an institution of higher education in order to pursue a bachelor's degree or higher degree or
• "Enlist in one of the branches of the United States Military."

After successful completion of either college or military service within six years, they would be eligible to apply for permanent U.S. residency. They could then get in line to apply for United States Citizenship.

The DREAM Act is fair and just, both for the children of immigrants, and for the United States, which stands to benefit greatly from the rich contributions of these law-abiding persons.

President Obama supports passage of the DREAM Act, declaring on July 1, 2010:

"... we should stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by denying them the chance to stay here and earn an education and contribute their talents to build the country where they've grown up. The DREAM Act would do this..."

The DREAM Act is again languishing in both Congressional houses, despite being sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of more than 100 elected leaders.

Become informed at Profile of the DREAM Act - Immigration Legislation for Educated Minors.

Then URGE your elected representatives to Congress to support passage of the DREAM ACT now in 2010.... because given the angrily partisan mood of much of the country, 2011 may be too late.

If not passed by Congress in 2010, the DREAM Act may vanish as a legislative priority for many years. And that would be a tragedy for a generation of smart, hard-working, law-abiding young adults who want to contribute to our country.