Benefits Of The DREAM Act

An article published in the At Issue anthology What Rights Should Illegal Immigrants Have? tells of undocumented students who have entered the Unites States, graduate, but have no chance to work because of their illegal status. A chance at citizenship is a chance at avoiding poverty. Although some people do not see the issue, they see the millions of legal students that enter college each year, and watch as they receive the chance to achieve their goals. In the end, someone will receive this chance, but they may not take hold of the opportunity. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, statistics show that about 10.2 million U.S. citizens under the age of 35 had not completed college, but just as many illegal immigrants graduate high
Specifically, the goal is the DREAM act. So, what is the DREAM act? "Why DREAM Act is Right for U.S., Young People", a USA Today article, the DREAM Act was made to create a chance for illegal immigrant students to attend college (Duncan). In the book The Children of Undocumented Immigrants, Fitz states,"...The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act offers young undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship if they have lived in the country for five years. They must also either complete two years of higher education or military service." To illustrate, these students could attend a community college to begin their higher education, and when they graduate they would obtain the citizenship to move on to a four year university or to legally enter the workforce. Not to mention that these students would become applicants for scholarships and financial aid. Furthermore, the student could also serve in the military and then receive a no-cost college education through the Government Issue bill. Bennion reveals in his article that the DREAM Act was created in 2001, but has been vetoed by the American government. The disapproval of the Act has resulted in many illegal immigrant students rising up through immigration marches and online forums. More importantly, these students that stand for the DREAM Act are not only illegal immigrants, but are citizens of America
They hail from Japan, India, or Mexico, but have been raised on American culture. They are just like all of us, yet they will not attend college. For now, their future looks bleak, for it is filled with food stamps, dead-end jobs, and possible criminal activity just to get ahead. Fitz explains that the constituents of the DREAM act are understood and have been analyzed for many years, so there is no more time to hinder its passing. These illegal immigrants plead for a cause that America is able to offer: the DREAM act. Congress should pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors act to create a better future for minors who had no say in immigrating to the United States. We should not let the potential talent of these people go to waste. Do not forget the student who regularly attends detention, he deserves a chance too, but let the voice of the illegal immigrant valedictorian or overachiever be