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AMY MANDEL: DREAM Act gives immigrant youth a chance to build a better future
by Amy Mandel
Columnists | 8/28/07
Posted online at 11:30 PM EST on 8/27/07
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout U.S. history, immigrants have overcome great adversity and oppression to come here for freedom, equality and a better life, and they have in turn improved our country beyond measure. But this summer's Republican blockade of President Bush's comprehensive reform demonstrates the collective amnesia Americans feel toward the immigrant experience.
The immigration system isn't perfect and the borders of this country need more monitoring, but rejecting all forms of immigration reform leaves behind thousands of scattered lives.
The Development Relief Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is part of the reform program that would allow those who came to the U.S. illegally as children to complete their education. If a child came into the country before the age of 16 and earned an American high school diploma, he would gain conditional residency for six years, over which time he would have to complete two years of college or two years in the military in order to gain permanent residency.
The act could give Juan Gomez, a student from my high school who came to the U.S. from Colombia when he was two years old on a six-month visitor's visa, a well-deserved second chance. He overstayed his visa and continued to live and grow up in the U.S., and was eventually arrested by immigration officials and slated for immediate deportation.
But that couldn't overshadow Juan's remarkable academic achievements, which I heard about from mutual friends. I came to see Juan as a beacon of hope for the future of America. He graduated 14th in a class of almost 800 students, scored a 1410 on the SAT without study aides and received a five, the highest score, on 11 of his 15 Advance Placement exams.
He also knew to ask for help. From a holding cell in a South Florida detention center, he knew to call his friends for support in his bleak situation. They mobilized by forming a Facebook group, courting the local media and after a week, going to lobby in Washington. They pushed officials in the Department of Immigration to stay the deportation of Juan's family for 45 days. These remarkable teens made Juan one of the faces of the DREAM Act, and got this buried piece of legislation revived in the minds of congressmen and the media alike.
The immigration system isn't perfect and the borders of this country need more monitoring, but rejecting all forms of immigration reform leaves behind thousands of scattered lives.
The Development Relief Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is part of the reform program that would allow those who came to the U.S. illegally as children to complete their education. If a child came into the country before the age of 16 and earned an American high school diploma, he would gain conditional residency for six years, over which time he would have to complete two years of college or two years in the military in order to gain permanent residency.
The act could give Juan Gomez, a student from my high school who came to the U.S. from Colombia when he was two years old on a six-month visitor's visa, a well-deserved second chance. He overstayed his visa and continued to live and grow up in the U.S., and was eventually arrested by immigration officials and slated for immediate deportation.
But that couldn't overshadow Juan's remarkable academic achievements, which I heard about from mutual friends. I came to see Juan as a beacon of hope for the future of America. He graduated 14th in a class of almost 800 students, scored a 1410 on the SAT without study aides and received a five, the highest score, on 11 of his 15 Advance Placement exams.
He also knew to ask for help. From a holding cell in a South Florida detention center, he knew to call his friends for support in his bleak situation. They mobilized by forming a Facebook group, courting the local media and after a week, going to lobby in Washington. They pushed officials in the Department of Immigration to stay the deportation of Juan's family for 45 days. These remarkable teens made Juan one of the faces of the DREAM Act, and got this buried piece of legislation revived in the minds of congressmen and the media alike.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 21
boondocks
posted 8/28/07 @ 9:07 AM EST
Great article! These kids definetly deserve a chance. Keep up the great work Amy.
AK
posted 8/28/07 @ 11:32 AM EST
It is so great to see an article at a nearby university talking about such a wonderful piece of legislation! I go to Boston College and I am a very passionate supporter of the Dream Act. (Continued…)
L.A.D
posted 8/28/07 @ 1:20 PM EST
I was an A&B student and was told I had to get out of school(in not that many words).I wish I could had been able to go to school.Now I'm 26 with a G. (Continued…)
theking2206
posted 8/28/07 @ 2:22 PM EST
good article and yes we all deserve a chance...ive been here 17 years and in college and would really want a chance to become a citizen. i already feel as if i was born here. (Continued…)
Eric Richardson
posted 8/28/07 @ 3:04 PM EST
I am against Amnesty...BUT I would support these children, who did nothing but obey their parents. After all, why should they suffer because of their parents mistakes?
I hope the DREAM ACT PASSES because it would benefit the U. (Continued…)
Brittany Osterhout
posted 8/28/07 @ 3:27 PM EST
As an American citizen whose husband is in this exact same situation, I am a big supporter of this bill. Without this bill - we have no future. I urge others to support this bill as well. (Continued…)
J. Hill
posted 8/28/07 @ 10:41 PM EST
Great article! It feels good knowing there are truly altruistic people in this country. I am also a supporter of the Dream Act and feel this will be a major benefit to the U. (Continued…)
chrissy macen
posted 8/29/07 @ 2:31 AM EST
I am also a supporter of the dream act. I think that it is great to see that we are doing something to help out these kids who have been here almost all their life. (Continued…)
Marco Lopez
posted 8/29/07 @ 2:38 PM EST
I want to congratulate Amy Mandel, excellent article. It's hard to find intelligent people who write about this difficult and controversial theme.
sally thomps
posted 8/29/07 @ 7:37 PM EST
Great article. And yes, I too, am a supporter of dream act. A chance is what these people need. I would like to see this act pass. Its sad to see good things go to waste. (Continued…)
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