The DREAM Act: 2010 (A Resource Page)

The plight of the DREAM Act students encapsulates many facets of today's immigration crisis. Caught in a system where there is little, if any, means for legalizing their status, smart, hard-working kids face an uncertain future because of their inability to continue their education, work, or join the military. The loss of potential, productivity, and hope for these individuals is also a loss for this country. The United States is missing out on talented workers and entrepreneurs, and is losing vital tax revenues and other economic contributions. While fixing this particular problem will hardly resolve the need for comprehensive immigration reform, it will unlock the door to the American dream for thousands of young people each year.

For Basic Facts on DREAM Act:

• Read Dispelling DREAM Act Myths [1]
• Read a Basic Fact Sheet on the DREAM Act [2]

For the Economic Benefits of the DREAM Act:

• Read The DREAM Act: Creating Economic Opportunities [3] (IPC Fact Check)
• Read The DREAM Act in Arizona: An Economic Perspective [4] (Dennis L. Hoffman, Associate Dean for Research, W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University)
• Read Investing in the American DREAM [5] (Dr. Roberto Gonzales, Assistant Professor at the University Of Washington School Of Social Work)

Senior Department of Homeland Security Officials Support the DREAM Act

Before the scheduled DREAM Act vote Saturday, top Department of Homeland Security officials hosted a press call on why the DREAM Act will enhance the agency's ability to enforce immigration laws. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar were on the call, discussing the important role the DREAM Act would play in promoting public safety through smart and effective immigration enforcement, as well as the preparedness of the administration. Read more... [6]

State Lawmakers from Critical States Speak Out in Favor of DREAM Act

Today, a group of state legislators from Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, and Utah participated in a briefing to share their support for federal legislation know as the DREAM Act. The state legislators convened by Progressive State Action and the Immigration Policy Center discussed what's at stake for their individual states, how the DREAM Act would benefit local communities, and why they are strongly urging their U.S. Senators to vote in favor of the bill.

• Read their statements [7]
• Listen to the telebriefing:

Scholars Unite Behind DREAM Act

Leading scholars issued a national sign-on letter in support of the DREAM Act, a bill to give certain undocumented immigrant youth an opportunity at legal status. The letter currently has roughly 400 signatories representing scholars in 38 states, including all eight Ivy League Institutions. While scholars have for years worked to educate the public and speak out on immigration reform, this letter represents the most concerted effort among the academic community to advocate for the DREAM Act.

• Read the national sign-on letter [8]
• Listen to the telebriefing:

The Sins of the Fathers: The Children of Undocumented Immigrants Pay the Price

For the undocumented in America there is little doubt that the iniquities of the father are visited upon the child. These are kids brought by their parents to this country as young children, in many instances infants in their mothers’ arms, and in every instance as children for whom the decision to come here was made without their participation. And yet, they shall pay the price, perhaps with their futures.

• Read the article [9]

Wasted Talent and Broken Dreams: The Lost Potential of Undocumented Students

The wasted talent of today’s undocumented youth imposes economic and emotional costs on themselves and on U.S. society as a whole. Denying undocumented students, most of whom are Hispanic, the opportunity to go to college and join the skilled workforce sends the wrong message to Hispanics about the value of a college education-and the value that U.S. society places on their education-at a time when raising the educational attainment of the Hispanic population is increasingly important to the nation's economic health.

• Read the factsheet [10]

Policy and Politics: Senator Durbin and Education Experts Discuss DREAM Act

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), the chief sponsor of the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), has placed the bill on the Senate calendar for debate later this week.  A new report shows that, while the benefits of the DREAM Act to individual immigrant students may be obvious, the benefits to society as a whole of a more highly educated, higher income tax-base are substantial.  Leaders from the field of education will comment on the DREAM Act and the benefits it could provide if adopted.

• Listen to the telebriefing:

Published On: Thu, Sep 16, 2010 | Download File [11]