Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:20:17 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Estimated percentage of undocumented high school graduates who currently attend college: 10

Difference between the amount of taxes paid annually by the typical 30-year-old Mexican immigrant woman with a college degree and amount paid by a similar high school drop-out: $5,300

Difference in the amount of expense this college-educated woman will cost the government compared to her high school drop-out counterpart: -$3,900

Number of young people between the ages of 5 and 17 who would have an incentive to complete high school and pursue college or military service as a result of this legislation: 715,000

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports: The DREAM Act would enable students who immigrated to the U.S. as children to further their education, get better jobs, and, as a result, pay more in taxes, contributing more to the economic prosperity necessary to sustain a strong middle class. Fulfilling their potential, they may be the nation’s future innovators and entrepreneurs and will make up part of the educated workforce needed to help the U.S. compete in the global economy. The students who would be impacted by the legislation grew up in this country, attended U.S. schools, speak English, and consider themselves Americans – many cannot remember living anywhere else. An unsatisfactory alternative to the DREAM Act is that these talented young people might never achieve their potential, but will instead be marginalized by their lack of legal status in the country they grew up in, and will continue to live in the shadows, working low-paid jobs off the books and contributing far less to the U.S. and its national prosperity than they might have. America does not benefit when young people eager to offer their skills and talents are punished for the decisions made by their parents.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

The Immigrant Student Adjustment / DREAM Act page from The National Immigration Law Center

“Wasted Talent and Broken Dreams: The Lost Potential of Undocumented Students” by Roberto G. Gonzales for the Immigration Policy Center

Dream Act page from the National Council of La Raza

DREAM Act