Pass the DREAM Act - Ideas for Change in America

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

You can also comment on and rank the suggestions submitted by others.

Laurita.....I hope we have teachers like you all over the world.It was very thoughtful of you to share these stories which in normal circumstances we would never be able to know or rather a certain group of people will never allow us to know.Thanks a lot and God Bless You.

And to Obama Administration:

You guys are the only hope for these poor students in desperate needs.So please Pass The Dream Act Now!!!

Suggested by Nilav Bhadra on 01/18/2009 @ 07:01PM PT
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I am a community college instructor on the south side of Phoenix. I am not permitted, by policy, to disclose the name of my college or district. I have already been reprimanded, more than once, for discussing the needs and advocacy of these particular students, in association with my job. In some parts of the country, we are experiencing atrocities that are nightmarishly similar to those experienced by Jewish children during WWII. I am devastated that voters in my state overwhelmingly approved “human” rights for pigs, in the same election that they “crucified” our DREAM Act students.

There is a student I will call “V”. We do not use real names because of the level of persecution we are experiencing in our state. V was detained in a small crowded holding cell, for 5 days, before being deported and left destitute on the other side of the border with Mexico. Her crime was a minor vehicle violation. The conditions of her detention were the same as those experienced by women in a deportation camp in the Netherlands called Vught, where 10 women were dead of suffocation, after just one day in such conditions. “V” suffered that same ratio of women to space, little or no facilities, and detainees were not even provided with any means to contain menstrual flow. Prior to these disgraceful conditions, “V” was a gifted honor student who had earned academic achievement scholarships and was about to start university.

Then there is “Little Joe”, beloved by teachers, fellow students and community. “Little Joe” was a very proud captain in his school’s ROTC. He looked so gallant in his uniform and his only dream was to serve in the US military. He was known for his huge smile, being helpful to other students and befriending the new ones. One day he fell and briefly lost consciousness. At the hospital, it was determined that he had leukemia, a disease which currently, when treated, has a very high survival rate. The family and community immediately started banking blood to insure that there would be an adequate supply, should Little Joe” need it. Instead, the hospital decided to “deport” him, all by himself, by ambulance, to Mexico, where he died shortly after arrival, because there was no blood supply for him.

These are just a couple of examples of what DREAM Act students and caring individuals in our state live with day in and day out, where our elected “Sheriff Joe” neglects dangerous criminals, and makes a media circus out of persecuting our gifted young Americans. There are so many more reports, and for the sake of brevity, I leave you with these two. America has crossed the line with its treatment of these young people. There will be no rest for me until these precious young people are given the legitimacy that they deserve and have earned.

Introduce and pass the DREAM Act NOW!

With love and good wishes,
Laurita
When asked why I love to teach? Because I have fron row seat to the next generation and the performers are stellar.

Suggested by Laurita Moore on 01/18/2009 @ 05:41PM PT
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Higher Education is the key I totally agree on this issue, The more americans get educated the smarter we get the better cars we build and the more peace is spread throughout america and hopefully set example to the world. We need to show the world that higher education is important and an higher education makes people less likely to commit violence or terrible acts.

Suggested by Lawrence Decoste on 01/17/2009 @ 07:20PM PT
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Before starting to write, i think I read that this area is for writting suggestions on how to build a national campaign and advance this change.I am not seeing much of a suggestion, rather only rants.So I would appreciate if I could see more suggestions of how to make this idea a reality.Thank you!
This idea has been far too delayed and has to be passed right away.The students have waited far too long.They are tired.We would have tired too if we were in their shoes.But we can see they are still fighting which shows us that they have a determined heart.Now this issue is only only going to be benevolent for bnoth the country and the students.We cannot disagree to that.If that was not the case this idea would not have been able to accumulate so many votes.
Now that the idea has been one of the top 10 ideas where USA needs change, we need to promote this idea.Let everyone in this country know, what the dream act really is?What are its objectives?Who are going to benefit from it?How is it good for the sinking economy in the long run?Its true that all these points have been discussed time and again in this website and still some people seem to not comprehend what is written in very simple english language.Even if we dont consider this website, there are so many more people in the United States who have never even heard of the Dream Act is.Now we have to remember that every one does not have internet and a computer handy.SO what do we do about that?
We still got our valuable MEDIA.Television and the Radio are the perfect examples for this sort of exposure.Now I am very sure everyone has seen the ads featuring the prop 8 and so forth announced on the Tv before the elections.Did any of those ads talk about the Dream Act?NO.The radio does not talk about it either.In such a scenario, how can one expect people to be not submerged in ignorance about the Dream Act.
We need to talk to the local as well as national news channels at once to feature the Dream act(ofcourse from a neutral stance).This should be done for public awareness.Let people know what this bill has to offer.Similarly I would love to see the Dream act in the radio.We need to bring the dream act to the people of USA.I think along with the internet we need to educate people more about the dream act thru our television and radio.

Suggested by Nilav Bhadra on 01/17/2009 @ 05:44PM PT
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I think it would be great if you request students to maintain a certain grade point average. This will stimulate immigrant students to get higher grades, and maybe cut the line for the not so great ones that dont care enought to get a certain GPA.

Suggested by Donatela B on 01/17/2009 @ 04:18PM PT
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Frankly, this isn't enough. Of course the ultimate goal in this area should be to abolish borders completely, which is something I never expected Obama to push for at least for the forseeable future. But this doesn't even class as a first step.

The age requirement - first they were barred from university by their geographical origins, now by their age?

And the duration of residence to date, what are you gonna just leave anyone who's only been there for a year or two looking over their shoulder for another 4 years?

Suggested by Alan Stevenson on 01/17/2009 @ 10:18AM PT
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It is important for Congress to understand that 90% of the students who would be postively impacted by the DREAM ACT are US citizens. Most of the students are 2nd and 3rd generation children of immigrant parents. The students were born in the US. The students who are in the remaining 10% have attended US public schools regardless of legal status due to the Supreme Court case Plyler v Doe (1982)that does not allow a district to deny education funding to students not "legally admitted"into the US. The court upheld the 14th amendment equal protection right for undocumented children to "not be denied the same education benefits as other residents". Once a student graduates from High School, they should not lose the fundamental protection provided them through 12th grade. A diploma from HS should not be a ticket to limbo or an "underground" status. Congress needs to recognize that for every child who graduates postsecondary education is a must and legislate continued protection with access to all equal rights and benefits. Communities, districts and schools can help students start the legal process to residency, citizenship and a postsecondary education that they may continue their education and receive all the benefits offered every other student in the country. The K-16 plans governors and business community leaders are developing needs to include all students in the state and be treated as every child's civil right.

Suggested by kathleen leos on 01/17/2009 @ 09:33AM PT
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It is imperative that this passes. The longer this goes without passing the less respect I have for this country. How is it that this country is denying higher education to students who have lived here for a great portion of their lives? After years of being brought up in the United States public system, it is natural to begin to identify more with the United States than the home country. I have friends currently in this dilemma, where this countries policies is impeding their intellectual growth. What's even more shameful is that they passed their advance placement exams for American History and Government with 5's, thus if the collegeboard exams are of good indication they technically know more about government and American history than the average American citizen who were raised in this country and have several generations behind of "American" ancestry. No wonder this country is in such a mess. We have a dwindling economy and educational system, and those who can potentially boost our educational levels are being blocked by a government which has forgotten its roots. A country that was founded on immigration. A country that provided a dream to those less fortunate from other countries. It is such a shame what this country is becoming. When everything is summed up, the way the United States is today makes me not be proud of being an American.

Suggested by Alexander Barrios on 01/17/2009 @ 07:46AM PT
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Even though I would like to apply for this great Idea I cant because I just dont qualify. But I am still here supporting my people because I know this will change their lives.

I came here when I was 16 already =/ Plus I have been living here about 4 years only. I have been attending college and paying Out-of-State Tuition, I had to work a lot to get that amount of money just to pay College.

Sometimes I see Our people want this Idea to pass, but They dont support. I dont know If its because they dont know or because they are just to "busy". How many votes did you guys collect?? How many students are going to get benefit because of The Dream Act?? Where are all of them? Where are all those people that marched at the Streets of Los Angeles?. We want the change, so we have to vote. Yes, I did told my friends to vote. Some of them didnt even know about this page.

Well, my suggestion is to get our people involved. We have to let them know what is happening. Lets work together in order to get something.

Suggested by Julio Calderon on 01/16/2009 @ 10:19PM PT
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My suggestion would be a campaign to educate the public as to what this bill is actually about. Throughout he commenting period many had demonstrated a total lack of understanding as to what the bill does and doesn't do.

The DREAM Act would provide nothing more than a path to legality for persons brought illegally to the United States by their parents as children, or whose parents attempted to immigrate legally but were then denied legality or lost status.

To qualify, the immigrant student would have to meet certain requirements:

Proof of having arrived in the United States before reaching 16 years of age;

Proof of residence in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since their date of arrival.

Having graduated from an American High School, or obtained a GED.

"Good moral character," essentially defined as the absence of a significant criminal record (or any drug charges whatsoever).
After meeting the above requirements students would be eligible to apply for a temporary six year "conditional" residence permit which would allow them to live legally in the United States.

They could obtain driver's licenses, work legally (including obtaining a social security number), and apply for special travel documents which would allow for travel outside of the country for limited amounts of time.

During the six years of conditional status, the eligible immigrant would be required to either:

graduate from a two-year community college,
Complete at least two years towards a 4-year degree, or
serve two years in the U.S. military.
After the six year period, an immigrant who meets at least one of these three conditions would be eligible to apply for legal permanent resident (green card) status.

During their temporary time, immigrants would not be eligible for federal higher education grants such as Pell grants, though they would be able to apply for student loans and work study.

It's really a very simple and straight-forward piece of legislation, yet the vast majority of Americans don't know what it's really about.

This education effort I believe would make the passage of the DREAM Act far less contentious and make the public less susceptible to propaganda and mis-information from those who oppose the bill

Suggested by Duke Reed on 01/16/2009 @ 09:22PM PT
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