College Board Report for the DREAM Act

by DREAM Activist

Published April 21, 2009 @ 10:23AM PT

The College Board is a nonpartisan institution that hardly comes out in favor of policies. But the DREAM Act is compelling enough to make the non-partisan and independent body come out in support the legislation.

The College Board independent report (Young Lives on Hold) highlighted at a major press conference in Washington D.C. sends a very clear message: allowing more people to get an education is in America’s best interests.

College Board estimates suggest that the DREAM Act would provide 360,000 undocumented high school graduates with a legal means to work and secure additional resources for college, and could provide incentives for another 715,000 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school (to fulfill the act’s eligibility requirements) and pursue post-secondary education.

Among the findings of this report:

• Given the opportunity to receive additional education and move into better-paying jobs, undocumented students would pay more in taxes and have more money to spend and invest in the U.S. economy.

• The 10 states that, since 2001, have passed laws allowing undocumented students who graduate from in-state high schools to qualify for in-state college tuition have not experienced a large influx of new immigrant students who have displaced native-born students or added financial burdens to their education systems. In fact, these measures tend to increase school revenues by bringing in tuition from students who otherwise would not be in college.

• The DREAM Act would provide 360,000 undocumented high school graduates with a legal means to work and attend college, and could provide incentives for another 715,000 youngsters between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school and pursue postsecondary education.

• In strictly economic terms, the contributions that DREAM Act students would make over their lifetimes would dwarf the small additional investment in their education beyond high school, and the intangible benefits of legalizing and educating these students would be significant.

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Napolitano Grappling with Civil vs. Criminal Infractions

by DREAM Activist

Published April 20, 2009 @ 02:47PM PT

FAIR is whining through the Dan Stein Report once again that the Obama Administration is not enforcing immigration laws. This time the target is Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano.

In a recent CNN interview, Napolitano clearly distinguished the difference between civil and criminal violations of immigration law.

"Well, you know, Sheriff Joe, he is being very political in that statement, because he knows that there aren't enough law enforcement officers, courtrooms or jail cells in the world to do what he is saying.

What we have to do is target the real evil-doers in this business, the employers who consistently hire illegal labor, the human traffickers who are exploiting human misery.

And yes, when we find illegal workers, yes, appropriate action, some of which is criminal, most of that is civil, because crossing the border is not a crime per se. It is civil.

Granted Ms. Napolitano could have stated that in a way which was clearer because we know she is making a distinction between civil infractions and criminal penalties. Alas, FAIR (a hate-organization founded and funded by a White supremacist) would rather distort and deflect the discussion in question and call this a mischaracterization of immigration law rather than really discuss the difference between civil and criminal infractions.

DREAM Act students, especially, are not criminals.

• 1. Illegal presence is not a crime.
• 2. To qualify for the DREAM Act, one must not have any sort of criminal record

U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI): “[U]nder current law, illegal entry into the United States makes an alien subject to a Federal criminal misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison. However, unlawful presence itself, such as by overstaying a visa, is not a criminal offense, but only a civil ground of inadmissibility.”

Rudy Giuliani: “[B]eing an illegal immigrant, the 400,000 were not prosecuted for crimes by the federal government, nor could they be… In fact, when you throw an immigrant out of the country, it’s not a criminal proceeding. It’s a civil proceeding.”

FAIR should really look in the mirror as per this quote: "ignoring or mischaracterizing the law is a very convenient way for those in power to avoid the laws they find most inconvenient" because they do the same far too often.

DREAM Act - Laying the Smackdown on Misinformation

by DREAM Activist

Published April 19, 2009 @ 08:30AM PT

This is a guest post from an undocumented student at Duke who wants to remain anonymous

This would my first time writing about my status but I think I can bear it no longer. I am an undocumented alien in the US and I go to Duke University.

Recently I came across the FAIR Press Release that lists the arguments against the Dream Act. I’ll reproduce it here and show how these arguments are simply ridiculous. Americans should no longer be blindfolded by the darkness of the sugar-coated rhetoric. Be welcome to the light but painful truth of us 'illegal' youths:

Argument 1: Dream Act rewards parents who violated immigration laws through their children, and provide a powerful incentive for more illegal immigration.

The Dream Act only legalizes existing 'illegal aliens' currently residing in the US and who are within a certain age range. It does not apply for any future illegals. Yes, it might have encouraged more people coming to the US because it gives them the illusion that US immigration laws are loose. But what is most loose is not the Dream Act, it’s the gross ambiguity in United State’s current immigration policy. The US has never been decisive and committed to protecting its borders or in deterring illegals from entering. Immigration does not take place in a vacuum and 'illegal immigration' is certainly inextricably linked to the demand for cheap labor. Our justice system has never been objective in deciding which asylum cases to accept and which to reject. For example, I’ve seen so many affluent families coming to the States to give birth and have their kids growing up as US citizens. Is this fair? Aren’t they taking the same resources that illegals are taking? But do they really deserve everything US has to offer and illegal aliens are left in darkness, just because their parents are not rich enough? I have known some immigration judges who turn down 85% of the asylum cases (including mine) while other judges accept 90% of them (Link to study). Really? Are you serious? You see, really a lot of our fate depends on chance, and before US can justifiably say that it never rewards wrong-doing, it has to say it has been just in its immigration policies. I could have won the asylum case long time ago and go on with my life.

If you want consistency, take a look at the model of Hong Kong and Japan. Ten years ago, they legalized all the existing irregular immigrants in their region, but since then they’ve put in the most stringent laws to deter future immigration violations. It is really a change of perspective: We would respect the people already here, but we also need to send a firm, clear message to other nations that we do not tolerate any more illegal immigration. We will a humane act in legalizing, then we can (and justifiably) say that we can deport any future out of status immigrants back to their home country, because that way we will act with rationale, determination, and clarity. Yes, our borders are bigger than that of Japan or Hong Kong and we have a lot more people but it is still a much cleaner solution than the one we have. Status quo immigration laws allow people in deportation to 'voluntary departure' but most stay indefinitely. Think about it: what is better? Until US does something humane, it does not have any justification to something bold and daring.

Additionally, we are only talking about several hundred thousand youth here who could probably qualify under the DREAM Act and are spread out in 50 states to minimize any negative impacts.  It is not like we are legalizing all the 'illegal aliens' who you might think are trouble-makers. You are getting the best of the crop, the greenest of your investment portfolio, and who will give the US more returns than anything you could ask for in the last 10 years.

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Final Report - Undocumented Students in North Carolina Community Colleges

by DREAM Activist

Published April 18, 2009 @ 08:36AM PT

$75,000 was invested in a study to note the impact of undocumented students in the North Carolina Community Colleges. That money could have been saved by using some common sense.

The consulting firm found that the state of North Carolina makes a net $1650 per undocumented student that it admits. But the cost of verifying immigration status for each student would cost each college $9000 per year.

NCCCS Final Report

DREAM Act Too Easy? Calling Out Senator Mark Warner

by DREAM Activist

Published April 17, 2009 @ 09:17AM PT

At a recent townhall event, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), came out against the DREAM Act.

He says that it makes the pathway to citizenship too easy and that the nation’s laws must be enforced.

Warner had a mixed record on 'illegal immigrant students' as Governor of Virginia. He actually expressed support for educating undocumented students at one time:

I proposed an amendment to HB 2339 which would have allowed a small but deserving group of students to receive the benefit of in-state tuition only in those cases where they can show that:

1) they or their parents paid Virginia income taxes for three years;

2) they lived in Virginia for five years;

3) they are in the process of obtaining legal status; and

4) they graduated from a Virginia high school.

This amendment would have provided hope and opportunity to a small group of young people who were brought to this country by their parents through no fault of their own, and who are now - and who in all likelihood will continue to be - a part of our communities.

My amendment was designed to expand opportunity to deserving students, allowing them to live the American Dream. Contrary to the assertions of those who opposed my amendment, it would not have given any benefit to undocumented students that is not already available to the children of military families, who are eligible for in-state tuition after a single year of paying taxes in Virginia.

As the Commonwealth addresses the admittedly difficult issues surrounding undocumented residents in the future, it is my hope that we will follow balanced policies that recognize that there are many potential American heroes like Jose Gutierrez [first undocumented immigrant to die in Iraq and receive posthumous citizenship] in our midst. Our nation was built by immigrants, and we should not take action that will prevent deserving students from living the American Dream.

Senator Mark Warner seems to have forgotten his own words.

He is also the bilingual Democrat who sheepishly signed legislation in 2005 to deny social services to undocumented immigrants as Governor of the state.

At the same time, he reportedly thinks that the idea of mass deportations is unrealistic and there should be a pathway to citizenship. The Washington Post reports in September 2007:

Warner said he wants to secure the borders but also would be sympathetic to allowing those already in the country illegally to stay.

"The notion we are going to be sweeping through with mass deportations in communities -- I just don't think it's realistic," said Warner, who later added, "I hate some of the feelings that our country is looking and feeling as if it's becoming anti-immigrant."

What policy does Warner support for undocumented students caught in the cross-fire of the immigration debate? Is he flip-flopping now or simply playing into the hands of dispirited Republicans by splintering the efforts towards just and humane immigration reform?

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Actively Organizing for Citizenship - Underground Undergrads

by DREAM Activist

Published April 06, 2009 @ 02:43AM PT

"I believe there's a hero in all of us that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble and finally allows us to die with pride."

One of the most special and crucial relationships we have built as student organizers (who also happen to blog) is with the amazing youth from Underground Undergrads. While the project started in a class that profiled the lives of undocumented students, the blog has welcomed the involvement of bloggers from Dream Act Texas and DreamActivist.

Matias Ramos, among the founding members of UCLA Ideas, main blogger for Underground Undergrads and a national organizer with United We DREAM, is one of the pioneers that made our increased visibility a possibility.

The students and alumni from UCLA IDEAS are among the most hard-working, conscientious and welcoming youth that one may find. They would collect and recycle cans as a means of fundraising, sleep in libraries, let you 'crash' overnight at their apartment ... I don't need to go into further details--We should all know and revere The Invisibles by now. A Christian is to the Bible as the undocumented student is to that wonderful article.

It was one of the first times I had personally heard and read about other undocumented students. I knew that there were plenty more like me out there. But growing up in an Indian immigrant family that spent 60 hours per week working to put food on the table, while I buried myself in books and extracurriculars did not really allow for these conversations and explorations. I am here making up for lost time and it is only possible due to the welcoming environment that student organizers like Matias have worked so hard to create over the years.

Be a hero. Spread the love.

Is It Too Much to DREAM?

by DREAM Activist

Published April 05, 2009 @ 08:54AM PT

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
-Harriet Tubman

I was sent the following piece by a student at Duke University and feel compelled to share it with everyone here.

My family had come to America in search of the American dream. We rented a bedroom owned by the Chen family who lived in another bedroom across from us in the same apartment. Usually only Mr. and Mrs. Chen lived there, but occasionally Anthony, who was ten, would come home on the weekends.

Anthony was the window through which I saw the world. He would tell me about the football games in his school, the cheerleader he had fallen madly in love with, the bully that he wanted to beat up and the 2008 Mustang Convertible GT he wanted to drive when he turned 17. I called him crazy, but he stared at me and replied, "You're the crazy one! You're too scared to dream!"

As I finished middle school, I became increasingly rebellious. I saw no future for myself. I didn't know where this education thing would take me. I started questioning my place in this country. My grades took a toll. I would go out playing basketball until very late at night, or stay in my friend's house until his parents kicked me out of their apartment. I would not cook for my mom; I would not even cook for myself. I would stuff one or two slices of bread into my mouth and go to bed without washing. I hated the bathtub.

My mom was too weak to scold me. She would only hum faintly on our bed because she was too hungry and too tired to cook. She wouldn't even scold me for not washing myself. When I came home, I would just lie gently against the pillow, the only tangible thing in this world, and dream of fancy Ford Mustangs, unattainable cheerleaders and the elusive American dream. And when I weighed these dreams against the flimsy existence we had eked out of this country, tears would begin to rush out of my eyes. I would feel my mom grab my hand, and I would hear her turn around and a stifled sniff. Together, we would fall asleep.

Seven years later, I was living in a dream again, this one called the Duke dream. Here, I've been blessed with truly wonderful and talented friends. We hang out together, pull all-nighters and share our aspirations. One thing my friends don't know, though, is that I am here illegally and I don't have a future. Still, I have been more than thankful. Yesterday, as I walked through the Duke Gardens and smelled the flagrant scent of blooming flowers on my way to class, I remembered where I came from and how it smelled. I am thankful for the best time of my life. It is brighter than any American dream I could ask for.

Read the whole chronicle here.

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