We ask that the President of Wake Forest University, Nathan O. Hatch, write a letter to Senator Kay Hagan demonstrating the University's support of the DREAM Act and urging Senator Hagan to also support this important piece of legislation.

Good for North Carolina’s Economy; Good for North Carolina’s Future
December 2010
The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (S. 729; H.R. 1751) is a
bipartisan bill that would give undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as young children a path toward legal status if they attend college or serve in the military. For many of these young people, the U.S. is the only home they know, and English is their first language. They have the potential to be future doctors, nurses, teachers, soldiers, and entrepreneurs. The DREAM Act will provide an opportunity for them to live up to their full potential and make greater contributions to the U.S. economy and society.
■ The DREAM Act will boost North Carolina’s economic recovery.
The State of North Carolina is expecting a $3.2 billion deficit next year. The DREAM Act will help
reduce North Carolina’s deficit by increasing tax revenues.
 A conservative estimate finds that the average DREAM Act beneficiary student will earn $1 million
more over his or her lifetime simply by obtaining legal status. Each DREAM student’s earnings will
net tens of thousands of additional dollars in taxes for state and local treasuries.
■ North Carolina is one of the top beneficiaries of the DREAM Act.
 Approximately 51,000 potential DREAM beneficiaries live in North Carolina. Every beneficiary of the
DREAM Act will be a college or military-bound high school graduate.
 The average college graduate earns over 60 percent more than the average high school graduate over
his or her lifetime. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a typical single person who graduates
with a bachelor’s degree makes an average annual salary of $60,000 and will generate about $11,194
in tax revenue every year.
 If only half of North Carolina’s DREAM students attain a bachelor’s degree, they will generate more
than $285 million in tax revenue for North Carolina a year ($11,194 X 25,500 DREAM students).
■ The DREAM Act invests in North Carolina’s future.
 North Carolina DREAM students have been raised and educated in the state, and taxpayers have
already invested in the elementary and secondary education of these children. DREAM students are
fully assimilated into the American way of life and are ready to give back to the state they consider
home.
 Only 5-10 percent of undocumented high school graduates go to college. The DREAM Act would
create a strong incentive for undocumented students to remain in school until graduation. Some of
these students will go on to pursue careers like nursing, thereby helping to resolve the state’s rising
demand for such positions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Adey Fisseha, Policy Attorney, National Immigration Law Center | fisseha@nilc.org | 202.216.0261