The so-called DREAM act is a deeply flawed bill.  So much so that its detractors often refer to it as the NIGHTMARE Act.  Some of the common complaints are: (1) the applicant requirements are not adequate; (2) there is no enforcement mechanism; (3) there is no provision for monthly audits to make sure the applicants are bona fide; (4) there are no severe penalties up to and including immediate deportation for anyone who presents fraudulent documents in suuport of his or her application; and (5) the window of eligibility is too wide.

So how could these deficiencies be fixed to enable quick passage of a revised bill.  Here are some ideas:  (1) require a minimum of a four year enlistment in the armed forces and an honorable discharge for all applicants;  (2) require four forms of notarized documentation to prove the applicant's eligibility; (3) require monthly audits of a statistical sample of all applications to assure their validity; (4) deport wthout recourse anyone who presents fraudulent documents; (5) college can come after military service as it did for many soldiers, sailors, and airmen during and after our various war; two years of college is not a substitute for the required military service; (6) applications should be acceptable only during the six month period following the passage of the bill;  (7) this will be a one time opportunity and parents who bring their children to the U.S. in future will not enable their eligibilty; (8) all applicants must demonstrate fluency in writing, speaking and reading English; (9) the program must end permanently at the end of the six month window to insure that it does not create an incentive for parents to bring their minor children to the U.S. with the expectation that they will have a new backdoor approach to citizenship.

Finally, applicants must be permanently barred from sponsoring other family members and relatives for residency or citizenship.