Take Action to Support the DREAM Act

The Problem: Each year, according to the National Immigration Law Center, about 65,000 U.S.-raised students graduate from high school and are unable to use their talents because they cannot work legally here, experience barriers to higher education, or fear deportation to countries that are foreign to them.

On March 26, 2009, Sen Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced S. 729, the Development, Relief, and Education For Alien Minors Act of 2009 (the DREAM Act). Rep Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1751, the companion bill, in the House of Representatives.

The purpose of the DREAM Act is to make a difference in the lives of undocumented youth who were brought to the United States by their parents and now, because of their lack of legal status, face obstacles to their future. By removing such barriers, the DREAM Act permits immigrant students to pursue a promising future through college education or military service. To be eligible, students must:

- have entered the U.S. before age 16;

- have lived in the U.S. for at least five continuous years immediately before the bill becomes effective;

- have graduated from high school or gained admission into an institute of higher education;

- have good moral character and not committed certain crimes since the time of entry;

- be younger than 35 when the bill becomes effective;

- not have been under a final order for deportation.

After a six year period of conditional permanent residency, these individuals could apply for citizenship if they had continued to demonstrate good moral character, continued to live in the U.S., and completed at least two years of higher education or served at least two years in the military.The DREAM Act is a component of, and not a substitute for broad immigration reform.

On November 30, 2010, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed a new version of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 (DREAM Act of 2010), S. 3992.

Additional information and resources about the DREAM Act are available here.

Sign and send a letter of support for the DREAM Act to your local senators and representatives here.

Learn more about the immigration issue here.