Urge Congress To Pass The Dream Act

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PAAIA
by PAAIA
27-Apr-2009
 

Help Deserving Students Earn a Path to Legal Residency

"Mohammad" came to the United States with his parents from Iran when he was three years old. Due to a minor immigration technicality, his family's application was turned down, resulting in their "out of status" condition. If the DREAM Act were passed, "Mohammad," who is now 23 could become a permanent resident and would be able to obtain his bachelor's degree in social work and pursue his dream of working in the immigration field.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Minors (DREAM) Act has been reintroduced for consideration in the 111th Congress. The bipartisan measure seeks to provide undocumented high school students the opportunity to earn permanent residency. The DREAM Act has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). A similar version known as the American Dream Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Howard Berman (D-28th/CA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL/21st).

The DREAM Act would allow undocumented students to obtain legal status if they arrived in the U.S. at the age of 15 or younger, have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years, have graduated from high school, have good moral character, and are willing to serve in the military or attend college for at least two years.

Supporters of the DREAM Act firmly believe that such legislation would offer motivated students, who through no fault of their own are out of status, a real incentive to attend college, serve their country, and become valued members of American society. "Our immigration laws prevent thousands of young people from fully contributing to our nation's future. These young people have lived in this country for most of their lives. It is the only home they know. They are American in every sense except their technical legal status," said Senator Durbin. "They are honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, and valedictorians."

The DREAM Act is supported by a broad coalition of immigrant, labor, civil liberties, and religious organizations. The bill has also received massive support from many student organizations around the country, notably Hispanic American and Latino-American organizations. Many of these organizations have now banded together to create umbrella coalitions in order to strengthen and unify their support for the DREAM Act.

Click here to learn more about the DREAM Act.

Take Action Today!

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Urge your members of Congress to support the DREAM Act.

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To KouroshS

by Mohammad A (not verified) on

Who is pushing anyone 'ahead of the line'?

You call it a big show but you have nothing to back that up with, DREAM has been introduced every session since 2001, long before CIR was even debated or discussed. Dream, if it were to pass before CIR, takes nothing away from CIR.

This internal rift that you are backing only hurts cir ;). Please don't try and speak for me as an undocumented student and say that i'll turn my back on my undocumented parents once I am legal. It is a silly stance to take and one that holds no water when presented to actual undocumented people, whether it be the students or parents. If the dream act were to pass before cir then it only strengthens the chance of cir passing next time around... unless you'd argue that 2plus million potential youth advocates for any cause is not meaningful.

We don't debate the dream act so I will not reply as to the merits of it anymore.

Mo
//dreamactivist.org

Petition can be found at: //dreamact2009.com


anonymous fish

nah nah

by anonymous fish on

kouroush.  i'm sorry you misunderstood me!  i was certainly NOT excluding adults in my observation!  in that this blog was about a child, i was focusing my attention to that.  but i feel just as strongly about the rights of adults as well!!!!  i feel that ANY person who makes a conscienceous choice to come to the US and intends to participate fully AS an american citizen should be afforded the same rights! and more so those that HAVE and intend to continue contributing to the betterment of their adopted country.  my objection has been, is and will continue to be those who abuse those rights by enjoying the precious freedom afforded them in the US and who continue to HATE, DEMONIZE and DENIGRATE our country with absolutely no loyalty whatsoever


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What the Hell for?

by KouroshS (not verified) on

I did not say that you did not support a comprehensive plan. But at the same time it is not fair at all to push them ahead of the line and pass dream act as it is.
What advantage do those young people present than others don't?
This is a Big show. They are using this as a distraction to avoid dealing with the real thing.


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to KouroshS

by Mohammad A (not verified) on

When did I say i was not also a fan of comprehensive reform?

We need comprehensive reform for everyone and if comprehensive is not attainable this year then we need the dream act as it is.

Comprehensive and DREAM are not mutually exclusive things.


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Ananymous Fishie

by KouroshS (not verified) on

How could you discriminate like that? What about all the adults who have conducted themselves in the most lawful manner, have goals, love the culture, Love america and its people and even PLAN AND INTEND TO MARRY AND INTEGRATE FURTHER INTO THE SOCIETY? what about them? Do we just throw their lives out the window, for the sake of a teenager or a 3 year old? Whoes Intention and Ideals are more solid and has more validity and credibility here?

I am not for penalizing these kidos, But at least give everyone else, who has has the willingness to contribute and More importantly has contributed and has something to show for it, the same equal chance instead of nothing but deportation and jail. they are humans too, and they deserve a chance. they have also spent their time and lives in this country and devoted themselves to the prosperity of this society.

I agree with that last part. laws should definitely be revisited and revised and reformed to do just what you said. yes indeed:)


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mohmmad A

by KouroshS (not verified) on

No, it does not matter how one falls out of status, but come on! What are the chances of that happening specially for the thousands of families who have migrated here illegally? do all of them file a petition and hire a lawyer? There maybe a few cases where people get a lawyer, butthe majority just come here without worrying about anything else.

This is not the fault of children, But what about placing the burden of responsibility on their parents? Why not bothering to learn about the consequences of migrating illegally? There are so many who have their lives in Limbo and need to fix their status, who have also been productive economically and paid their taxes, why not working on a legislation that takes care of them as well? Heck. One can not even LEAVE without being hassled and jailed! How screwed up is that?


anonymous fish

yes, i see better now

by anonymous fish on

thanks for the clarification kouroush.  it becomes somewhat two different issues.  the issue of the adults trying to immigrate and for whatever reason, their application was denied.  justified or a screw up?  who would know unless you were privy to each and every fact of the situation.

but a 3 year old who INTENDS and DOES become fully integrated into their adopted homeland, INTENDING and WILLING to support the country to whom they have become allied and part of.  with INTENTIONS and DESIRES to participate and contribute to their adopted homeland... it isn't fair to penalize them!!!!  i wish far stricter scrutinity was taken of others who live and prosper with no intentions of either SUPPORTING or CONTRIBUTING to the US.

it also seems unfair to me that IF an application is rejected, than reapplication would not be available.  i definitely believe that certain issues should preclude particular people from obtaining permanent status but all???? hardly!!!  if in fact it was an error made by their attorney, it doesn't seem fair that they would be permanently barred.  shouldn't they be revisited on a regular basis to encourage legal immigration to those who deserve it and who have fullfilled whatever requirements are necessary.

another example of the colassal cluster of our immigration status.


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A 3-year old has agency?

by Prerna (not verified) on

"These young people, as essential as they are to the development of this country, never became out of status due to no fault of their own"

How can you say that? A 3-year or 15-year year old has absolutely no say when it comes to immigration. They also are not permitted to file their own immigration paperwork. The DREAM Act does just that--allow children that were brought here and have grown up as American--the chance to 'get in line' and rectify an essential loophole in the immigration system that does not allow us to benefit from the hard-work and talent of these youth.

It's really a no brainer.


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Does it matter?

by Mohammad A (not verified) on

The attorney messed up the filings (wrong filing fee!) and the second attorney let the appeal time lapse, regardless though, does it really matter how one fell out of status?

The DREAM Act is meant to be for people who were brought to the US as children and were never given the opportunity to fix their status. Children have no say in how their parents immigrate somewhere and thus they should not be held down because of such situations.

The DREAM Act rectifies this dilemma, it finally creates a door for those brought here as kids and who have never before had the opportunity to 'fix' their status to do just that.

Be sure you sign the Dream Act petition at dreamact2009.com


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fishie jaan

by KouroshS (not verified) on

I could be wrong on this, but usually when an application is rejected, that is the end, and the process is repeated. before a final decision is made on the case they ask for additional documents. COuld it be possible that such minor glitches have happened to more than, let's say 1% of all these applicants? Did it happen to everyone? i doubt it.

Being out of status means that you have overstayed the duration of your visa. There are a lot of tourists and students who are in this situation.
I would also support such a legislation's chances of passing, but why only concentrate on them? why not those who are adults, learned the language well, paid their taxes and have been economically useful and productive and have a crime free record.


anonymous fish

i agree in general

by anonymous fish on

but i have one question as it relates to this particular case.  what exactly was the "minor immigration technicality"?  it certainly bears on the situation!!!  i'm not sure what "out of status" means either.

if truly a MINOR technicality, then i would support such legislation.  if this young person has excelled academically, then we should encourage him to further his contributions to the US!!!!!

another question... has the family tried to obtain legal status SINCE the initial applicaton?  have they repeatedly been turned down?  and if so, why? 

i support this in theory but there would have to be ALOT more information about this particular case to be able to form a definite opinion.

i hope we hear more about this. 


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Out of Status Throug no fault of their own???

by KouroshS (not verified) on

I fully support such legistalion if its intended purpose was to grant legal status to ALL illegal immigrants, in all age categories, who have been in this country long enough, just as these youngsters, and made equal if not greater ciontrbution to the economy of this land.

These young people, as essential as they are to the development of this country, never became out of status due to no fault of their own. The moment one's application is rejected, it is that person or their family's responsibility to be aware of the consequences. An application being turned down for whatever reason is no MINOR TECHNICALITY!!!!!! It happens for a reason.