The DREAM act, or The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, would provide undocumented students (usually of undocumented parents, as one can only get residency through the parents) who graduate from US high schools, of good moral character, who arrive in the U.S. illegally as minors, and have been in the US continuously and illegally for at least five years prior to the bill’s enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning.
In spite of the controversy surrounding this legislature, for practical reasons and simple economy, we believe voting YES to the act is a good thing. Here’s a few practical reasons why:
1. States would benefit from getting a new generation of hard-working, productive people.
2. We have already invested in their education from K-12.
3. The Dream Act gives us the opportunity to get a return on this investment: by these young kids getting or creating good jobs, by them paying taxes , even defending our country.
By voting no, this valuable investment is lost. And realistically, whether one supports it or not, these kids are not going anywhere – they will still stay here regardless. It is a benefit to all of us to make this stay a legal and positive one.
