DREAM Act not a reality

By: Jana Kasperkevic

Posted: 11/5/07

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, just days after Baruch students discussed the possibilities offered by Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) during the advocacy workshop, "Struggling to Learn, Educando con Restricciones," the Senate struck down the DREAM Act with a vote of 52-44. Sen. Richard J. Durbin, five-year-long sponsor of the act, called the bill's failure a "sad and troubling moment in [the American history]."

In March 2006, Walter Barrientos wrote for The Ticker that, "In CUNY alone, which has a long history of providing higher education to immigrant families, there are officially 3,000 undocumented students who are education themselves with the hope of one day being able to work."

The DREAM Act will allow the illegal students at Baruch College to put their education to proper use at a legal job after graduation and provide them with an opportunity to advance their careers and lead a life without a constant fear of being deported.

The act would have applied to students who had lived in United States for at least five years before its enactment, had entered U.S. before age 16, had graduated from high school or equivalent, had no criminal record as well as those who have completed two years of college or served in the military for two years. Many students who fulfill these criteria live in New York will attend CUNY in the future because of its accessibility.

The act did have bipartisan support, 11 Republicans voted in its favor. However, with immigration being an important issue in the upcoming presidential election, it is difficult for the presidential candidates to vote on such acts without it having serious consequences on their campaign. Presidential candidates Sens. Chris Dodd and John McCain did not vote and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted in favor of opening the bill up for debate.

"The problem is the public is scared and kind of in shock," argued Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, "And members of Congress want to get re-elected and they don't think they can if they go too far on this issue." Others like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, proposed amendments to make the act acceptable. Hutchinson proposed replacing the path to citizenship with a five-year student visa and renewable work visa.

Members of Congress and the White House fault the Act for creating a path to citizenship that is not available to other immigrants. The Washington Times reported that "in an official statement of policy the White House made clear [President George W.] Bush has a number of problems with the bill, including creating a 'special class of illegal aliens' and offering a perpetual amnesty, rather than a one-time forgiveness." Yet, the threat of a veto never came from the White House.

"It is our duty to promote respect for America's immigration laws and fairness for U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants," stated Minority Leader Mitch McConnell before the vote. "Though I recognize and appreciate the tremendous contributions to our country made by generations of legal immigrants, I do not believe we should reward illegal behavior."

Those in favor of the act argue that the children should not be punished for their parents' decisions. "The parent's immigration is a barrier to the children's education," said Juan Adorno, sophomore, on Thursday, Oct. 18.

"I don't know what the chance will be," stated Sen. Durbin, referring to the chances of the DREAM Act passage in the years to come. Many believe that the act will not be able to pass until well after the elections when the members of Congress are more comfortable with voting on such issues. "But this is an idea whose time will come because it is an idea based on justice and fairness. To think that these young people would see their lives ruined because their parents […] brought them to this country."

---

© Copyright 2007 Ticker