Is the DREAM Act a good solution for illegal immigration and the War in Iraq?

Question

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, is part of the stalled package of proposals that many in Congress are seeking to resurrect. The proposal, applicable to an estimated 750,000 undocumented residents of military age, stipulates that those who arrived in the United States before age 16, graduated from high school, and meet other qualifications could immediately enter the path to citizenship in exchange for at least two years' service in the armed forces.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/16/immigration_bill_offers_a_military_path_to_us_dream/

Answer 1

It's not what they say it is. Many are being misguided. It is not there to help immigrants of any age. It's another Amnesty Bill meant to destroy our country.



Here's the whole scoop:

Answer 2

It would appear that Nipuntus' answer reveals well rounded thinking and concern from a compassionate point of view...



However, the issue at hand is not one of compassion alone and, as usual, the political stance to gain votes outweighs the possibility of any solution being beneficial or acceptable to American citizens...



America has no military draft and an American born illegal should not be required to "pay back" for the illegal acts of his / her parent(s). When that child is of legal age, he / she has a choice to be made...American citizen or not...? At that time the illegal parent(s) should be deported to their native country to stand in line for re-entry in the legal process of immigration...



I would love to see a military draft board at our borders with a welcome sign illuminated in the sky that can be seen across the barren desert for miles...



I don't blame anyone for seeking a better way of life but feel so many illegals with this objective have little compassion for Americans that must support their better way...



For those illegals already in America there is only one solution...NO AMNESTY...! Perhaps the politicians believing the dream act is a solution should also be deported just to learn how poorly they are accepted in a non-english community and that a political vote means no more than a shovel full of sand...



Unfortunately, voting in the United States has come to be no more than a popularity contest and is as courrupted as any other entity of our system. A politician has but one concept of politics and that is self-preservation and this comes possible only thru his / her efforts to preserve the political party they become part of...



Whether the media highlights and manipulates the populace or not, the final ending of any issue relative to amnesty will be one of an attempted result at pacifying both legal and non-legal people simply because the popularity vote is what keeps a politician in office...



When politicians are on the campaign trail they promise to serve the requests of those that elect them. Once elected they make their own decisions regardless of their promise and then say they were elected to make their own decisions...



In other words, there is no political soultion for settling the illegal problem but there is a legal one...



NO AMNESTY...ILLEGALS GO HOME OR GO TO JAIL...!



American born children of illegals are Americans and if they choose to give up their citizenship at a proper age, it is their choice, as it is mine. Meanwhile, illegals must be deported and return legally as our laws have made provision for...



NO...the dream act is not a solution at all and will be detrimental to our promise of equal liberty and freedom without discrinination to all...!

Answer 3

I think it's a good idea me being Hispanic i know of many teens and young adults who have dreams of going to college but cannot do so because they are unable to work legally and cant afford college. These are not kids who want to do wrong they just want to reach there goals, i believe it would make this country stronger, imagine more doctors, nurses, computer technicians. A person who has been denied to pursue there dreams and then given the opportunity to do so will not take it for granted, he will take that opportunity and shine.

Answer 4

Funny, your concept of amnesty. And the law.

I’d define amnesty as a pardon of the law motivated either by necessary or corrupt factors. Presently, amnesty has an extremely negative connation thanks to generous people like Marcus Epstein who look at the issue rather superficially.



I’m all for enforcing necessary laws–drunken driving, drug possession, violent crimes, theft, and so forth. These laws serve to maintain the general populace save and ensure the ideal of our country. The ideal that everyone has a right to pursue happiness. Whenever people encroach upon this right, a law must be created to punish offenders. Ironically, many of people in this difficult situation are enriching the lives of their fellow Americans.



Those who are encroaching must be deported; those who are enriching our lives must be granted the same rights as a permanent resident. As Americans, we should differentiate among the two for our own benefit.



A most important concept to realize is that laws are set to serve the people, and whenever the laws no longer serve the people, they must be changed accordingly. In present times, we are facing an inability to distance ourselves from the laws themselves. I’ve looked into the DREAM act and other forms of alleged, negative amnesty. The DREAM Act I agree with should be passed, if it isn’t, it goes to show a failure in our lawmakers. It’s troubling so many people don’t try to see the other side of the argument. The students themselves are here to enrich our society, and if they must be penalized for their public education K-12, then so be it. I’d also consider the tax contribution the parents make in everyday living and their social security contribution.

AgJobs, I also agree with.



Let’s not forget that as early 55 years ago in the US, segregation was enforced by American laws.



Finally, I also have a distaste of amnesty. Let’s do away with amnesty, and destroy these ineffective laws. That these estimated millions of people have a right to something for which they have already fought. If there are those who have been caught with DUIs, drug possession, theft, and so forth, then I would agree with their immediate deportation. For those who are faithfully pursuing the American ideal, and those who have already become integrated in our society with a positive impact, then I must push forward to the law recognizing their lawful presence.



Illegals, as they are so inhumanely classified, are human beings like the readers, and like the author. Their only difference is that to the overtly complicated socioeconomic situation of their country and the poor immigration channels of the US have been forced to break unnecessary laws.



In this case, our very laws need modification, rather blind enforcement. Unfortunately, we, the American people, have been deceived into believing that all Hispanics are violent offenders with only the desire to drain our country. We must stop dehumanizing these individuals and differentiate against the criminals and the everyday person working toward bettering themselves. We must stop heeding the rants of righteous talk show hosts and online authors. And finally, we must stop persecuting those who are suffering from our very inadequate laws.



From firsthand experience, I can say that change must occur in support of these people. The anti-immigration bandwagon is too full, anyway.

Answer 5

There are so many holes in this proposal that almost any illegal here could qualify in some way. The media only tells you the points of it that they want to you to hear. If you read the entire bill,it isn't any better than the shamnesty bill they tried to pass before.

Answer 6

I think the parents are illegal but their children should not be penalized for their parents' decision to bring them to the United States. If a child is brought to and raised in the US, they are completely detatched to their native country (unacculturated, not knowing the language, most likely no family there, including the fact that their parents and siblings would still be living in the US), what "life" are they going back to? To me, deporting a child covered by the DREAM Act would be inhumane. But, some of the US's values are messed up anyway. (Legal Abortion vs. Illegal Dog Fighting)



I know some of you will say its not the US's problem, and the parents should have thought of that before they came, but if the youngsters have been here, graduated, stayed out of trouble, and want to become American citizens through the DREAM Act, they should have the opportunity to do this.



I could have spent my childhood living in Florida and moved to California at the age of 10 and remained there as an adult. By all rights in this comparison, I would be a Californian.



I'm not saying there's an easy answer, but the children of these illegals that have been raised mainly in the US are not the primary focus of the immigration debate. There are millions of others that are the focus of deportation.

Answer 7

I dont understand why a country who has citizens who come here illegally and brake laws and milk the healthcare and welfare systems would want those people in the Military ! What do they have to do to make people understand they don't respect America ?

Answer 8

More outrageous behavior from the TRAITORS to America of congress. Absolutely unbelievable, the insanity of these scum that want to give away citizenship for votes. this is also so they can keep Manuel (and his children eventually), to work their gardens and mow their lawns. Consuela can then still watch their children while they give America away wholesale.



The DREAM act is nothing short of traitorous.

Answer 9

No I feel that if they have been here to graduate from our schools we have spent too much on them already. We need to draw a line in the sand. Being here illegal is being here illegal. Why should we give amnesty to any one here illegal.

Let them take their education home and do something in their country to promote change for the betterment of their people.

Answer 10

My understanding is that under this version anyone of any age can use it. They don't have to be college students, they could be 45 years old. Granted I need to look that up, but if true, that is ridiculous, and as sneaky as that Senate bill they tried to pass this summer.



It is a real shame when we have to read all of the boiler plate, when our representatives DON'T have to, just to keep them from lying to us about what is in a bill.

Answer 11

Absolutely not. We don't need them as citizens and we surely don't need those whose loyalty is with another nation in our military. That's a recipe for disaster and a sure security fiasco.

Answer 12

It is a 6 year residency card. The child has to spend 2 years in either the University or the military to qualify, and, has to have been here for 3 years before turning 16...



I think it is good. Not only would it encourage kids to do better in school, it would lower the rate of dropouts, and, help these children to have a future. If a child is competent enough to be accepted into a university, he is the type of person that we want here......