Equity in higher education: The DREAM Act 2010

Did you know that because of the 1981 landmark Supreme Court decision in Plyer v Doe, undocumented immigrant students have had access to public, K-12 education? This is a good thing. However, the problem arises once the undocumented minors graduate from high school.

Unfortunately, no order or legislation has been passed yet that could provide postsecondary undocumented students an opportunity to regulate their legal standing and or pursue their higher education dreams. This inequality has effectuated the need for what is called, the DREAM Act, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

The Dream Act would benefit young adults brought by their parents to this country as young children. Some of these children came when they were infants. These children, young adults now, had no decision in coming to this country. They came with their parents and because of the above noted equal educational opportunity law suit they were able to get an elementary and secondary education, despite their undocumented status.

The DREAM Act would alleviate the inflicted inequities bestowed on these children via their parent’s undocumented status. The DREAM Act is a needed piece of legislation consistent with other law suit decisions focusing on equal educational opportunities. An excerpt of the Dream Act is below:

http://immigration.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=immigration&cdn=newsissues&tm=13&gps=78_234_654_379&f=10&tt=12&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//dreamact.info/

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The "DREAM Act") is a piece of proposed federal legislation in the United States that was introduced in the United States Senate, and the United States House of Representatives on March 26, 2009. This bill would provide certain illegal immigrant students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. The alien students would obtain temporary residency for a six year period. Within the six year period, a qualified student must have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or [have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States," or have "served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge."[1] "

A legal Analysis of the DREAM Act:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1554032

Undocumented Students and the DREAM Act:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqInrPRULUY

VIDEO: NYS Undocumented Students Emulate Cesar Chavez and Ghandi Hunger Strike Practices In Need of the DREAM Act.
http://www.nysylc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/hunger_strikers.jpg

Living in The United States: A Guide For Immigrant Youth
http://www.ilrc.org/resources/sijs/Youth_Handbook_English.pdf

New York State Dream Act Action Group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2336266222
DREAM Act Students
http://videos.sacbee.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=12236214