[Updated] Impacts of the DREAM Act

Growing up in the United States of America might sound a great deal for many immigrant young people. America is a symbol of good life and a promising successful future. For the immigrant youths, the legislation of the DREAM Act will grant them a better and equal footing in the American society. Electoral candidates have expressed their positions about the DREAM Act and all of them believe that their stance will create better outcomes for everyone. The impacts of the DREAM Act can either be a step forward or a step backward not just for the immigrant youths, but for all the American people once it is finally realized by the incoming leaders of the country.  

Immigration law has an extensive history of debate in the United States. In the past, administration leaders and a greater portion of the American citizenry have always been in objection to the growing number of immigrants in the country. In 2001, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act or DREAM Act commenced in the House through the proposal bill of Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, Democratic Senator Richard Durbin, Representative Howard Berman of California and Representative Chris Cannon of Utah. (Immigration Policy Center; Ojeda 2) According to this bill, undocumented or illegal immigrants who arrived to the country before they were sixteen years old will be permitted for conditional permanent residency if they qualify with the prerequisites. (Immigration Policy Center; Ojeda 2) The bill faced many challenges and criticism, including its passing in the Senate. Some of its first supporters also dropped their endorsement for the bill. When President Barack Obama ran for the position, he earned the trust and confidence of many immigrants after he supported the DREAM Act. He also promised to improve the immigration laws so as it would not be too rigorous on immigrants. However, the DREAM Act failed approval in the Senate, but its proponents, including President Obama, continued to push for its legislation. At present, the DREAM Act is a hope for many young immigrants treated as illegal in the country they call home while it is seen as a threat to some of the legal residents of the United States.

The DREAM Act is supposed to encourage the future of more than two million children and teens that were brought by their parents before they reach the age of sixteen or already born in the US from migrant parents (Immigration Policy Center; Ojeda 2; Costantini; Aguilar). These marginalized youths have suffered in the past, where most of them were no longer allowed to continue attending school, not allowed to enter jobs, or worse, their parents got arrested and can no longer provide for their needs. With the DREAM Act, they are promised a better future with a new status and with equal recognition to legitimate American residents.

There are several positive and negative impacts of the proposed bill, if one will look at the two sides of the coin. For the advantages, its proponents specified a number of positive outcomes of the bill, mostly of economic significance. Many young immigrants will get their education and better paying careers. This would mean that their earnings in the future will contribute to the nation’s income. Studies from Arizona State University in 2008 and UCLA North American Integration and Development Center in 2012 showed that immigrants will greatly generate hundreds of thousands to millions from their future professions. (Immigration Policy Center) According to the Center for American Progress and Partnership for a New American Economy, about $329 billion will be expected by 2030 (Costantini; Aguilar; Guzmán and Jara). Aside from future financial gains on taxes and consumer spending, legalizing these young immigrants will help harness a new breed of professionals, skilled workers, talented individuals and business magnates (Immigration Policy Center; Guzmán and Jara) which will further strengthen the human resources of the nation. They will be able to enter colleges and universities instead of dropping out of school, which will also mean that they will be paying their tuition fees (Immigration Policy Center). With these young immigrants achieving a legal status in the future, a stable recruitment base for the military forces will be sustained, helping ensure the nation’s security and safety. About eight percent of military recruits are immigrants (Immigration Policy Center), which means it will increase further if these young people will be granted the legal status.

However, there is also the downside for the DREAM Act. According Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, the bill is sort of a ‘mass amnesty’ and a ‘magnet for fraud. (Clark) Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies noted that “funds and slots are limited at state universities and community colleges” (Camarota) which will result to crowding out of legal citizens and additional taxes for tax payers (Clark).     

With the presidential election roughly a month to go, President Obama already accepted his failure to make immigration reforms possible and the DREAM Act to become a law. He also pointed the fingers to the Republicans for the failure of the DREAM Act. While President Obama implemented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Senator Romney who strongly opposed the DREAM Act previously, being a Republican, had recent statements that he will contemplate on the bill if these illegal immigrants will enter military service. Obviously, the presidential candidates are wooing the immigrants who are part of the voting population. I believe that the issue of legalizing these young immigrants is a great step forward for the whole American society. Whether it’s the DREAM Act or another bill to be legislated by the next leaders of the country, there will always be likeable and unfavorable impacts, depending on whose side one goes with. It might be better to remind all of them that America is the land of the free, and where equality and justice were once fought for by the precious life of our ancestors and leaders.