You’d have to be living under a rock to have not heard the words “DREAM Act” floating around campus lately. The DREAM (Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors) Act, bipartisan legislation that aims to help illegal residents who are students get conditional permanent residency in the United States, has been discussed, rejected, and more recently, revived by California government. The act was originally introduced in 2001 and has now been reintroduced for further discussion in 2011.
What do you think makes an American? Does being an American have to do with knowing the Pledge of Allegiance? Does being American mean that you know all 50 states? What defining characteristic does a person have to attain to be considered a democracy-loving, capitalistic, warm-blooded American?
It has become increasingly important to ask ourselves this question, given the political climate that affects us directly. Whether you apply it to the Occupy Wall Street protests or something as simple as being able to drive a car, the question pertaining to how we define ourselves as a nation and what that implies about our personal liberties is one of great relevance and importance.
We all know how difficult it is to pay for school these days. As California students, we’re being bombarded with new fee increases and policies that are not making things easier. Every year, many apply to institutions of higher education hoping to further their academic goals and achieve their dreams. However, not everyone has an equal opportunity to do this.
Here at The Skyline View, we are strong believers that everyone–ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality, and gender aside–has the right to an education. There are many illegal-immigrant students that have lived here their entire lives. They face many challenges because of several factors that other students may take for granted. Until recently, illegal-immigrant students had been barred from getting any state funds for their education.
However, AB-131, which is only the second part of the DREAM Act, was recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. It will allow illegal students to apply for competitive CalGrants and Board Of Governors fee waivers. As of Jan. 1, 2013, students who have been almost literally breaking their backs to pay for school will have some help. Although many complain that tax money will be used inefficiently to help those who have not earned it, many undocumented people living in the United States pay taxes without getting anything in return and contribute positively to their communities performing jobs that pay less than minimum wage that other people would never do.
Of course, it is understandable that many American citizens would oppose this act because it might encourage too many people to rush to the country and try to take advantage. The government has anticipated this. In its entirety, the DREAM Act requires that students meet the following requirements: The individual must have entered the U.S. before the age of 16; they have to have been here for longer than five years prior to the passing of legislation; they must have a G.E.D, American high-school diploma, or be enrolled in a college or university here in the U.S.; they must be between the ages 12 and 35 when applying; and they must have good moral character. The bill would also grant temporary residence to those who meet the above requirements and instead of academic involvement serve in the military. Here in California, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed the entirety of the DREAM Act three times. We hope that under our new governor Jerry Brown, advances can be made so that students who meet the above requirements can better their lives in positive ways. “Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking,” stated Brown in a prepared press statement published in the Sacramento Bee. “The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us.”