Gwen Fries CAS -- Persuasive Essay 4/1/13

Try to imagine our country's history without immigrants. It cannot be done. America is the melting pot. We are a nation of immigrants. All throughout our country's rich history, the presence of immigrants has been what has made us strong, productive, and uniquely qualified to be the world leader that we are. Immigrants to our country, especially young, hard-working, immigrants, are a vital component of this country's well being. In order to maintain the dignity of all Americans and stay true to American ideals, the United States Congress needs to pass the DREAM Act to give bright young immigrants the opportunity to become citizens and have their own chance to live the American dream. By discussing what the problem is, why we need to fix it, and how we are going to fix it, many Americans will be able to take a step back and really think about passing the DREAM Act. Imagine being eighteen years old and on the verge of the rest of your life. While your classmates, with whom you have spent approximately thirteen years taking the same exams, being on the same teams in your physical education class, and generally being one of, are looking at colleges, you are stuck with no way to move forward. Because your parents brought you over from a country you may not even remember, you are forbidden to attend a college that you have spent your entire life preparing to attend, and you risk deportation daily. If deported, you will be sent to a place you may not even recognize or whose tongue you may not even speak. That is what 65,000 undocumented high school graduates face every year in the United States (Bennion 2010). The military is not even an option for these young people as one has to go

through extensive background checks before joining the military. Dreamers are the children of illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as a child and now dream of continuing their education at college or joining the armed forces, but they are not currently allowed due to the fact that the DREAM Act has not yet passed. One "Dreamer" was arrested and placed in removal hearings after he attempted to enlist in military service completely unaware of his undocumented status (Immigration Policy Center 2010). Americans are shipping off young men and women who are offering to put their very lives on the line for the good of what they see as their country and their countrymen. Why should you care? You may not want these aliens coming in and taking your jobs, taking up your seat on the bus, or getting that promotion in work before you. The fact of the matter is that many of these illegal immigrants will come to stay one way or the other. It would be preferable to all if they were military-serving, college-educated, tax-paying citizens. By neglecting to afford these innocents the same opportunities as their counterparts because of a decision made by their parents, most likely out of their control, we are only hurting ourselves and our nation's future livelihood. There is an apparent issue, and we need a solution. The DREAM Act is that solution. The DREAM Act, or Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, has been debated in the United States Congress since 2001 and will allow undocumented students who meet certain criteria to apply for "conditional" permanent residency status for a period of six years to either further their education or enlist in our armed forces (Bennion 2010). The criteria for the DREAM Act to affect a student is "the student must have entered the country before the age of 16" and also "have been present in the United States for a continuous period of five years immediately preceding the date of enactment of the DREAM Act." At the time the student

applies for conditional permanent residency, the Dreamer must have been admitted to a two-or four-year university or other establishment of higher learning or have earned a high school diploma or general education development certificate (GED) in the United States. The student cannot have a criminal background and must demonstrate good moral standing. It will be left to the individual states to set the standard for the student loans and work-study programs on a federal level. This legislation, if passed, will override and repeal Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. This section of the act has deterred states from offering in-state tuition to undocumented students unless they offer the same benefits to all out-of-state students (Palacios 2010). Because universities are essentially looking for a profit, this is impractical and only hurts those seeking to better themselves and become productive members of our society. There is a need, there is a solution, and now it needs to be judged whether or not the DREAM Act is really a practical endeavor. The DREAM Act is a workable piece of legislation for several reasons. Primarily, once passed it will not require constant surveillance on behalf of the federal government to ensure it is effectively being carried out. While this act would make significant strides in the way of civil rights, it would not require federal governmental surveillance to the extent of the previous legislative and executive orders which have aided the cause of civil liberties. Obama will not have to send troops to ensure the admission of these students the way Kennedy had to with Ole Miss. If there is not an economic barricade, most universities will probably be absolutely content with this legislation. No one is foreseeing any form of violence or chaos. It is simply a piece of legislation which will aid a group of people without harming another. Also, it has garnered bipartisan support, so when it passes, it will not be a great victory for one party over the other.

The only victors are the young people who will be receiving an education and taking the next step towards their bright futures. The most widely-held belief of those who oppose this legislation is that this financial aid and amnesty will act as an incentive to even more illegal immigrants to enter the borders of our country. The plain and simple truth is that these people will attempt to escape the underdeveloped countries in which they were born and make it to the land of promise regardless of our legislation. As patriotic nephews-of-our-Uncle-Sam, we should appreciate their desire to come be a part of this dear and magnificent country. The DREAM Act is not a permanent and comprehensive solution or reformation to the issue of immigration. It is merely a way to give back to the innocent adolescents who have given what they could to the United States so far. We can all agree that we would prefer these adolescents to have a positive path moving forward with their lives rather than having to do questionable and perhaps even illegal acts to make it by in this country they have come to see as their home. Though the DREAM Act has garnered bipartisan support, it is not uncommon to hear Americans who are hesitant about signing it into law for one reason or another. One will commonly hear arguments saying that it would be very damaging economically. The nay-sayers assume that these Dreamers will just be a drain on our resources. Quite the opposite is true. If permitted to get an education here and live here, the Dreamers will pay income, property, sales, and other taxes. Immigrant labor force participation maintains a higher rate than native-born workers, and immigrant workers make up 12.4% of the United States labor force--a larger share than they do the U.S. population which is at 11.5%. Also, how much they take from the government as opposed to how much they give is almost always favorable to the United States. Immigrants earn approximately 240 billion dollars a year, pay about 90 billion dollars a year in

taxes, and use about 5 billion dollars in public benefits. Immigrant tax payments total $20 to $30 billion more than the amount of government services they use annually. Additionally, the idea that immigrants are a drain on the United States economy is malarkey. During the 1990s, half of all new workers were foreign born, filling gaps left by native-born workers in both the high-and low-skill ends of the spectrum. Immigrants fill jobs in key sectors, start their own businesses, and contribute to a thriving economy. The overall benefit of immigration to the U.S. is nearly $10 billion annually. By simply allowing these students to have the future they so crave, they will contribute $500 billion toward our social security system over the next 20 years (Immigration Policy Center 2010). Most of us also have the tendency to think that our immigrant ancestors are somehow more worthy of citizenship than the current hopefuls. We had hard-working Irish or German ancestors. They came to work, and they assimilated into the country. They did not expect any government handouts. This perception is also incredibly misguided. The percentage of the U.S. population that is foreign-born now stands at 11.5%; in the early 20th century it was approximately 15%. Our ancestors of 100 years ago often settled in mono-ethnic neighborhoods, spoke their native tongues, and built up newspapers and businesses that catered to their fellow emigrants. There were Irish ghettos, Italian ghettos, and German ghettos. They also experienced the same types of discrimination that today's immigrants face, and they integrated within American culture at a similar rate. If we view our country's history clearly, honestly, and objectively, we remember that every new wave of immigrants has been met with suspicion and possibly even hatred, and yet, every past wave of immigrants has been vindicated. In the past, it has taken generations for a family of immigrants to truly become successful. Take my family as an example. My great-grandparents came over from Ireland. My great-grandfather was a coal

miner. It is a miserable life, but it was all that he could manage as a "paddy." My grandfather served in World War II and was a truck driver. This allowed him to make enough money to send one of his six children to college. This one was my mother, and she in turn was able to become a public school teacher and afford for both my brother and I to receive a higher education, and ultimately a better life. It is extremely common for the children of immigrants to do better than their parents economically and to have an improved quality of life. Imagine how quickly we could help these people, and ultimately our own economy, by passing this legislation (Griswold 2008). By passing the DREAM Act, we will be able to skip three generations of meager wages at miserable jobs and jump straight to the college-educated. The Dreamers will finally have the opportunity to compete with the rest of the world on a level of which they are capable. They deserve this opportunity. Though we may initially have concerns, we must never forget that the strength of the American dream is in our ability to share it with people from all walks of life. If one cannot accept the DREAM Act solely based on the fact that it will change the lives of these young people in a positive way, one can accept that it will aid our country both economically and socially in an incredibly positive way. This is not widespread, rampant amnesty. This is giving temporary citizenship so that these students have a chance to complete their education and receive all the benefits of citizenship that their peers receive and that they deserve for all of their hard work and sacrifice. This legislation is not to allow the drug dealer on the corner to stay; it is to allow the hard-working undocumented valedictorian to remain in the United States so long as she decides to continue her education. This is a sensible piece of legislation that practically demands our support.

Works Cited
Bennion, David. "Children of Illegal Aliens Should Go to College and Gain Legal Status." What Rights Should Illegal Immigrants Have? Ed. Nol Merino. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from "Undocumented Youths Organize to Pass DREAM Act." Legal Intelligencer 31 Aug. 2009. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Mar. 2013

Griswold, Daniel. "An Immigrant Workforce Is Good for America." What Is the Future of the U.S. Economy? Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Rpt. from "The Fiscal Impact of Immigration Reform: The Real Story." Center for Trade Policy Studies. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

Palacios, Moses. "The Dream Act Explained." Journal of College Admission.206 (2010): 2. ProQuest. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"The DREAM Act." Immigration Policy Center. Immigration Policy Center, 18 Nov. 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

"Top Ten Immigration Myths and Facts." Immigration and Multiculturalism: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 237-241. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.