DREAM Act

DREAM Act. The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act is a legislative proposal in the United States Congress intended to grant conditional residency and a pathway to United States citizenship to certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors. First introduced in 2001, the bill has been the subject of extensive political debate and numerous failed legislative attempts, though its core ideas have influenced significant executive actions and state-level policies. The act is designed to benefit individuals often described as "Dreamers," who have grown up in the United States but lack legal immigration status.

Background and legislative history

The initial version was first introduced in the United States Senate during the 107th United States Congress by Senators Orrin Hatch and Dick Durbin. Its creation was spurred by growing recognition of the plight of undocumented youth who were brought to the United States by their parents and had spent most of their lives in communities like Los Angeles and Chicago. The legislative effort gained momentum following the failure of broader comprehensive immigration reform, such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and later the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Key hearings were held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, where testimony often highlighted stories from students barred from in-state tuition at universities like the University of California system.

Provisions and eligibility requirements

The various iterations of the legislation have shared common core requirements for applicants. Eligibility typically mandates that an individual must have entered the United States before a certain age, often 16 or 18, and must have continuously resided in the country for a minimum number of years, such as five. Applicants must also demonstrate good moral character, as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act, and must not have committed any serious criminal offenses. A critical provision requires completion of at least two years of higher education at an institution like Miami Dade College or honorable service in the United States Armed Forces. Upon meeting these conditions, individuals would obtain conditional permanent resident status, which could later be adjusted to lawful permanent residence, or a green card, and eventually eligibility for United States citizenship.

Legislative attempts and political debate

The bill saw its most significant vote in the 111th United States Congress in 2010, when it passed the United States House of Representatives but failed to overcome a filibuster in the United States Senate. It was subsequently attached as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, which also failed. Political debate has been highly polarized, with supporters including the American Civil Liberties Union and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops arguing for humanitarian and economic benefits. Opponents, such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform and lawmakers like Jeff Sessions, have framed it as an amnesty that would encourage further illegal immigration. The debate often intersected with discussions about the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.

Impact and related policies

While the federal legislation never passed, its framework directly inspired the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an executive action announced by President Barack Obama in 2012. Several states, including California with its California Dream Act, and Texas under its own state law, enacted policies to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public universities. The ongoing legal challenges to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, including cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States such as Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, keep the policy goals at the forefront of national immigration discourse. Other related legislative efforts include the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021.

Public opinion and advocacy

Public opinion polls, including those conducted by the Pew Research Center, have consistently shown broad public support for providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived as children. Major advocacy organizations leading the effort include United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, and FWD.us, an organization founded by Mark Zuckerberg. The movement has been highlighted in media through events like the 2018 State of the Union Address and has garnered support from figures in entertainment, academia, and business, including Tim Cook of Apple Inc.. Opposing advocacy is often led by groups like NumbersUSA and Center for Immigration Studies.

Category:United States federal immigration and nationality legislation Category:United States proposed federal legislation