THE “DREAM ACT” CONTRIBUTES TO THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS

Despite of the fiscal deficits, funding was proposed to help undocumented students achieve their upper level education

DREAM Act is the acronym of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which was signed by President Obama.  His administration proposed $25 million funding to help those DREAMERs, the illegal residents’ children, to finish higher education and become legal citizens subsequently.   The DREAM Act was built and being support by a large group of people based on the belief that making higher education open to immigrants leads these brilliant youth to attend college; a new generation of graduates will help strengthen our economy.  "This flow of immigrants has helped make this country stronger and more prosperous," remarked by President Obama.  These undocumented students will likely become legalized after they finish two-year college or serve in military for two years to expedite the process.

Nonetheless, this bill is wrong fundamentally.  Apparently, it was a political strategy to win over support from the legalized (formerly illegal) immigrants and young Latinos voters.

Firstly, people wonder why the government rewards someone who came in to the country illegally in the first place.  This is contradicting to the Federal immigration law and border security policies.  The illegal immigrant had been an issue, and the problem started accelerating since mid-80’s even amnesty was implemented under Reagan’s administration.  There was about 2.9 million illegal immigrants became legalized after former President Reagan signed the Immigration Reform bill into law in 1986. The security at the Mexican border was also supposed to be tightened; however, it had not gotten improvement, and we have about 11 million of illegal residents (3.5%) in US population today.  By looking at the increased number of illegal residents in the past 15 years, our country did not get prosperous.  In fact, our nation's debts grew more than double.  Jobs were believed as the attraction to illegal immigrants in the 80’s, now the DREAM Act will invite more illegal immigrants even faster.

Secondly, the undocumented students had been sharing the education budgets and grants, since they were accepted in primary and secondary schools.  It is not fair for the legal status students, who or whose parents are currently taxpayers.   Majority people think that it is good act to help the poor.  The undocumented children were innocent and brought in to the country without their consensuses.   They appear as a weak group that attracts the public attention and earns sympathy.    At the same time, the legal residents and their children are suffering from the government budget cuts.  Many legal college students were in the line waiting to add classes at campus, while the undocumented students are taking away capacities and financial aid funding. 

Furthermore, these undocumented students deprive social resources such as Medicaid besides education.  Their legalized parents might only make minimum wages and not be able to afford medical insurance.  In a few years, the undocumented graduates will join the crowd and be looking for jobs.  Rethink, especially taxpayers if you support the DREAM Act.  Why would you want your tax money contribute to the illegal residents who will burden the country more and consequently take away job opportunities from you and your children down the road?

Ultimately, the core issue of the continuous growing illegal residents did not get resolved.  Funding proposal to the DREAM Act should be aborted, as it is rewarding the illegal immigrants and worsening the problem even more.  On top of our national debts growth, it will be no surprise to see a bigger % of illegal immigrants in the near future.