The Effects of the Dream Act on the Family - Essay Example

The Effects of the DREAM Act on the Family Due INTRODUCTION There is no greater or more heated debate at the center of American controversy than the issue of immigration. Trying to find ethical, just, and amiable solutions is what led to the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM Act, being developed. First presented in 1996 it remained in a point of limbo and contention that was never approved. It would be altered and represented over the next decade and half (Mahatmya & Gring-Pemble 1-18). Presently we cannot know for certain how many individuals living in the United States who are, in fact, here illegally, but it’s estimated in the millions. Many hardcore immigration advocates would simply argue to deport them all back to whatever country they originated from. However, that logic brought about a very important question that requires addressing; What about the children who were brought here as infants or children completely without intention and have never lived outside the United States; do you deport them with their families or separate the families? Can we as a country in good conscious send children to foreign countries they may know little about and possibly not even speak the language, equally could we send parents away and leave children hear without them? The current presidential administration agreed that this was not something that America should do, so without much immediate support and no authorization of the rest of the government, Barack Obama, passed the Act using his executive powers as President in 2012. DISCUSSION There are a number of different arguments that many Americans support and oppose the implementation of the DREAM Act. Some are economical and others political, others still are racial; however, the most relevant arguments really are the ethical ones. The living breathing, thinking, feeling people that are truly most directly impacted by such an Act need to be considered. The DREAM Act would allow the children of undocumented immigrants to no longer have to fear possible deportation if their illegal status is known. In order to qualify the individual must be have been brought to the United States as minors and be between the ages of 15 and 30 and have maintained continuous residency in The United States for at least 5 years. Those who have been involved in serious crimes would be automatically ineligible (Mahatmya & Gring-Pemble 1-18). The benefits under the DREAM Act would change the lives of many young undocumented immigrants. For many years these children of immigrants could attend public schools but could not ever gain a legal drivers license, attend college, or receive any kind of educational financial aid. The DREAM act would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses, apply for jobs, and, in fact, are required to either participate in higher education or military service. This is incredibly life changing for many undocumented families that have had to be ever so careful what they do, to avoid their immigration status from being discovered, they are less likely speak up when they are victims of crime, witness a crime, and certainly would not be able to attend formal higher education or receive any economic aid in doing so. Families now can attend education, work towards citizenship, and contribute to the United States in a visible and significant ways, with no fear of negative repercussions that many have lived with their whole life. Family and the presence and support of the family unit can be incredibly important to how children and young adults develop and can impact the sort of adults they will become. Undocumented children of undocumented parents live in fear and cannot take advantage of many positive opportunities because their discovery could affect his entire family. But, now these children and young adults have a chance to participate in their own educations and futures in the very ways that their parents dreamed of for them when they made the decision to come to the United States despite the danger and the illegal acts involved (Timmons Flores 1). The idea of separating families is really a cruel and unusual punishment for the children of undocumented immigrants; many of these individuals were brought into this country as babies and small children, they had absolutely no active involvement in the crime that their parents technically committed. To punish them or break up families would be devastating for anyone. The opposite side is to send children and teens who have never lived outside the United States since they were small, does not speak any language but English, and is every way an All-American kid to a far away foreign country where they are completely a stranger to is not ethical and would be unjust on a human level. There are side effects to this policy. The immediate side-effect was the opposition’s response to the President’s executive order to implement the Act. Additionally, another anticipated side effect was the response from those who entirely oppose any such policy that would grant privilege to people who are not legally in the country. They see it, essentially, as granting amnesty to possibly millions of undocumented immigrants who entered this country illegally. (Connecting the World 1). Of course, one positive side-effect is the incredible empowering effect the Act had on young high school graduates with big dreams of college and becoming doctors, lawyers, and professors was now actually a possibility. When there are eager students, ready, willing, and able to work hard to achieve education and to make positive impacts on their environments and these United States then how can we in good conscious send them away when they have never committed any crime (Timmons Flores 1)? Unfortunately, despite the passing of the Act by the President and the more recent bipartisan support that has risen in its favor, the Act has not moved forward at the speed that many might like (Connecting the World 1). Despite the response from the undocumented, eligible, individuals who began the processes to benefit from the DREAM Act, the progress has somewhat stagnated. This brings to mind the same issue that has occurred with the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which has such a massive and huge launching ultimately, became a problematic mess that took some time to rectify; in fact, it is still being improved. This has put a damper on a lot of students who were eager to begin the process necessary to meet the requirements of DREAM Act, yet according to many experts it continues to crawl along at a snails’ pace. There are a number of Pros and Cons involved with both sides of the DREAM Act issue. The majority of opposition focuses on the negative aspects such as the economic toll on the country, the number of illegal criminals or terrorist organization will take advantage of easy entrances into the country, it will basically be rewarding people for breaking the law, it will add to overpopulation, It will lead to more and more non-citizen receiving monies from the welfare system, it will increase poverty and crime, it would bring it grateful voters that may throw political allegiance in with the political group that secured their citizenship, and, finally, it would negate the hard work and appreciation for the law shown by the many immigrants that have legally followed the citizenship process (Messerli 1). However, none of these aspects takes the time to consider the human aspects of the DREAM Act. This is not about condoning an illegal practice it is about taking the time to consider the innocent victims of this crime. Should they really be held responsible for their parent’s crime? That does not seem to be the ideology that this country once embodied; welcoming immigrants to find their American Dream. The positive aspects recognized almost entirely focus on these children and their potential contributions to the America. They are the future, they will become consumers. “Overall, we find that the passage of the DREAM Act would add $329 billion to the U.S. economy and create1.4 million new jobs by 2030” (Guzmen, and Jara 1-32). They will contribute through their educations, and perhaps be the individuals who will innovate the world in some way, someday. That is what the greatest and most applicable “pro” is in the topic of the DREAM Act. This will benefit the families of these future scholars as well, they can aid their families to free themselves from dependency of the state welfare programs, not encourage them. In the same vein, crime among the immigrant demographic would, likely, in fact, improve, after all those who once prevented from working and making a living wage may now have the opportunity to do so. The desperation of poverty that leads people to crime would be diminished. This, also, will improve the mental health and functionality of many families in economically depressed, immigrant communities (Messerli 1). . CONCLUSION For many people their family is the center of their world. This is where many get their emotional, mental, and psychological support. Any policies that would consider the breaking up of families as a humane or compassionate solution to the immigration issue are misleading themselves. Immigration is a serious issue today and it absolutely needs addressing. Is the DREAM Act the ideal and perfect solution? Perhaps not, but it is better than no constructive actions of any kind. Those individuals that have the opportunity to participate in the privileges that the DREAM Act offers and with the knowledge that they will never be sent to a country that is foreign to them or be separated from family, which is essential to these youths mental health and well being. The Dream Act will be an improvement in the lives of these youths, their families, and the country as a whole. WORK CITED Guzmen, Juan Carlos, and Raul C. Jara. "The Economic Benefits of Passing the DREAM Act." Center for American Progress. (2012): 1-32. Print. Mahatmya, Duhita, and Lisa Gring-Pemble. "Linguistics Representations of Immigrants in the Dream Act and Implications for Family Impact Analysis." National Council of Family Relations. (2012): 1-18. Print. Messerli, Joe. "Should a path to U.S. citizenship for illegal immigrants (part of the DREAM Act) be implemented, granting amnesty & American citizenship to illegals after various requirements are fulfilled?." BALANCED Politics. BALANCED Politics, 7 Jan 2012. Web. 17 Apr 2014. . Timmons Flores , Maria. "A DREAM Deported: What Undocumented American Youth Need their Schools to Understand." Journal of Educational Controversy. 1. Print. Connecting the World, . "The DREAM Act: Myths and Facts." Connecting the World. NAFSA, n.d. Web. 17 Apr 2014. . Read More