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Defeat of DREAM Act Takes Hopes of Many
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Many have expressed disappointment over the defeat of the Dream (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act on October 25 by a vote of 52 to 44 -- 6 votes short to proceed to debate on the Senate floor. This bill would have allowed minors without legal immigrant status a chance at legal residency if they serve in the military for two years or graduate from school. There were many reasonable requirements in the bill: proof the applicant arrived in the United States prior to the age of 16, residency for at least 5 years, age between 12 and 30 at the time the bill is enacted, graduation from high school (or received a GED), and have no criminal record. Just how many DREAMS were extinquished by this vote? Estimates range from a low of 60,000 to "millions" by anti-immigration sites such as the Center for Immigration Studies.
Conservative Republicans opposed this measure for the same reason they voted against comprehensive immigration reform in June - they consider it a "backdoor amnesty". They point out that if an illegal alien can produce papers (potentially fraudulent ones) showing a secondary school diploma or a GED, they would immediately receive a conditional green card. This, some Republicans maintain, gives illegals a faster path to citizenship than lawfully present aliens. They also point out that by making applicants eligible for in-state tuition, this would effectively discriminate against U.S. citizens.
These concerns are further magnified by conservative anti-immigrant TV commentators such as Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity, and Lou Dobbs who fan the voices of bigotry, ignorance, and hate in exchange for higher ratings. Their arguments typically degenerate into simplistic sterotypes that wrongly claim that illegal aliens take away jobs from Americans, are terrorists, or are criminals. Our democratic process depends on a more informed public.
Unfortunately the voices of LEGAL immigration, which we are one, have not done an effective job at communicating the basic facts: Students with access to higher education would enjoy higher earnings, use fewer federal benefits, and increase the tax base -- thus benefiting all. The fraud issues could be effectively policed just as they are today with systems already in place for high school and college graduates. And by dropping or modifying the in-state tuition benefit, the discrimination argument could be rendered moot. Although fairness is not always a consideration in our nations laws, is it fair to punish innocent children brought in to this country by the unlawful acts of their parents? Is it fair for the children of illegals who serve in the military to protect our freedoms, only to be denied a path to citizenship?
This vote shows just how difficult immigration reform may be in the coming months. It is likely that for similar legislation to pass in a future vote, it must be accompanied by a corresponding enforcement provision against illegal immigration. If so, what would that measure be?Labels: DREAM ACT, immigration, United States Association of Immigrants
posted by J. Stephen Wilson
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Official U.S. Immigration Links
- U.S. Department of State International Information Programs (infoUSA).
This page has general links to facts about the USA; economy and trade; media; education in the U.S.; arts and culture; politics, laws and treaties;
and more.
- U.S. Immigration Laws, Regulations, and Guides. This is the Immigration
Legal Page providing information on laws, regulations, and interpretations controlling immigration and the work of the immigration-related bureaus
of the Department of Homeland Security.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The CIS home
page has a wealth of immigration-related links and notices.
- U.S. CIS Fact Sheets. This page lists
general "How Do I ..." guidelines for processing citizenship and immigration benefits. We also post the most useful of these guides
on our Free Downloads page.
- Department of State. This U.S. Department of State home page contains
late breaking international news, links to senior government officials, State Department resources, press releases, current travel warnings,
international business issues, and more.
- U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
Contains a link to each United States Embassy and Consulate worldwide.
If you would like to exchange links, please contact me, J. Stephen Wilson.
You must have relevent and useful immigration content or be an
ethical immigration services website.
General Immigration and Human Rights Links
- National Immigration Forum. The
National Immigration Forum advocates and builds support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and are fair and supportive
to newcomers in the United States. They also have an excellent analysis of pending immigration legislation
here.
- National Foundation for American Policy.
The National Foundation for American Policy divides its work into four major areas: Global Talent and Competitiveness, Essential Workers and
Economic Growth, Western Hemisphere Trade, and Regulatory and Tax Policy.
- The ACLU Immigrant Rights Page.
According the American Civil Liberties Union, since this nation's founding, more than 55 million immigrants from
every continent have settled in the United States. In fact, with the exception of Native Americans, everyone living in this country is
either an immigrant or the descendent of voluntary or involuntary immigrants.
- Migration Information Source. This useful
site provides "... fresh thought, authoritative data from numerous global organizations and governments, and
global analysis of international migration and refugee trends. A unique, online resource, the Source offers useful tools, vital data,
and essential facts on the movement of people worldwide research tools to analyze migration data on migrants worldwide."
- English Language Schools (ESL). The top search site for
English as Second Language Programs around the world.
- International Student.com. The international
student exchange and study abroad resource center. Their goal is to "provide the international student one site with
study abroad information, services, and resources."
- Pew Hispanic Center. The center “conducts and
commissions studies on a wide range of topics with the aim of presenting research that at once meets the most rigorous
scientific standards and is accessible to the interested public.” It regularly conducts publicopinion surveys providing
Latino views on a range of social matters and public policy issues, including immigration."
- Center for Comparative Immigration Studies. The CCIS conducts
basic and policy-oriented research projects on international migration and refugee flows throughout the world."
- Migration Policy Institute. The MPI originated as
the Carnegie Endowment’s International Migration Policy Program “to analyze the movement of people worldwide".
In 2002, the Migration Information Source was launched by the MPI to provide current data and analysis on migration and refugee issues.
- Institute for the Study of International
Migration. The ISIM focuses on all aspects of international migration, including the causes of and potential responses to
population movements, immigration, and refugee law and policy.
Anti-Immigration/Anti-Immigrant Sites
- Center for Immigration Studies. The CRC, run by Mark
Krikorian, is a distributor of immigration news and reports that reflect an anti-immigration viewpoint. By selectively
reporting crimes by immigrants, they are as biased against immigration as Fox "News" is to promoting right wing agenda. The
CRC is a tax-exempt organization depending on donations and grants from the German Marshall Fund.
- Michelle Malkin.com. Michelle Malkin is a
female version of Lou Dobbs. In our opinion, her hate-filled anti-immigrant rhetoric is meant to stir up controversy and help sell
her books. As a Fillipino-American, Michelle's ignorance is only matched by her hippocracy. She still defends America's decision to
intern Japanese-Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Need we say more?
- VDare.com. This genuine immigrant hate site
uses a deer as their logo, perhaps because their readers reflect a "deer in the headlights" mentality. They
actively encourage reporting illegal aliens, support citizen border patrols and other methods aimed at a purely law
enforcement approach to solving the immigration problem. If you support Patrick Buchanan, you'll love this site.
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