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S. 2205, The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2007
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Visitor Comments
James
I like this legislation because it allows us to take the very best and most assimilated people in the illegal immigrant group. This one requires having come here as a child, no criminal record of any kind, 2 years in a 4 year college or 2 years in the military. And all that just to get conditional residency, not even permanent.
Additionally, the people covered can't get financial aid of any sort other than loans (which isn't really aid since it's paid back) and they can't sponsor their families.
Compared to anything we've had in the past this bill is simply brilliant. No more free green cards. Make them earn it.
A select group of educated or veteran, English-speaking, fully assimilated, good moral character, not eligible for welfare, people. That's what I want, that's what this bill would give us.
Pro-American man
I dont support amnesty but i support the DREAM ACT 110%!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope this legislation passes, it is good for America and our economy.
Sophie
It is not our fault that at the moment there is literally no pathway we can take as individuals for citizenship. As a DREAM student myself, I venture to say, I am an American that has not been given the opportunity to fix my status
Jonathan
I too am very much against general amnesty. However, I believe we can distinguish the DREAM Act from a broad amnesty bill.
From my understanding of the bill, it is limited in who can benefit (only those under 30 with no criminal record). Also, I see that this new version does not have the in-state tuition provision that I thought was troublesome in the old bill.
This seems like a reasonable and sensible bill, and as it is written now, I am likely to support it. I assume it will be made even stricter during the amendment process, so that would be a plus as well.
Alex
The Dream is not an amnesty, it's the way immigration reform should be done in this country, you either earn and work hard to get a legal status or you get out.
Rodrigo A.
My name is RODRIGO from Los Angeles CA. I came here when i was 12 year old. I gradueted from Middle school and high school and now i'm attending at college. I dont mind paying alot for coolege but i want do it legally. I love this Country just like anybody else and i also want serve in the Marines. Then come home and become an Firefighter or join the SWAT team. Now, Congress has my dream in their hands. Please call your congress to support the DREAM ACT.
Ann Leung
I started a group on MySpace (groups.myspace.com/awarenessfordreamact) to support the Dream Act and make a difference! I myself am in the deportation process and will, in all likeliness, leave the country in 3 months. I am 22 ... I was brought here when I was 7. PLEASE support this bill, as well as the Dream Act, DO EVERYTHING you can!
George Ximénez
This is One of the best things ever. I hope the bill passes. If it does it would be a very smart choice.
Robert Davis
I think the DREAM Act is worth taking a look at. It doesn't seem to be the blanket amnesty that the awful Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill was. That bill would have given residency to millions upon millions of illegal aliens, even if they came just across the border weeks before the bill passed.
I see little harm in giving these kids a shot. I mean, I guess we can't blame them for obeying their parents. And I would rather the DREAM Act pass than some blanket amnesty that would grant residency to any illegal alien.
I think the DREAM Act as it is is a good start. I'd like to see some stricter requirements, but overall, I think it's definitely worth of some thought.
Bill
As a military man, it's tough to see how our military is having to lower its standards to meet recruitment goals. Our military is facing a crisis, and we need to get as many able-bodied, willing, and dedicated men and women enlisting.
To you "DREAM" kids,
If you want to stand up and give back to the country what the country has given to you, then I think you should be given a shot. As long as the DREAM Act has some avenue for military service, I'll support it.
Tran
I support the DREAM Act. As someone who came to the U.S. as a young kid, and eventually got his citizenship, I can appreciate the work these kids have put in. It's a shame that it's taken this long to get this bill considered.
Yankees Fan
PASS THE DREAM ACT! It makes sense, and we need more people in the military!
Craig D.
As long as this bill doesn't have an in-state tuition provision, it's fine by me.
I didn't like the other version because it would given these aliens in-state tuition. Strip that out, and I think we can make a deal.
I don't have a problem with giving these kids a chance to EARN their citizenship. No handouts, but you have to earn your way. That's the American way, and I think we can apply it to this bill.
Chuck
As a conservative, i favor the military option of the Dream Act. We need these kind of people in our troops. I was opposed to the college option, but now that Senator Durbin took it out, i think i can live with it.
Chuck
*took out the in-state tuition part
my bad.
Ben
The Dream Act is a great bill, i hope it becomes law.
Tim R
No Amnesty, No Path to Citizenship, No Deals
Teeters
You're a bone head if ya do.
This is just another ploy of the open border crowd and the mega corporations to allow more illegal immigration in opening the door to family unification, and another defeat for the American Family.
James
This bill will help us meet recruitment goals without having to take criminals or High School drop outs like we often have to do now.
Moreover it will help stop the brain drain that's starting in this country. We educated these people all these years it only makes sense that we now let them stay here and pay taxes.
Nicole S.
The Dream Act is beneficial to the U.S. economy. It will allow the educated and already assimilated students to contribute to this country.
Why hasn't this bill been voted on before and approved? I don't see anything wrong with it and I support it 100%. These are smart, young individuals who deserve to be a part of American society. Many already have a college degree or are on their way of obtaining one and will greatly help the U.S. through their knowledge and talent.
Also, many are willing to fight for this country, a country that has not given them any rights, and yet actual citizens are not wanting to join the military. Just goes to show who really supports the U.S. and who is a "true" American.
Dream Supporter
This is a win win for America. What a great bill!!!
Jay
excellent bill.
Bill
You people are so brainwashed. This is legal status for illegals and it goes farther than you think.
Marlene
Dream Act is a great bill please support it.
Maria
I STRONGLY support this bill. As a citizen of this country, with immigrant parents, I know these kids only want to be given a chance to show the skills they possess and display their talents. They provide a strong example of what many immigrants want to see in their futures. Please read the provisions of this bill carefully and realize that it can only benefit the kids and the future of our country. P.S. Not all of the youth eligible for the DREAM Act are Latino. I have worked closely with many of them and they come from all over the world.
Edgar
The Dream Act is a great bill. This will help with the immigration problem. I hope it passes give these kids a chance. Let them serve this country. But I too am against in-state tuition. I support it with or without it. But I preffer if they took it out. They need to offer in state tution to all citizens first if they do then I am all for in-state tution for them too. I hope the best for you kids the total best!!!
Dr. Gene Nelson
This bill would burden the U.S. taxpayer to the tune of trillions of dollars, since it is the first step of a permanent, rolling amnesty. Unlike the so-called that Senate leadership attempted to pass in May and June, 2007, this bill has NO enforcement provisions.
Sen. Reid is attempting to sneak this one through via Rule 14, with a cloture vote set for Wednesday, Oct. 14. Call your Senators at (202) 224-2121 now to protest. There are also powerful free citizen activism tools at NumbersUSA.com to help fight against this harmful bill
Dr. Gene Nelson
In the previous message, please insert "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" after so-called in the first paragraph.
No on cloture for S. 2205!
Fantos
SENATE TO VOTE ON DREAM ACT
AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY!
***IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED***
YOU AND YOUR NETWORKS NEED TO FLOOD SENATE OFFICES WITH PHONE CALLS, FAXES AND EMAILS TOMORROW!!!!!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2007
TELL SENATORS TO VOTE FOR S. 2205 THE DREAM ACT!!!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007
TELL SENATORS TO VOTE FOR S. 2205 THE DREAM ACT!!!
The DREAM Act will likely come up for a vote on the Senate floor this Wednesday.
IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR ALL DREAM ACT SUPPORTERS TO CALL YOUR SENATORS
SHUTDOWN THE SENATE SWITCHBOARD WITH YOUR CALLS!
CALL 202-224-3121
OUR RESPONSE MUST BE UNPRECEDENTED!
CALL BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM:
"PLEASE VOTE FOR THE DREAM ACT
SO THAT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS BROUGHT HERE AS CHILDREN
CAN REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL"
CALL THE SENATE SWITCHBOARD 202-224-3121
To send an e-mail message to your Senators please go to:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/NILC/campaign.jsp...
Fantos
Those who support this non-amnesty act. PLEASE VOTE for the cloture of this act.
You will be realizing dreams of those who have nothing to do with the choice of their parents to realize their goals in life.
We can't ignore these individuals who have a good moral compass and American cultured.
Jamie
This bill is NOT a burden to taxpayers as stated above. The "Dr." obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
The RAND Corp did a study on this and projected $9000 ANNUAL GAINS PER PERSON as a result of this act allowing them to finish their education and legally pay taxes. Google it and it's there.
Advocate
The Wall Street Journal
The New York Times
Time Magazine
USA Today
have all commented IN FAVOR of this legislation. Read those articles before you succumb to the mindless stupidity that those opposed to this bill propagate.
JUANITA - Legal American Citizen
There should be no more talk of rewards for illegal immigration until enforcement laws are passed.
This legislation would do what all amnesties do -- entice millions more people to become illegal aliens here. The word across the world would be that immigration crime pays.
The DREAM Act amnesty doesn't just offer U.S. citizenship to illegal alien teenagers, it also provides amnesty to the parents of most of them. Once the amnestied teens become citizens they can obtain an amnesty for their parents.
Plus, anybody who can claim to be under the age of 30 can also make a claim to have arrived before the age of 16 and make a move for the amnesty (plus all of their relaties through chain migration.
Carl
The DREAM Act does not protect Americans from terrorists and criminals. Illegal aliens are not required to submit fingerprints or undergo background security checks at any point in the DREAM Act process. Therefore, DHS has no way of knowing whether an alien seeking DREAM Act amnesty is a terrorist or criminal.
This security failure is compounded by the confidentiality section of the DREAM Act, which is a relic from pre-9/11 days (it’s modeled on the fraud-prone 1986 amnesty). This section basically requires DHS to hide information about terrorist and criminal aliens from itself. If a DHS adjudicator at USCIS learns from a DREAM Act application that an alien poses terrorist or criminal concerns, the adjudicator is PROHIBITED from alerting ICE enforcement officers at DHS, and in fact, if the adjudicator did volunteer such information to ICE, he could be fined $10,000.
Hillary
The DREAM Act amnesty will create a new flow of illegal aliens that will further harm the chances of America's under-privileged kids to be able to go to college and to get well-paying jobs with decent working conditions.
I do have sympathy for people who were forced to come here illegally by their parents, but I do not believe we should afford them a special status. After all, because illegal aliens do not pay taxes, they have enjoyed the privilege of a primary education at U.S. taxpayer expense and would do very well for themselves if they were to return to their home countries. In fact, they would likely be the change agents that many of these countries need in order to turn things around for the tens of millions of people who live there. The DREAM Act would only exacerbate the brain-drain that is preventing many countries from realizing their own dreams.
Susanna
Sponsors insist that the point of the DREAM Act is to provide legal status to “kids” and “young people.” However, the DREAM Act is not directed just at minors. Under the "new" DREAM Act, anyone 29 years old or younger, who illegally entered the United States before the age of 16 and has illegally remained here for 5 years or more will qualify for lawful permanent residence (and eventual citizenship) if they satisfy the easily-met criteria for DREAM Act amnesty. Illegal aliens who are 30-years-old or older can still be granted the DREAM amnesty through "humanitarian" or "family unity" waivers.
curious
I'm not surprised! That means the hispanics, the unions, and chamber of commerce on board in '08. What a cheap trick! Too bad they can't find the courage to end the war in Iraq, but they can find time to play mind games like this. I'm fed up with my party! What a group of losers.
DrKod
There is already a way to become a citizen in this country.
If the laws were followed properly
this issue would not exist.
Dr. Gene Nelson
One of the objectives of S.2205 is to "grease the skids" for passage of the other components of so-called "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" (twice rejected earlier this year) [which included this standalone legislation as a component.]
___
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55135
$2.2 trillion illegal alien taxpayer sticker shock
2/3 of immigrants cost Americans $22,449 a year, shows new study
WASHINGTON – Someone has finally fixed an approximate taxpayer cost of between 12 million and 15 million illegal aliens residing in the U.S.
A new study by the Heritage Foundation's Robert Rector found a household headed by an individual without a high school education, including about two-thirds of illegal aliens, costs U.S. taxpayers more than $32,000 in federal, state and local benefits. That same family contributes an average of $9,000 a year in taxes, resulting in a net tax burden of $22,449 each year.
Jamie
WORLD NET DAILY??????
HAHAHAH
We have the Wall ST. Journal, New York Times, TIME, RAND Corp, and USA Today and you present "facts" from an online conservative tabloid???
Good job "Dr." Where's you get your PhD? USSR?
OccasionalCommentator
So now serving in the US Armed Forces is considered amnesty?
That certainly wasn't the tone when there was talk of a draft.
I for one support the Dream Act. I like it much more than all the other proposals we've had.
Quite frankly the arguments against it don't make much sense and aren't really supported by anyone serious. Like I see above, people citing online blogs and things of that sort in a desperate attempt to find some justification for their absurd ideas.
SUPPORT the Dream Act.
Chris A.
This is a no brainer, after investing in these kids education we ought to get something back, their service in the military or their professional education.
Tom Tancredo
I support the Dream Act even though im a racist a**hole
Cut your losses
Deport them all now before they take your childrens job and tuition.
Ted
How exactly would they do so? Why must you spout off without being able to back yourself up with anything?
Please provide a rational argument next time, "just because" doesn't cut it anymore.
AlGor
DREAM ON.
Offspring of ILLEGALS ARE NOT MY PROBLEM. Their parents made the decision to sneak in, just because they decided to have a bunch of kids does not mean that LEGAL CITIZENS and TAXPAYERS have to make their world perfect.
And the other poster is right - this extends way beyond "KIDS".
Just a back-door ILLEGAL AMNESTY BILL is all this is. Another step in the loss of this country by degrees.
What a bunch of hypocrites you are - mexico has a MILITARIZED southern border with central america. There are no judge and juries for the people that they have killed attempting to cross. Ready to shoot central americans on sight, yet can't wait to climb on the American gravy-train.
We can and SHOULD deport EVERY ILLEGAL.
marco
SUPPORT THE DREAM ACT..THIS KIDS ARE NOT CRIMINALS!!!
Laura
****Jaimie,
Citing the advocates you have (The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today) may actually lessen your credibility with some.
Bob Odom
A rose by any other name is still a rose
A felon by any other name is still a felon
Bob
One could commit dozens of felonies, even murder. Until your caught you have no criminal record.
The shoots down that theory.
Bob
This is sure a good web-sight for 22 million illegals to vote their way into becoming a real American.
And what about all those who chose to stand in line an wait until their name is called. They have been waiting all over Central and South America. Now you want to tell them go to the end of the line
sucker.
Robert
My ancestors floated down the Rhine
river from Prussia, Made their way
to France, where they worked at slave wages, to get to England.
When they got there the Queen offered them a deal. A free trip to the colonies, if they would stay.
They arrived at the Port of Philedelphia on the 23rd of August 1732. They swore aligence to Good King George before they would let them disembark. They did, all 15 of them.
Now you want to let people who slipped across in the middle of the night not swearing aligence to anyone or any government official.
Send them back and let them start all over and do it the right way.
Melvin
As Bob said expect 22 million people gettig on the web and just filling this sight with all the good reasons they should be able to stay. It wouldn't be many years
and they would out number us.
NO! send them back and either overthrow their corupt officals or stand in line with all those who are trying to do it right
Jack
I saw today where Dick Durbin invited illegal aliens to the U.S. Capitol where so many great Ameican men and women have set in session. Now illegals are setting in the same seats telling why they should become citizens.
I can tell the why, they are felons
and felons are criminals
Pete
All, this is an amnesty bill! Once they let in a few million illegal alien under 29, they'll bring in a few million of their parents and siblings. Then they'll be eligble for your social security, your health care, your food stamps, etc. Many states already give in-state tuition to illegal aliens, so Durbin didn't take out anything. We need to stop the insentive for illegal aliens to come here. Passing a bad Dream Act sends the wrong message. The invasion continues.
Pete
Tom Tancredo is a hero!
At least one politician had the guts to report Durbin's illegal aliens to ICE. Way to go Tom!
Shame on the 52 sellouts that voted for the bad Dream Act. Maybe Hilary's healthcare includes Mexico.
Pete
Understand that this was a tester. If this amnesty passed, there would be more to follow.
Dave
A NIGHTMARE between the lines:
The amnestied "teens" will become anchors, paving the path to citizenship for millions of relatives. Plus every family in the world can decide after DREAM is passed to get their young teens into the country illegally.
Applicants get to the front of the line and pay no fees. DHS gets no more personnel.
The "new" Act removed the in-state college tuition section. However, aliens who get the amnesty will become legal residents and will therefore be automatically eligible for in-state tuition anyway.
DAVE
MORE: A NIGHTMARE between the lines:
Illegal aliens do not actually have to attend college to qualify: they need only take an ability test and complete a 1-year vocational program. Nor do aliens have to join the Armed Forces: they need only go to work for the NOAA or Public Health Service for 2 years to get citizenship.
Illegal aliens are not required to undergo security checks. Therefore, DHS can’t check for terrorists. This security failure is from pre-9/11 (it’s modeled on the fraud-prone 1986 amnesty). If the adjudicator were to volunteer such information to ICE, he could be fined $10K. Criminal aliens can file DREAM Act applications to halt or slow their deportations.
Drake G.
"The amnestied "teens" will become anchors, paving the path to citizenship for millions of relatives. Plus every family in the world can decide after DREAM is passed to get their young teens into the country illegally.
"
Actually, they can only sponsor immediate relatives. I state this because I see some people claiming they can petition their third cousin twice removed. Also, do you realize how long the queue is? Check the Visa Bulletin and you will see the enormous backlog for the an immigrant visa. Even if these kids were to become permanent residents, it would take years, and in some cases, decades for them to bring out family members here. What does it then matter to you?
I support the DREAM Act because I am not some mindless troll that can actually think for himself instead of having my "information" fed to me by Lou Dobbs, G. Beck, or Michael Savage.
Drake G.
"A felon by any other name is still a felon"
Actually, an immigration offense is not a criminal offense. Your analogy is faulty.
Pete
“Actually, they can only sponsor immediate relatives.” Who’s going to determine their immediate relatives?
- I guess we’ll just take their word for it right? In the 1986 Amnesty there were an estimated 700k that became citizens through fraud. And guess what that amnesty didn’t work and neither will the Dream Act. And if it passed, we could expect more amnesty bills.
“Even if these kids were to become permanent residents, it would take years, and in some cases, decades for them to bring out family members here.”
- The idea is they NEVER become citizens illegally.
An “…enormous backlog…”
- Yes of LEGAL immigrants. Everyone needs to get to the back of the line legally.
PETE
“What does it then matter to you?”
- This is a country of laws. Why should I pay for their social security, healthcare, food stamps, etc. I don’t want to learn Spanish, Arabic, and Persian. I could go on to great length.
“Mindless troll”?
- If you’d bother to read the bill you would find that Dave’s NIGHTMARE between the lines is actually correct.
Maybe you should go preach to Mexico about their immigration policies. Go cross their border and apply for citizenship. They’ll give you a Dream Act for sure.