S. 729 would amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children.
Detailed Summary
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 or the DREAM Act of 2009 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien's eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence.
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States before his or her sixteenth birthday, and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act; (2) is a person of good moral character; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (4) at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education, or has earned a high school or equivalent diploma; (5) from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal; and (6) was under age 35 on the date of this Act's enactment.
Sets forth the conditions for conditional permanent resident status, including: (1) termination of status for violation of this Act; and (2) removal of conditional status to permanent status.
Authorizes an alien who has satisfied the appropriate requirements prior to enactment of this Act to petition the Secretary for conditional permanent resident status.
Provides for: (1) exclusive jurisdiction; (2) penalties for false application statements; (3) confidentiality; (4) fee prohibitions; (5) higher education assistance; and (6) a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report respecting the number of aliens adjusted under this Act.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Davis Sandling
March 2, 2010, 10:40pm (report abuse)I am an Atlanta resident, a place were we feel the effects of immigration every day. Most of the undocumented immigrants that I am in contact with daily, were brought here by their parents at a young age and had no choice in deciding whether to immigrate at that age. Although many of them work, they are not afforded the opportunities to pay for a legitimate education, or enjoy a career post higher education. Also, they live in fear of following their dreams and reaching their goals in this country even though , they went to middle and high school here and have been naturalized into our society. Thank you for your support of this measure to allow theses individuals to maximize their potential in our society. Our country was founded on immigrant ideals and we should extend our hand to those who had no choice in belonging to our society.
TTE
September 15, 2010, 8:01am (report abuse)I think Davis Sandling has made his case well on behalf of illegal immigrants. However, I think the bill should not allow those granted citizenship to be able to petition for relatives to become citizens. There must be a balance. And if there is reference to support, each must be taxed as is required of American citizens.
And must the bill refer to said individuals as aliens? Over and over and over again they are referred to as aliens. They are individuals and not beings from another planet. You want to grant them amnesty and respect but by your very definition within the bill you label them to the contrary.
May God's mercy and grace continue to be upon America.