The DREAM Act

Imagine for a second that you are a high school senior on the eve of graduation. However, instead of this being a joyous occasion, it is the most terrifying moment of your life. Your future has never been more uncertain. Throughout high school you were told that handwork and dedication made anything possible. Believing this statement to be true you worked diligently and became an exemplary student. As graduation approaches, you realize that the statement does not apply to you because you are undocumented. Being undocumented mans that you cannot easily attend or afford college. You are left without many options in the land of opportunities. As a Mount Holyoke student this might seem like simply a bad dream/a nightmare however this is the reality for thousands for undocumented youth in the United States today. The passing of the DREAM Act would allow thousands of undocumented youth to turn this grim reality into just a fantastical dream.

The Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minor Act (DREAM Act) is a piece of federal legislation that would permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S to apply for temporary legal status and eventually become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military. It allows some of our best and brightest students to give back to their communities and country. The DREAM Act is not a form of amnesty and would only benefit a small percent of undocumented people. The DREAM Act not only benefits thousands of undocumented high school graduates, but also benefits the nation as a whole because these students would legally be able to give back to our country. The requirements to benefit from the DREAM Act are:

Must have entered the United States before the age of 16 (i.e. 15 and younger).
Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill.
Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university).
Must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of application.
Must have good moral character.(Be a law abiding resident i.e. not have committed a crime)

Congress needs to pass the DREAM Act to ensure that the potential of these undocumented students is not lost on our country. MEChA de Mount Holyoke asks you to sign this petition in favor of the DREAM Act