The DREAM Act Petition

Do you think that Congress should pass the DREAM Act?

Sign this petition, pass it along to all you know, and call Congress toll-free at (800) 828-0498.

Joel Tyner
County Legislator
Clinton/Rhinebeck
324 Browns Pond Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580
RealMajorityProject.blogspot.com
[email protected]

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[You can also get this resolution that I submitted April 9th passed in the Dutchess County Legislature by emailing [email protected]]

REQUESTING THAT CONGRESS PASS AND THE PRESIDENT SIGN INTO LAW THE DREAM (DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS) ACT

WHEREAS, under the current law, 50,000 to 65,000 students who are children of undocumented immigrants graduate from American high schools each year; many of these students have been in the United States for more than five years, but are nonetheless prevented from completing their education or legally working in this country because they were originally brought here by parents lacking immigration status, and

WHEREAS, most of these students came to America as children, having no role in the decision to enter the United States, and many do not even know they are here illegally; we should not group these students together with the adults who knowingly crossed our borders illegally; the better policy is to view them as the valuable resource they are for our nations future, as many are valedictorians, honors students, award winners, class presidents, and student leaders, and

WHEREAS, the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act is a bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to restore to states the option to determine residency requirements for higher education benefits purposes and to allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel removal, and adjust the status of certain alien students who are long-term U.S. residents and who meet the requirements of the DREAM Act, and would otherwise be inadmissible or deportable, and

WHEREAS, the DREAM Act does not guarantee any illegal immigrant the right to remain in the United States, nor does it grant automatic or complete amnesty to its potential beneficiaries; however, it does give qualified students the privilege of earning the right to remain and receive higher education benefits if they have grown up in the United States and meet its requirements, and

WHEREAS, the legislation provides a six-year conditional residency period for those who entered the United States before they turned 16 years old, have been here continuously for at least five years, stayed away from crime, and either earned at least a high school diploma or gained acceptance to college; after the six-year period, these individuals can petition to remove the conditional basis to lawful residence status and earn the right to stay permanently in the United States, and

WHEREAS, the petition must show that the alien maintained good moral character during the entire period, remained in continuous physical residence in the United States since the adjustment of status to that of a conditional permanent resident, is not inadmissible for any reason, and has completed at least one of the following: acquired a degree from an institution of higher education or completed two years in a bachelors or graduate program; served in the Armed Forces for at least two years; or performed at least 910 hours of volunteer community service with an approved organization; if the Secretary of Homeland Security finds that the facts in the petition are true, the secretary shall immediately remove the conditional basis of the aliens status, and

WHEREAS, Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the DREAM Act of 2003 (S.1545) on July 31, 2003; Senator Hatch introduced the bill on behalf of himself, Senator Durbin, Senator Lugar, Senator Leahy, Senator Craig, Senator Feingold, Senator Crapo, and Senator Grassley, the bills original cosponsors; there are currently 47 cosponsors, including Senators Clinton and Schumer; on February 9, 2004, Senator Hatch submitted a report from the Committee on the Judiciary reporting favorably on the bill and recommending that the Senate pass the DREAM Act, and therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Congress pass and the President sign into law the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, S.1545, and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to President George W. Bush, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chuck Schumer, and Representatives Kirsten Gillibrand, John Hall, and Maurice Hinchey.

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Supporting documentation:

Connect for Kids: The DREAM Act
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3901

National Immigration Law Center memo for DREAM Act
http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/DREAM/Dream001.htm

Immigration.com Factsheet for DREAM Act
http://devforums.immigrationportal.com/anthesys/Production/TrackerPetition/signatoryForm.php?petId=11