Dream Act

Introduction

For decades, illegal immigration has been a contentious issue in America's culture wars. Despite the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, designed to rid the U.S. labor market of undocumented workers, there were estimated 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States in 2006. Americans have remained divided over how to address this problem. Illegal immigrants are sometimes called “illegal aliens,” a highly contested descriptive, with some arguing that it inappropriately implies criminality. “Undocumented worker,” an alternative term, is viewed by others as a phony euphemism. Simply defined, an illegal immigrant is a noncitizen who resides in a country without a valid visa. This occurs either because the visa has expired or because the person originally entered the country without one. Some would extend the definition of illegal immigrant to any child born in the United States whose mother was at the time “undocumented”.

Discussion

Democrat, Dick Durbin, supported by 36 senators, introduced the bill known as the Dream Act. The act is seen as an opportunity for those without legal authorization who was brought to America by their parents when they were minors. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein believes that it is essential to pass the Dream Act because, among such young people, there are the best students in their classes and the presidents of the student union. The Dream Act provides that a number of foreign-born youth can become legal residents of the United States after spending two years in college or the military (Peter, Pp. 93-117).

The initiative seeks to benefit immigrants under 16 years to enter the United States, who have lived in the country at least five years and have a diploma from a secondary school or its equivalent. However, the bill failed to receive the adequate number of votes in the Senate during the legislative session that ended in December, although it had been approved in the House. The chances that Congress passes the Dream Act, and comprehensive immigration reform during the campaign offered by President Barack Obama, is remote because the Republicans have a majority in the House.

The Issue, According to Romney

The dream act has been criticized by presidential candidates such as Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is the Republican presidential candidate who intends to veto the bill known as the Dream Act. Romney wants to be a president who understands what it takes to create jobs and not one that talks about granting alms. According to Romney, if Hispanic voters want a president who will speak on a handout or free benefits, referring to support that President Barack Obama expressed for the Dream Act, then it will allow the legalization of thousands of undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as children.

The former Massachusetts governor considers the dream act as an issue. The elections of 2012 will decide what voters want, because if they (the voters) want a president who has an understanding about the US economy, and what it takes helping people get jobs, then Obama will have ...