Legislation

The DREAM Act in the 112th Congress

The Issue

There are thousands of undocumented immigrant students, brought to this country as young children who have grown up in the U.S., excelled in school, and are American in every sense except for their papers. However, when it comes time to apply for college, many find the door to enrollment effectively shut because they lack legal immigration status. They are not eligible for the resident tuition rate at state-supported colleges and universities—even though they may have graduated from their state’s elementary and high schools.  In addition, undocumented students are not eligible for any type of federal financial aid.  Other young men and women who wish to join the uniformed military services are also shut out of enlisting.  Even if these students are able to make it through college, they graduate without the legal right to work in this country.  These children and young adults are the embodiment of individual merit and achievement. In recognition of this fact, members of Congress have introduced legislation to clear a path towards legal immigration status that would allow these students to pursue their education and put their college degrees to good use, or to contribute to this country through military service.

The Legislation

• Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2011
  S. 952, introduced in the Senate by Richard Durbin (D-IL) and 32 cosponsors.  (List of co-sponsors.)
  
  H.R. 1842, introduced in the House by Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).   
  Under the DREAM Act, individuals would qualify for conditional permanent resident status if they came to the U.S. prior to the age of 15, lived in the U.S. for at least five years before the passage of the bill, graduated from a U.S. high school, and can demonstrate “good moral character.”  These qualifying children would then have six years to complete at least two years of college or military service before gaining full permanent residence. (List of co-sponsors.)

Status

Both the House and Senate versions were introduced on May 11, 2011. On June 28, 2011, the Senate Immigration Subcommittee held a hearing on the DREAM Act.  Witnesses included Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley, and Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Margaret Stock.  Testimony of all of the witnesses and a video recording of the hearing can be obtained on the Judiciary Committee’s Web site.

• Analysis: The DREAM Act: Building the Momentum for Immigration Reform, National Immigration Forum, June 3, 2011


• Summary: DREAM Act: Summary, National Immigration Law Center, May 2011


• Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet: The DREAM Act, Center for American Progress, December 1, 2010


• Fact Sheet: Myth vs. Fact: The DREAM Act, Center for American Progress, December 2010


• Estimates of Beneficiaries: MPI Updates National and State-Level Estimates of Potential DREAM Act Beneficiaries, Migration Policy Institute, December 2010.


• Press Release: DREAM Act Reintroduced in the Senate, National Immigration Forum, May 11, 2011.

• United We DREAM


• America’s Voice


• National Immigration Law Center

For additional resources, see The DREAM Act in the 111th Congress

Issue Briefs and Reports from the Forum

Additional Resources