The American Dream Act

Created By: Charmayne

and Jenny

Issue

• Illegal immigrants have lived in the US for all their lives and want nothing more then to further their education and be recognized as what they are, Americans.

• The Dream Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants under 35 who came here before they were 16 years old, if they complete two years of college or serve in the military.

Problem If Not Addressed

• 18 to 30 year olds will grow up in the United States, attend school, earn terrific grades, go on to attend college or join the military. Then one day, a fateful connection will be made, usually regarding their parents, and their lives will turn upside-down overnight with threats of detention and/or deportation.

• They are smeared with inherited title, an illegal immigrant.

Juan Ramirez

“On a Sunday much like today I was walking across the stage to receive my bachelors degree, tomorrow I would find myself in handcuffs.

As an undocumented student, I’ve heard about the risks of traveling, but I chose to do it anyway. I was determined not to let fear stop me from achieving my dreams... I looked out the window to see where the bus had stopped and I saw men in green uniform. They made their way to the bus…Eventually, the agent made his way to me, tapped me on the shoulder, to get my attention while I was on the phone, and asked, ‘Excuse me, sir, are you a US citizen?’…He asked for my ID. I gave him my college ID. He again asked, ‘Are you a US citizen?’…Moments later, I was getting a hold of my belongings before stepping off the bus with the agent. I felt every one’s eyes on me.”

Pros

• Students will have an opportunity to further their education and contribute to our country, for example, joining the armed forces.

• Country would gain more educated citizens• Act will generate $36 billion for the US economy

over the next forty years• Only illegal immigrants that have been here

since childhood, have been a person of good moral character, and have a high school diploma will qualify.

• 70% of Americans are in favor of passing the bill

Cons

• Only about 50,000 students will be eligible to apply for residency under the Dream Act. Its not high considering there are 30 million illegal immigrants in the US.

• Easier to attract more illegal immigrants to come over• We will know the amount of aliens that are eligible to

apply 7 years after the enactment of the Act.• An alien who has gained permanent residence under this

Act, but hasn’t had the conditional basis removed, will not be eligible for Federal Pell grants or any educational opportunity grants.

What we want done

• Get the Dream Act passed so high school illegal immigrants graduates, can have an opportunity to go off to college like everyone else

• We want to stop them from putting the act to the side. The longer the Act is on hold, the more they have to wait to further their education

Solution• Start a petition • State our cause and prepare papers

stating what we are petitioning• Go around and collect signatures showing

support of all the people who support our cause

• Turn copies off all the signatures we collected to our senators Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin to win their support

Senator Dick Durbin

Dick DurbinA. 101 W. Grand Ave. #200

Chicago IL, 60610

B. (312) 527.3667

C. www.dickdurbin.com/contact

Senator Mark Kirk

Mark KirkNorthbrook Office

A. 707 Skokie Boulevard Suite 350

Northbrook IL, 60062

B. (847) 940.0202

C. Fax: (847) 940.7143

Waukegan Office

A. 20 S. MLK Drive

Waukegan IL, 60085

B. (847) 662.0101

Cited sites

• Compusprogress.org/articles/does – the –dream – act – have – a –shot- this time – around/

• www.dickdurbin.com/contact• www.dreamact.info• http://dreamact.info/periodical/119723• www.form.house.gov/kirk/webforms/issue_subsc

ribe.htm• http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1

751:

Cited pictures• http://beinglatino.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/photo2.jpg• http://dreamact.info/periodical/119723• http://www.dreamactivist.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Child-Dre

am1.jpg• dreamdogsart.typepad.com/the_obamas_dog/2009/...• immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/2010/... • http://media.photobucket.com/image/dream%20act/

dreamstobeheard/Logo-1.jpg• www.menwithfoilhats.com/.../• http://multiamerican.scpr.org/files/2010/08/dreamact-hands.jpg• http://uhelgato.com/wp-content/uploads/paulina_dream_act.jpg • www.upi.com/.../