Immigration Reform – The DREAM Act of 2010

Immigration Law Reform has been one of the most important topics that have been left unresolved due to the ongoing debate that only seems to go around in circles or take an extreme approach like the Arizona-style law that allow law enforcement personnel to stop and check whether the person is a citizen of the country or not.

Another law that has been doing the rounds is the DREAM Act and which is not as hostile as the Arizona SB 1070 but is more accepting of illegal immigrants and their children has yet to be made into law, as it is still being reviewed by lawmakers.

The DREAM Act, which was brought into existence by Senator Lugar from Indiana and Senator Durbin from Illinois among other senators, allows illegal immigrants who were brought by their parents (illegally, of course!) into the country and have studied in American schools to become permanent residents.

While demonstrating the ability to speak fluent English, the individual should have entered the country below the age of sixteen and must have lived in the United States for at least 5 years without an interruption.

Of course, one does not become a permanent resident by just meeting these conditions and must either enroll for higher education or join the military, for conditional residency in the United States. After completion of an associates’ degree within six years of their petition, the status will be changed to that of a permanent resident.

While this law wants to use taxpayer dollars that are being used to educate illegal immigrants in public schools, what this also does is give those without citizenship status a chance to make that happen.