HR 1751/S 729 The DREAM Act

Each year about 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school. These US-raised students include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, aspiring teachers and doctors. They are young people who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and desire only to call this country their home. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities.

The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is bi-partisan legislation currently pending in both houses of Congress. It is an example of the type of immigration reform that we need; reform that is hopeful and focuses on the human stories of those affected by our broken immigration system. Currently there are 124 co-sponsors in the House and 40 in the Senate.

The DREAM Act would enact two major changes in current law:

- Permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military; and

-Eliminate a federal provision that penalizes states that provide in-state tuition without regard to immigration status.

If enacted, the DREAM Act would have a life-changing impact on the students who qualify, dramatically increasing their average future earnings-and consequently the amount of taxes they would pay-while significantly reducing criminal justice and social services costs to taxpayers.

Current Illinois Co-sponsors:

Danny K Davis (D-7th)

Luis Gutierrez (D-4th)

Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2nd)

Mike Quigley (D-5th)

Bobby Rush (D-1st)

Jan Schakowsky (D-9th)

Dick Durbin (D)

Roland Burris (D)

For More Information:

For a Full List of Co-sponsors and the Text of the Bill, click here.

Interfaith Youth Justice League, young advocates for the DREAM Act.