DREAM Act would support education for undocumented aliens

But she cannot make use of her years of education. She was brought into the country illegally when she was just a year old, and because she is an undocumented alien, no one will hire her as an engineer.

Adeola’s story highlights a largely unrecognized reality: More than 700,000 undocumented students in K-12 schools face the prospect of completing high school, only to find they are unable to gain entry into college or are ineligible for college scholarships. For those who do find a college to accept them, their degrees will prove worthless in seeking a decent-paying job.

But legislation now before Congress could end this tragic waste of young minds, said Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy for the National Immigration Law Center, at an Issues Forum sponsored by the Council of Urban Boards of Education.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would allow high school graduates to seek a “conditional status” with the federal government that grants them six years of legal residence. During that period, students would be required to graduate from a two-year college, complete at least two years of a four-year degree, or serve in the U.S. military. Afterward, a student who can demonstrate “good moral character” would be granted permanent residence.

The legislation, which has the endorsement of the NSBA Delegate Assembly, also would eliminate a federal provision that penalizes states that allow undocumented aliens to pay the in-state tuition rate for public colleges and universities.

There are arguments that immigrants shouldn’t be rewarded for entering the country illegally. But Bernstein emphasized that the legislation is directed at young people who were brought to the United States as children and are not responsible for their undocumented status.

The National Immigration Law Center reports that the federal government has narrowed the grounds to seek a green card, leaving these students with little opportunity to legalize their residence status. The most likely outcome for applying is deportation of the entire family -- sometimes to a “home” nation the student cannot remember.

There are an estimated 7.5 to 9.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. The youngest members of this population are here to stay, Bernstein said, so the choice for lawmakers is to ensure that these young people are well educated and an asset to the nation’s economy -- or to leave them condemned to living on the fringes of that economy.

Bernstein believes the nation cannot afford to allow so many smart and talented minds to go to waste. He urged urban school leaders to look around their schools. They’ll find those students as valedictorians, salutatorians, honor students, and class leaders.

“Historically, this is an overachieving generation,” he said. “These are incredible students.”