The White House hosted a series of conference calls with reporters last week featuring several university presidents and two members of President Obama’s cabinet to drum up support for the DREAM Act.
Last Thursday, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano discussed why it’s important for the nation’s law enforcement that the DREAM Act be passed.
According to the White House, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would enact a lengthy and rigorous process for young people who grew up in the United States to obtain legal status by either pursuing a higher education or by serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Young people would be required to meet several requirements in order to qualify for the conditional status according to the White House.
They must have entered the country when they were under 16 years old, graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED.
The students must be able to demonstrate “good moral character” and they must not have committed any crimes that would make them inadmissible to the country.
If these requirements are met, they would then be able to obtain a conditional status for a limited amount of time.
After a period of six years under conditional status, the same individuals would be required to meet additional requirements in order to move on to the next phase of this process.
They must have attended college or served in the U.S. military for at least two years and pass another round of criminal background checks. If they cannot meet those requirements, they would lose their legal status and be subject to deportation.
Secretary Napolitano said she held the call to re-emphasize her support for the DREAM Act.
“I think the DREAM Act will improve immigration enforcement,” she said. “From my standpoint, the DREAM Act fits into a larger strategy for immigration enforcement …This is exactly the strategy this administration has been following.”
Napolitano said although the administration wants to secure the border, young people should not be punished.
“What doesn’t make as much sense is to use resources to prosecute young people who had no control over coming here,” she said.
Although the DREAM Act is not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform, it is a step in the right direction, Napolitano said.
“I say this as someone who has worked on our Southwest border,” she said “…Based on my experience, the DREAM Act is one thing Congress can do right now to help the Department of Homeland Security.
“I urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act…enable those young people brought into this country not of their accord to be citizens.”
Even though Napolitano is a firm supporter of the act, she said her department has no plans to stop deportations.
“…Our job is to enforce the law,” she said. “My job is to set good priorities …We do not have the option under the law to say we will not enforce the law …We will continue to prioritize the removal of criminal illegal immigrants. One thing we should be doing is effective enforcement…we are very aggressive law enforcers.”
Many have brought up the issue of costs regarding the DREAM Act, but according to Napolitano, the argument lacks basis.
“The cost argument doesn’t hold water,” she said.
The White House said if enacted, the DREAM Act would have important economic benefits. Students impacted by the act could add between $1.4 to $3.6 trillion in taxable income to the economy depending on how many gain legal status.
Secretary Napolitano said the president is very supportive of the act, but he needs help in getting it passed.
“As he’s said repeatedly, he cannot do it on his own,” she said. “Congress needs to act and come together in a bipartisan way.”
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said in a conference call last Friday that many are failing to see the potential of the young people and that many of them are “star” students.
“It’s terrible for America,” he said. “Some of them are future entrepreneurs that will make the next Google.”
Locke said because of their lack of a legal status, the students face financial restraints that do not allow them to afford college.
“We need to remove this impediment,” Locke said.
President of Regent University Dr. Carlos Campo said he has seen an example of this first hand.
“I had one in my office just last week who finished fourth in her class,” Campo said. “It was pretty clear to us she could have gotten a full-ride scholarship, but because of her status, she could not. They need this opportunity.”
Campo said the original purpose of the act needs to be kept fresh in mind.
This is not a political issue as much as others would make it,” Campo said. “It is important to support this. It’s the right thing to do.”
UCLA Chancellor Dr. Gene Block, said UCLA is aware of “several hundred” undocumented students attending the university.
“…Like many people, I am impressed with these students,” he said. “All of them are highly motivated and mature. I’m certain when I meet these students that they will become leaders.”
“These students are really Americans,” he said. “They feel American. They believe in America. The countries they came from are foreign to them.
Dr. Padron said passing the DREAM Act will make a difference for years to come in the United States.
“We’re failing to see the long term benefits to our economy,” Padron said “Many of the students go into areas where we are failing to have enough students go into like science. America is aging. We are facing a shortage of workers.”
