DREAM ACT UPDATE 12/07/2010

The DREAM Act of 2010 S.3992, a new version of the DREAM Act, includes numerous changes to address concerns raised about the bill.  Among other things, S. 3992:

1.    Does not repeal the ban on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.  The DREAM Act would not allow undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition.  The DREAM Act also continues to prohibit students from obtaining Pell and other federal grants.
2.    Lowers the age cap for eligibility for the DREAM Act to 29 on the date of enactment.  Additionally, in order to be eligible, individuals still must have come to the U.S. as a child (15 or under) and be a long-term resident (at least 5 years).  An earlier version of the DREAM Act (S. 1545 in the 108th Congress), authored by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch and cosponsored by Senator John McCain, did not include any age cap.  This bill was approved by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee on a 16-3 vote.
3.    Does not grant legal immigrant status to anyone for at least 10 years.  Previous versions of the DREAM Act would have immediately granted legal immigrant status to individuals who met the bill’s requirements.  Under S. 3992, an individual could obtain “conditional nonimmigrant” status if he proves that he meets the age (currently 29 or under and arrived in the U.S. at 15 or under) and residency requirements (5 years or more) and:
a.   Has graduated from an American high school or obtained a GED;
b.   Has been a person of “good moral character,” as determined by the Department of Homeland Security, from the date the individual initially entered the U.S. (previous versions of the DREAM Act only required an individual to be a person of good moral character from the date of the bill’s enactment);
c.    Submits biometric information;
d.   Undergoes security and law-enforcement background checks;
e.   Undergoes a medical examination; and
f.     Registers for the Selective Service.
4.    Further limits eligibility for conditional nonimmigrant status by specifically excluding anyone who:
a.   Has committed one felony or three misdemeanors;
b.   Is likely to become a public charge;
c.    Has engaged in voter fraud or unlawful voting;
d.   Has committed marriage fraud;
e.   Has abused a student visa;
f.     Has engaged in persecution; or
g.    Poses a public health risk.
Additionally, individuals would continue to be excluded if they have received a final order of deportation, have engaged in criminal activity (as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act), or present a national security or terrorist threat.
5.    Gives a conditional nonimmigrant the change to earn legal immigrant status only after 10 years and only if he meets the DREAM Act’s college or military service requirements, and other requirements, e.g., pays back taxes and demonstrates the ability to read, write, and speak English and demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, principles, and form of government of the United States.
6.    Further limits “chain migration.”  DREAM Act individuals would have very limited ability to sponsor family members for U.S. citizenship.  They could never sponsor extended family members and they could not begin sponsoring parents or siblings for at least 12 years.  Parents and siblings who entered the U.S. illegally would have to leave the country for ten years before they could gain legal status and the visa backlog for siblings is decades long.
7.    Specifically excludes nonimmigrants from the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act.  Conditional nonimmigrants also would be ineligible for Medicaid, Food Stamps and other entitlement programs.
8.    Establishes a one-year application deadline.  An individual would be required to apply for conditional nonimmigrant status within one year of obtaining a high school degree or GED, being admitted to college, or the bill’s date of enactment.
9.    Requires anyone applying for the DREAM Act to show that he is likely to qualify in order to receive a stay of deportation while his application is pending.  The DREAM Act is not a safe harbor from deportation.
10.  Requires DHS to provide information from an individual’s DREAM Act application to any federal, state, tribal, or local law enforcement agency, or intelligence or national security agency in any criminal investigation or prosecution or for homeland security or national security purposes.
11.  Places the burden of proof on a DREAM Act applicant.  An individual would be required to demonstrate eligibility for the DREAM Act by a preponderance of the evidence.

DREAM NEEDS YOU NOW!

The DREAM Act will be voted on tomorrow at 10am.  We need calls into these offices today!  The house line is 866-967-6018

And the script on that line is this :
The House of Representatives will vote on the DREAM act Friday morning. Millions of young people’s futures are riding on this bill. In a moment you will be connected your Representatives office. When you are connected, tell your representative to vote YES on the DREAM Act.

Fence sitters:
Visclosky, Peter IN-01


Leaning Yes:
Ellsworth, Brad IN-08

November SBCSC Parent Advisory Council meeting

Last night ( Tues Nov 30 ) I attended the SBCSC Parent Advisory Council meeting. The idea behind the Council is for parent representatives from every school to get information about various aspects of the SBCSC such as programs, test scores, etc., and take that information back to other parents at their school. Parents have the opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback, and set the agenda for future meetings. This is a good effort by Superintendent Kapsa to communicate with parents and he has given TAP access to this forum. It is disappointing that all the schools were not represented.

Presentations were given on the Read 180 program and 8 Steps to Success.

Read 180 is a literacy intervention program for high school and intermediate students. This is a successful program that has shown an average 1.5+ year reading gain for students who have been in 60+ sessions. I won't go into details her. If you want more information click the link above or contact the SBCSC.

8 Steps to Success is a process intended to improve student achievement. It is a school wide system that uses frequent student assessment, teacher collaboration, and monitoring to achieve student excellence. You can get more information by following the link to the Indiana DOE site or contacting the SBCSC.

My children's kindergarten teacher was the presenter for 8 Steps to Success. She remembered them and me after all these years. I was nice to have the opportunity to let her know what they are up to now.

DREAM Act Update

The bill is on the House calendar and we expect both chambers to begin the process this week. 

Continue your calls for the DREAM Act

Please share these numbers who everyone in your list! 

DREAM Compilation materials for November 29, 2010

1.     FREE 1-866 Numbers to call Senators to push for DREAM:

a.     Senate Spanish: 866-961-4293

b.     Senate English: 866-996-5161

2.     FREE 1-866 Numbers to call to GOP members to push for DREAM:

a.     GOP Spanish: 866-956-3902

b.     GOP English:  866-587-6101

RAP: “We would like to URGE you to VOTE YES for the passage of the DREAM Act bill during this Lame Duck Session of congress.  We are part of a nationwide Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign.”

RAP for limited English speakers: “Support DREAM Act, Thank you.”

DREAM Update 11-29-10

We may have the votes necessary in the House but we must continue pushing calls into Donnelly's office to ask his support and into Lugar's office to thank him and encourage him.  The Senate continues to be the problem has we are still short of the votes needed to move the DREAM Act. 

Indiana Catholic Conference Talking Points on the DREAM Act

November 23, 2010

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.

DREAM Act
Senator Richard Lugar, a sponsor of the DREAM Act, is expecting that it will be acted upon following the Thanksgiving holiday. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly support this legislation as one means of providing hope and opportunity for many young people who are trapped through no fault of their own without citizenship status.

Despite the value of the legislation, false information is often reported. The following provides more accurate information.

Dispelling DREAM Act Myths

The DREAM Act is a proposal to provide legal status to undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as children, graduated from U.S. high schools, and attend college or enter the military. Some who oppose it claim that it would cheat native-born students out of opportunities.  This has no basis in fact.  Moreover, it ignores the economic benefits that come from legalizing a group of talented, hard-working individuals who want nothing more than to contribute to America and repay the country for the opportunities they’ve been given.

Research has shown that providing a legal status for young people who have a proven record of success in the United States would be a boon to the economy and the U.S. workforce.  University presidents and educational associations, as well as military recruiters, business and religious leaders, have added their voice to those calling for passage of the bill. 

The DREAM Act will help boost the number of high-skilled American-raised workers. Removing the uncertainty of undocumented status allows legalized immigrants to earn higher wages and move into higher-paying occupations, and also encourages them to invest more in their own education, open bank accounts, buy homes, and start businesses.

The U.S. military also needs the DREAM Act. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Bill Carr, stated that the law would be “good for readiness” and would help to recruit “cream of the crop” students.  The DREAM Act is part of the Department of Defense’s 2010-2012 Strategic Plan to assist the military in its recruiting efforts.

 

Myth:  The DREAM Act uses taxpayer dollars for scholarships and grants to undocumented students.

Fact:  The DREAM Act states that undocumented youth adjusting to lawful permanent resident status are only eligible for federal student loans (which must be paid back), and federal work-study programs, where they must work for any benefit they receive. They are not eligible for federal grants, such as Pell Grants.

Myth:  The DREAM Act gives undocumented students and their families access to public benefits.

Fact:  DREAM Act students receive no special benefits and are subject to the same public benefits eligibility requirements as other legal immigrants.  This means that DREAM Act students and families are NOT immediately eligible for Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid (other than emergency care), and numerous other federal benefit programs.  In general, a person must be here as a lawful permanent resident for five years before they receive non-emergency federal assistance.

Myth: The DREAM Act will result in a mass amnesty.

Fact:  The DREAM Act is not an amnesty.  No one will automatically receive a green card.  To legalize, individuals have to meet stringent eligibility criteria: they must have entered the United States before age 16; must have been here for five years or more; must not have committed any major crimes; must graduate from high school or the equivalent; and must complete at least two years of college or military service.  Eligible students must first obtain conditional residency and complete the requirements before they can obtain a green card—a process that will take years.  Not all immigrants who came as young children will be eligible to legalize because they will not meet some of these requirements.

Myth:  The DREAM Act will spur more illegal immigration because it rewards undocumented youth.

Fact:  Programs like the DREAM Act, which have clear cut-off dates, offer no incentives for more illegal immigration.  In order to qualify for the DREAM Act, a student must have entered the United States before the age of 16 and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years before the date of enactment.  Economic conditions have far more impact on illegal immigration than specific pieces of legislation.

Myth:  The DREAM Act lets students cut in line in front of other lawful immigrants.

Fact:  DREAM Act students do not compete for visas with other applicants for legal permanent residence.  Instead, DREAM Act creates a separate program for students that requires them to earn legal permanent residence by attending college or serving in the military for two years while in a temporary legal status.  DREAM will not affect the number of visas available or the time it takes to get a visa for those entering through traditional legal immigration.