There is this new act being brought up in the U.S called the DREAM Act. It has not recieved much attention yet but the concern seems to be growing. This act will allow illegal immigrants in the U.S to recieve legal status by going to college or working in the armed forces for two or more years. There are several other critia that you have to meet as well.

My question is what do you think of this act, U.S citizen or otherwise? Do you believe the citizenship in your country is an easy thing to come by?(No matter where you live.) Do you believe this law will hurt or help?

Immigration boils down to two simple things:

1. People don't want to let others into a country.
2. People expect to be able to travel freely.

If 2 is more important than 1, they're pro-immigration. Otherwise, they're anti-immigration.

Now, the whys may differ greatly, and there may be several caveats or exceptions or whatnot, but from what I can tell on both sides, that's really the core of the issue.

Also, some things you missed that I feel are important enough to be in the first post:

DREAM does not apply to all people. It's only for those who were minors when brought into the country by their parents.

DREAM does not grant amnesty. If you, for example, commit a crime while your application is being processed, you can still be deported. Even if your application is approved, if you become a drain on social programs or do not have good moral character (gmc generally means no criminal record), you can still be deported.

I think DREAM is very important mostly because I don't feel kids should be punished by the actions of their parents. My dad is against children born in the US getting automatic citizenship but I don't. DREAM has very strict rules like you have to have moved here before you were 12 and stuff like that.

I believe legal immigration should be easier everywhere...I would like to be able to move to Canada so I can use my French more but immigration laws there do not permit me to move unless I'm invited by a job or am attending university there and even then when I'm done I have to leave. That's more to protect Canada's (or any country's) resources. I live in the US by the way.

I don't know anything about US immigration laws so I cannot really say much about it. But what I read now I th ink that DREAM sounds like a good law.
Living in Europe, immigration is a constant issue/question brought up. And every week the press bring up new cases of refugee's that are being sent back to places where they might end up beaten or worse. At the same time it's getting easier and easier to travel and move around in the EU countries but the EU borders to the rest of the world is getting stronger. (as long as your not romani of course... )

Yeah I know a bit about French immigration from the contemporary French history classes I've taken. From what I understand there are a lot of refugees and illegal immigrants from Northern Africa there, especially in Paris. There is a lot of racism and profiling there kind of like in the US.

Yeah that's right, since several european countries have history of colonization, people from the old colonize often immigrant to the country that they once where controled by. They already speak the language and so on.
Europe also got a well known history of racism and nationalism, but (this is only what I feel, nothing else) it feels like it's growing and nationalistic parties and views are becoming more accepted than before. It's really ... uncomfortable. But this is just my opinion. I don't want to speak for every european person here on mene. o.o

I don't like the Act. It rewards criminals with citzenship and a college education. The money and privilages should be used for the First People(not the criminals that arrived on the Mayflower) on this land. Let alone have some illegal defending my home.

Ok wait a minute, you call people criminals because they have immigrated to another country?
If I got this right, that act was about people that have been brought to the US as children or teenagers. And you're calling them criminals with no right to education or country to live in!?
I'm gonna stop here before I write something that I'll regret...

What money? DREAM specifically stipulates that the immigrants granted amnesty through DREAM are NOT allowed to enroll in social welfare programs or apply for aid.

Additionally, these aren't the criminals; the people covered by DREAM would have been MINORS forced over the border by their PARENTS. We don't prosecute children for pedophilia; we shouldn't prosecute them for forced undocumented immigration.

Originally Posted by Keyori

What money? DREAM specifically stipulates that the immigrants granted amnesty through DREAM are NOT allowed to enroll in social welfare programs or apply for aid.

Additionally, these aren't the criminals; the people covered by DREAM would have been MINORS forced over the border by their PARENTS. We don't prosecute children for pedophilia; we shouldn't prosecute them for forced undocumented immigration.

Like I said before I don't believe the children should be punsihed for the actions of their parents. What kid is going to say "No I'd rather stay here with my relatives in poverty and tyranny whilst my PARENTS sneak into a wealthy country with more opporunities?"

And yes...that is true. The kids protected by DREAM aren't allowed to be on social programs; it's more along the lines of they can't be deported whilst in university for being illegal immigrants that came here as minors. After their education and service I am not certain if they are allowed to apply for citizenship...I'd have to look that part up.

I think they can apply for citizenship after they complete whatever process is required to be covered by DREAM, in addition to other citizenship policies (I believe DREAM would only grant them legal resident status, not citizenship). That may require a student to complete his or her degree or complete service in the military.

I'm definitely for it, especially considering that I could have actually been part of it since my mother decided to move to america and bring me with her.. although I chose to go back to denmark when i turned 18. Free health care, free education, etc etc ;)

Anyways, it gives a great opportunity to those who were brought into a rather unfortunate situation as kids not by their own accord. I had no say in the matter when we had to move, and had i chosen to stay in america, wouldn't it be better if I got an education and a job and became a productive member of the society instead of being there illegally? Personally I think it would benefit america in the long run to help these minors out.

In fact, I believe other countries should look more favorably on this act, and try to adapt it themselves. Immigration to another country is becoming ridiculous! Why does it have to be so hard for people to move around the world? I can understand that there have to be certain rules and restrictions, but it's nearly impossible to move to another country nowadays. I want to live in Brazil, but to do that i have to either invest $50000 or marry a brazillian, neither of which is possible for me. <(getting off topic, but it infuriates me that it has to be so difficult)

I think that it's all to protect a country's money above all else. :(

Well that's why I'm hoping to live in a EU country a while when I'm finished school. It's too complicated to go anywhere else. To travel in EU these days you barely need a passport (if you're a EU citizen that is). X(

Yeah as an American I have a shot in hell to live in the EU especially because I'm disabled...

Wow. There are a lot of things being said in this thread. I wanted to clear something up with Stardragon. Illegals would not be taking away Americas money. These kids will be contributing members of society after they graduate. That will boost the economy. Not only that but in order to have this act work in an illegal's favor they have to be 'good'. In other words they can't have a criminal record. This act applies to good kids who were brought here at a young age, graduated high school, and now have nothing to do. Don't get mad at them for what their parents did. And there is another thing 'American' citizens seem to forget. They were not here first. Native Americans were. Europeans came here ILLEGALLY settled and didn't leave. If you wan to get technical only 1% of Americans citizens actually belong here. Majority of the people in the country need to stop being so self righteous and help there fellow man.