While walking my dog through my neighborhood last week, I overheard two ten-year old girls having a conversation on a trampoline in a backyard.
“When is your dad coming back.”
“He can’t.”
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t have a pass to get back in America. You need a pass to get back in. My mom and grandma have a pass to leave, but they don’t have a pass to get back in either. I don’t need a pass to get in because I’m an American.”
“I’m an American!”
And both girls proceeded to jump on the trampoline chanting “I’m an American” in time with their jumps. For thousands of kids in schools across America, they wouldn’t be able to say “I’m an American” because their parents brought them here without documentation. These kids are under constant threat of deportation, even if their families are US citizens. This is simply unjust.
Luckily, there is legislation pending in the Senate that would fix this: The DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan measure that enables high-achieving young people – immigrants who have been raised here, have worked hard in school, and then pursue higher education or serve in the military – to achieve the American Dream.
Seventy percent of Americans agree that it makes no moral or economic sense to spend taxpayer dollars arresting, jailing, and deporting youth who grew up in this country. The DREAM Act allows these young people to earn their citizenship and give back to the country they call home. A national poll of 1,008 adults, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for First Focus in June 2010, shows a stunning level of support, which cuts across regional and party lines. They found 70 percent overall support, 60% support from Republicans, and 80% support from Democrats. – America’s Voice
Sen. Reid is likely going to attach the DREAM Act as an amendment to an upcoming defense authorization bill. The Amendment is even germane to the bill.
In fact, the DREAM Act is included in the Department of Defense’s FY2010-12 Strategic Plan to help the military “shape and maintain a mission-ready All Volunteer Force”
That’s because a specific provision of the DREAM Act would allow those who meet all eligibility requirements, serve in the U.S. armed forces for at least two years and maintain “good moral character” to obtain regular lawful permanent resident status after six years. Many Military experts have come out in support of the DREAM Act because it would significantly increase the pool of qualified recruits in the Latino population, which comprises the majority of undocumented immigrants and which research indicates are more likely to enlist and serve in the military than any other group. – The Wonk Room (with a tip-o-the-hat to DailyKos)
Now is the time to tell our senators to support the DREAM Act amendment. Not just for the good of our military recruitment, but for the justice it will bring for thousands of kids and young people.