By Mirabel Reid
Imagine that you are a teenager living in the southern United States. You speak English fluently and have lived in your hometown for as long as you can remember. You live in an American neighborhood and go to an American high school. You have American friends. You play for your school’s football team, get fairly good grades, and like to volunteer your time in your community. You’re young, happy, and looking to the future.
Does this story sound familiar? You can imagine what happens next. Our teenager gets his driver’s license, so he can drive his friends around his town. He starts to apply to colleges, so he can continue his education and pursue his chosen career. However, this is not how the story goes. This teenager cannot get higher education, because his parents brought him to the United States without getting proper permission. Because of this crime he had no knowledge of, he is treated differently from his peers. His options in life are limited.
Thousands of children of undocumented immigrants are in the same situation as this teenager. Unfortunately, their only path to prosperity lies in Congress. The DREAM act, or the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, was a proposed legislation to change our treatment of the children of undocumented immigrants and provide them a path to legalization so they might become contributing members of American society. Any immigrant that came to the United States before age 16, lived here for at least 5 years, and planned to pursue a college education or a career in the Armed Forces would be able to become a citizen. This means financial aid in college and work without fear of deportation.
The reasoning behind the act is that immigrants brought to America illegally by their parents were not complicit in the crime, and therefore should not be punished. Through the DREAM act, these children would have the same opportunity as those born in America. Unfortunately, this reform was not meant to be. It failed in Congress and was lost in 2010.
So what’s the big deal about this act? Well, as it turns out, it affects a lot of people. According Brownell’s 2008 article, “The New Face of Immigration”, there are over 44 million Hispanic people living in the United States. Of these, 28% are foreign born. The US offers greater opportunity for higher income and education than in countries such as Mexico, where many immigrants come from. So, workers flock to the US to find better work and a better life. And they bring their families.
According to estimates by the Census Bureau, there are 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. For many of these people, living and working here is shadowed by a fear of deportation. If their employers exploit them, they have few options to get out of the situation without being exposed. Because they fear to report crime, crime rates are higher. For those who it would affect, the DREAM act provides a way out of this.
A less extreme solution was passed by Congress in July 2012. This act, called DACA, or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, has helped thousands of young undocumented immigrants. While it doesn’t provide a path to citizenship, it allows them to legally live, work, and go to school in the United States.
DACA has had a lot of success in integrating more people into American life. The American Immigration Council has found that many of the people in the program have opened bank accounts, gotten jobs, or even obtained health care. Many who already had a job increased their earnings. Additionally, DACA beneficiaries tend to be hardworking, over a third working multiple jobs. Workers like these not only have a better quality of life, but also have the opportunity to help their community.
However, DACA might not go far enough. According to the American Immigration Council, many of those who qualify are unable to participate; the $465 application fee is a significant barrier for this demographic that tends toward poverty. Also, a lot of those eligible have legal concerns or are waiting for better options. While DACA has gone a long way toward improving the lives of young undocumented immigrants, our nation still has a long way to go.
The classic argument against immigration reform is that undocumented immigrants take jobs away from Americans. But, as the success of DACA has proven, this is not the case. Allowing undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US also allows us to charge them income tax. This tax can go to public works programs that benefit everyone. Through DACA, these immigrants are able to contribute to the American economy and becoming productive members of society.
Another argument against immigration is that immigrants take up resources that should be used to help American cities. However, according to Brownell, immigration to cities is not necessarily harmful; in fact, many cities encourage immigrants to move there. American citizens often migrate to rural and suburban areas, so cities require immigrants to boost their population and keep their housing market strong. Immigration is important in rural areas too. As Jost claimed in his article “Immigration Conflict”, many immigrants, including undocumented workers, are migrant workers for farms. Without their work, farm production falters. This hurts the economy as well.
Our teenager lies at a crossroad in life. On one fork lies a college education and citizenship. He could become a hardworking, legal American, contributing to the economy and the wellbeing of those around him. Or, he could go down a different path. Unable to go to college, he might turn to a corrupt employer who exploits him. He could turn to crime or drugs, and make our country more dangerous for American citizens. He could be deported to a country he does not know. Remember, congress members listen to the petitions of American citizens. By supporting immigration reforms like DACA and the DREAM act, you can unblock the path to happiness and prosperity for this teenager and thousands of others.
