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The Basics of the DREAM Act

Posted June 16, 2010 by Patrick Young, Esq.
Categories: Federal Immigration Policy

With Comprehensive Immigration Reform stalled by the Republicans, the DREAM Act has emerged as the primary piece of immigration legislation with a chance for passage this year. Here are the basics:

Full Name: Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act).

Principal Sponsors: Sen. Durbin and Congressman Berman.

Long Island Co-sponsors: McCarthy, Ackerman, Israel.

Bill Numbers: S. 729 and H.R. 1751.

Purpose of the DREAM Act: To allow certain undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children to legalize their status and eventually become permanent residents.

Requirements to Register for the DREAM Act:

Must have entered the United States before the age of 16.
Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years prior to enactment of the bill
Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university)
Must be between the ages of 12 and 35
Must have good moral character

Persons eligible to register for the DREAM Act will be granted temporary permission to live and work in the United States.

Requirements to Become a Permanent Resident:

Persons who register for the DREAM Act must do one of the following:

Enroll in an institution of higher education in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree or higher degree or
Enlist in one of the branches of the United States Military

Within 6 years of approval for conditional permanent residency, the individual must have completed at least two (2) years of one of the options outlined in the previous step.

Note: Some of this information was supplied by the DREAM Act Portal.

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