What is DREAM Act?
The DREAM Act stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. It refers to a legislative proposal which was introduced in the Senate in 2001. The DREAM Act would allow permanent residential status to be granted to illegal persons of good conduct who came into the U.S. as minors and graduated their high schools and had lived here for a minimum term of 5 continuous years before the enactment of the proposal.
Those supporting the DREAM Act do so with the belief that the act will bestow a number of socio-economic benefits to those who were too young to blame for illegally immigrating to the United States. Those who criticize the act advocate that the act is doing nothing but further encouraging illegal immigration and inviting more trouble by way of protecting the immigrants and giving scope for their fraudulent practices.
How does one become eligible to benefit from the DREAM Act?
Any persons looking to benefit under the DREAM Act should satisfy the following criteria:
- An individual should submit valid proof of entering into the United States when he/she was a minor (i.e. below the age of 16 years)
- Sufficient proof of residential stay in the United States for a minimum period of 5 years before the bill was enacted.
- In case of males, he should have proof of registration with the Selective Service.
- The individual should be aged between 12 and 35 years of age at the time of enactment of the bill.
- He or she should have graduated from an American high school, obtained a GED, or have been admitted for higher education.
- He or she should have good conduct as certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
- The individual will be granted a tentative / conditional residential status and will be conferred with a permanent status only after he or she graduates from a community college or has studied a 4 year degree course and has served in the U.S. military for a minimum term of 2 years.
- If the above criteria are met, the tentative residential status will be updated to permanent residential status, thus granting the individual U.S. Citizenship.
- Submission of necessary biometric data.
- He or she should have undergone a thorough background check on the grounds of security and law enforcement.
- He or she should have reports of a complete medical examination.
Who is excluded from becoming eligible for non immigration status on condition?
Any individual who satisfies the above mentioned criteria but has been engaged in one or more of the following activities is excluded from eligibility for residential status:
- Those who have a tendency towards becoming a public charge
- Those who have committed a crime
- Those who have engaged in a marriage fraud
- Those who are a hazard to public health
- Those who have engaged in persecution
- Those who are known to have fraudulently voted
- Those who have been denied a student visa