Senators Orrin Hatch and Richard Durbin and Representatives Howard Berman and Chris Cannon first introduced the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act in 2001. Since then there have been multiple forms of this bill but all have failed to become law. The DREAM Act would offer conditional citizenship to those who entered the U.S. before the age of 16, have been in this country continuously for five years, have earned a high school diploma or GED, and have no criminal record. The individuals will be given a six year period of conditional status during which they will be required to either serve in the armed forces for two years or have completed at least 2 years at an institution of higher learning (associate’s or bachelor’s degree)[1]. Once the 6- year period ends, the individual will be able to qualify for permanent residency. Because the DREAM Act puts individuals on the road for permanent residency, current presumed Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential election, Mitt Romney “labeled [the Act] a magnet for illegal immigrants” stating that it will only encourage people to continue to enter the country illegally, thus believes it is best to not pass it (Weisman 2012). The DREAM Act came closest to passing Congress in December 8, 2010 when it was passed in the House by a vote of 216-198, however when it reached the Senate on December 18, 2012 it fell short five votes[2].

Given that in order to be eligible for permanent residency through the DREAM Act one must enroll in the military or attend college, it is evidently that this bill benefits the country and the individual. No person will be eligible if he/she is not a productive member of society. The bill will provide millions of immigrant children who graduate from High School the opportunity to seek permanent residency in a country they have lived most of their lives and will also provide them with benefits for college. Currently, tens of thousands of undocumented students graduate from a High School longing to attend college, but their undocumented status makes it extremely difficult. Many of them are not given financial aid, thus must struggle to find a way to pay for college. “Not only would [this bill] grant these students access to in-state tuition rates, [but] it would also make them eligible for federal financial aid programs to help pay for their postsecondary education” (Stevenson 2004: 555). It is completely unfair to prevent a hard working student-who has lived his entire life in the US- from pursuing a higher education because of lack of financial help.

Currently states like Texas, New Mexico and California have passed bills similar to the DREAM Act that extend state financial aid to undocumented youth, however only a small percentage of states have done the same (New York is not one of them). The federal DREAM Act currently sits in Congress waiting to be heard yet once again. Bearing in mind that in 2001 it had no Republican co- sponsors and now it has over 130 Democratic and Republican cosponsors, there is still a chance of hope[3]. President Obama is a strong supporter of the bill and is currently endorsing it in his 2012 presidential campaign. The Act will enable citizenship for those individuals who have worked hard and lived in this country the majority of their life.