By Sabina Peerbhai, Austin Chapter President
University of Texas at Austin Alumna
I have been following the The Dream Act proceedings with some interest. It seems that every time there is a will to invest in the immigration reform everyone has an opinion. America is the land of immigrants, the melting-pot society, the land of opportunity: and this bill exemplifies this idea. For those of you that haven’t been keeping up with this,
The National Association of Social Workers Advocacy branch, in their News from the Hill - December 2010 e-newsletter stated:
DREAM Act Passes House, On to Senate
On December 8, 2010, the U.S. House passed the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act with a bi-partisan vote of 216-198. The DREAM Act would provide an earned legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth who pursue higher education or serve in the U.S. military. This bill supports the core social work values of human rights, freedom from discrimination, and social justice. We are now waiting on the Senate to vote on this legislation. The president is expected to sign it if passed.
Many children enter through the U.S. border without the knowledge of the how and why from their parents and extended families. Should their future aspirations be limited at this point of life? As children become of age, become integrated into the school system and converse with their peers about their future – our youth learn that many doors are closed to them. Dreams of higher education are diminished due to lack of immigration status, or simply the cost of higher education for international students. Just because there is no social security number, work-permit, visa, or certificate of naturalization associated with a teenager’s name – does not mean they are incapable of becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer, social worker, teacher, or business entrepreneur. Education is an investment. But if we go through the education system, gain a thirst for knowledge and then learn that we cannot use it to provide for our families, to contribute to the upliftment of our communities and to support ourselves – we have essentially barred our youth from enjoying this time, and to invest in themselves.
What does this mean for the young entrepreneur, for the young adults of today? In my opinion it provides opportunity to gain a voice in our society. For those of us that have been through the immigration process in this country, it is both a lengthy and expensive process. If we wish to live here, then we are willing to give back – to support our social structures and the services that we receive. The Dream Act gives us an achievable goal. By allowing individuals to work legally, to bring up their families in an environment of safety and opportunity – most people are willing to work hard, and thus will create the best of the best. Employers will have the choice from many highly educated professionals available, with unique language and cultural experiences. The Dream Act allows the upcoming generation to be able to enhance American industries. There are immigrants in every state and from every country – this bill is not solely for the Mexican, Latino, and Hispanic communities. And statistics show that individuals who are in stable professions are more likely to vote and advocate for social change.
If I’ve peaked your interest and you want to learn more, here are some resources
Find out what’s happening in your area: http://dreamact.info/
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