Report Example on Immigration to the US: The Dreamers and the DREAM Act

Immigration in the United States has been one of the most controversial subject matter since independence. Currently, it is an essential agenda due to the challenge of migration into the united states. Dreamer is a term coined from the DREAM act to refer to individuals who benefit from it. Congress first introduced the DREAM act in 2001, where the word DREAM stood for development, relief, and education for alien minors (Alulema,2019). The States is estimated to have an estimated 11.3 million undocumented immigrants living in the country.

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In 2012 the then president, President Obama introduced a policy referred to as the deferred action for childhood arrivals. This policy offers a two-year renewable amnesty from deportation for any undocumented immigrant who entered the country as a minor. Although there are strict requirements which the immigrants must-have, this policy is a breath of fresh air for such immigrants. However, the current administration is eroding the gains achieved in the past years. President Trump has enforced strict measures to either deport immigrants or prevent their comfortable stay in the country. The actions the government has put has caused a lot of worry among different quarters. This development has led to the ongoing debate on whether to allow citizenship for the dreamers.

The big debate that is ongoing and which has roped in numerous individuals is whether these dreamers deserve a chance to be granted citizenship. Various proponents and opposers of this question have put forth their respective arguments. It is my firm opinion that individuals, like most other Americans, deserve a chance to be citizens of this great country. Dreamers came into the country as minors and did not have the right of choice. Various reasons compelled their parent or guardians to immigrate into the country. These indications include natural disasters, conflict and humanitarian grounds or merely the search for greener pastures. They made America their home and have grown up, made friends and even studied in different schools.

Depriving anyone of such fundamental freedoms is against the spirit of our founding fathers and the constitution. The beneficiaries of the DACA policy have grown into influential people in society. An article in the Atlanta magazine features DACA recipients who have grown to be either teachers, leaders, businessmen and even student leaders in their respective community ( Atlanta Magazine, 25 Oct. 2018). History reminds us that immigrants are the ones who helped build our country to be one of the greatest nations on the planet.

Findings from a poll done by PBS Newshour and Marist indicate that majority of Americans think that dreamers should be allowed to stay in the county and acquire citizenship. Eight out of 10 Americans disagree with any plans to deport the so-called dreamers. Opponents of this thought indicate that most dreamers engage in criminal or illegal activities that endanger the lives of many Americans ( PBS Newshour,4 Oct.2017).

This assertion, however, cannot be further from the truth as statistics from the Department of Homeland Security show that a meagre 0.2% of DACA beneficiaries have had their status revoked due to unlawful activity (USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2018). Finally, it would be wrong to deport the parents and leave the children as this would lead to the separation of families. Families deserve to grow up together and to share in the love, comfort and care of one another.

To safeguard the interests of the dreamers and also provide a common ground, I propose that the following steps that will enable a compromise on the ensuing stalemate. Firstly, the federal government needs to register all those who are eligible for the DACA programme. This act will ensure the safeguarding of the rights of those who are registered. During registration, they should receive a form of identification card that will enable them to receive other services such as a social security number or a driving license. Secondly, a dreamer is allowed to become a citizen by applying through the usual channels. The same criteria that other applicants encounter should apply, and officials from the immigration department should perform necessary background checks. These measures will enable the government to vet all applicants and award citizenship for those who genuinely deserve.

Thirdly, any individual who would not have registered under the federal government will have their status revoked upon committing any offence or having a conviction. The federal government also needs to tighten the border points to avoid individuals crossing the border to take advantage of our laws. The law enforcement authorities need to offer equal protection to the so-called dreamers. Lastly, they should be allowed to vote in all elections within their jurisdiction. These elections include the presidential, gubernatorial or senatorial polls. This crucial move will remove any form of discrimination and ensure appropriate representation in all the elective bodies. Both houses of parliament should fast track the adoption of this policy and associated laws that will provide the implementation of these ideas. Consultative forums between all stakeholders are critical to ensure that all groups express their interests.

Works Cited

Alulema, D. (2019). DACA and the Supreme Court: How we got to this point, a statistical profile of who is affected, and what the future may hold for DACA beneficiaries. Center for Migration Studies. https://doi.org/10.14240/cmsrpt111119

"Poll: Most Americans Say 'dreamers' Should Be Granted Citizenship." PBS NewsHour, 4 Oct. 2017, www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/poll-dreamers-parents-stay-u-s-americans-say.

"The Bittersweet Stories of Atlanta's DACA Recipients." Atlanta Magazine, 25 Oct. 2018, www.atlantamagazine.com/great-reads/the-bittersweet-stories-of-atlantas-daca-recipients/.

"Who Are the DACA DREAMers and How Many Are Here?" USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/13/who-daca-dreamers-and-how-many-here/333045002/.