Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions - S. 1545

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, my colleague Senator HATCH and I are again introducing legislation that would provide immigration relief to undocumented students of good moral character who want to pursue a better life for themselves and their families. It would benefit the American economy by unleashing the potential of these students, who have grown up in the U.S. and graduated from high school or obtained an equivalent degree. The DREAM Act is a bipartisan bill which has broad support in the Hispanic, religious and immigrant communities.

Each year, approximately 50-60,000 undocumented children, including honors students and valedictorians, graduate from our nation's high schools or receive an equivalent degree. Many of these students were brought to the U.S. by their parents at an age when they were too young to appreciate the legal consequences of their actions. Despite long-term residency in the U.S. and a demonstrated commitment to obtaining an education, these students have no avenue for adjusting their immigration status and it is very difficult for them to attend college or work. Instead, they face possible deportation.

Although these young people are entitled to a free public education at the primary and secondary level, Federal law strongly discourages states from extending in-state college tuition rates to them. Additionally, they cannot legally work, are ineligible for federal tuition assistance, and have great difficulty obtaining private loans.

These roadblocks to higher education hurt our society because we are deprived of future leaders, and the increased tax revenues and economic growth they would produce. Young people with great potential and ambitions are limited to the employment options available to those without a college degree. In fact, many of these students do not even finish high school, further limiting their options and ability to contribute to our economy, because they drop out of school once they realize that they will be unable to attend college.

The DREAM Act would provide meaningful relief to many of these students. It would repeal a provision of federal law that makes it prohibitively expensive for states to grant post-secondary benefits, such as in-state tuition rates, to undocumented children. The bill would also provide an earned adjustment mechanism by which young people who are long-term U.S. residents may become lawful permanent residents.

Approving this bill would give accomplished young people the opportunity to pursue the American dream. I urge my colleagues to support it.