The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) is bipartisan legislation that addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the U.S. years ago as undocumented immigrant children but who have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble. The DREAM Act is sponsored in the Senate by Richard Durbin (D-IL) and in the House by Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL).

Benefits:

• After graduating from high school or obtaining a GED, qualified students would receive temporary legal status for six years
• After six years, students can apply for legal permanent residency and citizenship
• The DREAM Act would eliminate a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented resident students

To qualify a student must:

• Have entered the country when he or she was 15 years old or younger and at least 5 years prior to the enactment of the bill (i.e. if DREAM passes in 2007, then before 2002)
• Demonstrate good moral character
• Graduate from a high school or obtain a GED in the U.S.
• Complete 2 years of college or of military service

How would the DREAM Act benefit New Mexico:

• Diversify our workforce—In 2005, the New Mexico state legislature approved a law, Senate Bill 582, allowing qualified undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition and state financial aid. We are one of ten states to provide in-state tuition and one of three to give scholarships to undocumented students. Students who have benefited from this law are graduating and are ready to incorporate themselves into the labor force, but they can’t because they are still not authorized to legally work in this country. The DREAM Act would allow them to become New Mexico’s much needed bilingual and bicultural nurses, teachers, counselors, and other professionals.

• Reduce drop out rates—In New Mexico, there are approximately 9,200 undocumented students in the public schools (NM Voices for Children). The state also has one of the highest drop out rates in the nation, it ranges from 35% to 50%. From those undocumented students who graduate from high school only 5% to 10% enroll in college (National Immigration Law Center). The DREAM Act would eliminate some of the barriers to higher education and provide an incentive for more immigrant students to graduate from high school and enroll in college. This would result in substantial savings in the costs of social and public services and it would increase the amount of local and state taxes paid by immigrants who graduate from college.

• Increase earning potential of New Mexico residents—According to the US department of Commerce, a high school graduate earns $1.2 million in a 40-year span as compared to $2.1 million for a person with a bachelor’s degree.

• E-mail your Senators and Representatives: Ask them to support the DREAM Act. Connect to their office e-mails here.
• Call your Congressional Delegation: Sign up to receive action alerts for call-in days by e-mail or text message. Send us your e-mail address or cell phone number through our website, call us at 424-7832 or send an e-mail to elopez_somos@hotmail.com
• Sign and help circulate a petition: Simply download the petition from our website and help us get the word out.         Español (PDF o Word)       English (PDF or Word)
• Tell your story in a video: If you are a student who wants to share your story, you can e-mail it to Somos and we’ll post it online. Use a webcam or a digital camera, not cell phones please.