The Children's Aid Society

Keep Dreams Alive for Immigrant Youth

September 20, 2007

Fanny and Sally*, sisters from West Africa, were brought to the United States illegally by their father when they were elementary school-aged. Their mother stayed behind. During high school, their father returned to Africa, leaving them alone and totally without support. Though living in a homeless shelter, they both graduated from high school with honors; the older sister was on the dean’s list in her high school and won a private scholarship for her academic achievement while overcoming obstacles. But instead of happily planning her transition to college, the older sister had to figure out how to support herself and her sister. She now intermittently attends college while cleaning houses; the sisters live in their own apartment. Despite the fact that they grew up in the U.S. and despite their academic achievements, they face an uncertain future here without documentation. (*Names have been changed)

The story of these sisters from West Africa should be an inspiring tale of self-determination and achievement, but instead it is a sad tale of foreign-born children abandoned by their parent and left to fend for themselves in the United States. Despite their accomplishments, the sisters face barriers to completion of their educations, to gaining employment and to obtaining health care because of their undocumented status.

There is a ray of hope for them, though, and for other young people brought to the United States without documents by their parents at an early age. It is legislation known as the DREAM Act, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. This legislation addresses the situation; it applies to young people brought here as undocumented immigrant children, who have grown up in the U.S., remained in school and shown responsible behavior. Each year, about 65,000 U.S.-raised students would qualify for DREAM Act benefits, according to the National Immigration Law Center; they are star students and athletes, future doctors and lawyers, who dream of professional lives here in the country they want to call home.

The DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001, and bipartisan support for it in both houses of Congress has grown ever since. Formerly a stand-alone bill in Congress, it had been wrapped in the now-dead immigration bill, but the DREAM Act is alive and once again a viable stand-alone bill, known as S. 774 in the Senate and H.R. 1275 in the House.

To qualify for immigration relief under the DREAM Act, a student must have been brought to the U.S. more than five years ago, when he or she was age 15 or younger, and can demonstrate good moral character. Under this legislation, once such a student graduates from high school, he or she could apply for conditional status, which would authorize up to six years of legal residence. During those six years, the student would have to graduate from a two-year college, complete two years of a four-year degree, or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years. Permanent residence in the United States would be granted at the end of the six-year period if the student meets these requirements and continues to demonstrate good moral character.
Undocumented youth like Fanny and Sally should be able to get on with their lives, finish their educations, get jobs and continue to contribute to their adopted country. This worthy legislation will allow law-abiding scholars like them to graduate and plan for the future. They want to contribute to the only home they have really known. These children hold the keys to America’s future, and should not be denied their dreams. Please call your representatives in Washington as soon as you can to urge their support of the DREAM Act.

[You can locate and contact your Senators and Representatives through www.senate.gov or www.house.gov, or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.]

C. Warren Moses
Chief Executive Officer
The Children’s Aid Society
105 East 22nd Street
New York, NY 10010
Day: 212-949-4921
Evening: 201-760-2678