Cong. Gutierrez, Senate Nominee Giannoulias and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Support Bill for DREAM Act

Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) was at a rally this past week in support of the DREAM Act. Because Republicans filibustered the DADT bill, which included the DREAM Act, the bill is being introduced independently in the upcoming week. Illinois senatorial candidate Alexi Giannoulias and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin were at the rally.

According to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), the DREAM Act "is a bipartisan bill that would provide a path to citizenship for youth who graduate from US high schools, show good moral character, arrived to the US before the age of 16, and complete at least 2 years of college or serve in the armed forces."

Gutierrez pointed out that Giannoulias is the only candidate in the race for U.S. Senate (IL) who supports comprehensive immigration reform. If Gutierrez, who is strongly considering replacing Mayor Richard M. Daley as Chicago mayor, officially runs for office this could work for or against both of them.

The Illinois unemployment rate in August is 10.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With legal U.S. citizens fighting for available jobs and struggling to live off of unemployment, the DREAM Act, which would make illegal citizens legal as long as they follow the requirements, this could add more competition to the job market. With jobs already being outsourced to other countries, passing the DREAM Act could be considered an initiative for additional people to come into the United States illegally hoping their children can also be included in the DREAM Act if it becomes a law.

On the other hand, cities like Chicago have largely been diverse due to immigration. ICIRR states immigration was "not numerically limited until 1965." The Center for Immigration Studies reports that illegal immigrant count rose from 21 percent in 1980 to 28 percent in 2005, with Mexico accounting for 30 percent in 2000 and over half were illegal.

In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act legalized three million illegal immigrants. So if immigrants were then legalized, why wouldn't more continue to come? If the U.S. wants to control illegal immigration, this start-stop policy has to be eliminated. Wagging a finger at people for coming into the country illegally, then employing them, then letting them stay here long enough to create a family and then suddenly wanting them to go back isn't fair to that family. While immigrants certainly should file paperwork to be legal, in the meantime, what do the children do? Grow up.

Currently illegal immigrant children who graduate from high school are blocked from going to college because they are not yet legal. If I was the child of illegal immigrant parents, I would certainly want the option of going to college.

However, I don't completely support the DREAM Act. The problem I have with the bill is that parents knew what they were getting into before they brought their children to the United States. So while politicians like Gutierrez and Giannoulias may not agree with illegal immigrant teenagers not being able to go to college or to serve for the U.S., again, the parents knew that coming in.

On that same note though, the parents brought their children to the U.S. for a better life. So how can we wag a finger at parents who were focused on improving their own monetary situations and improving the education and lives of their children? While it may be illegal, morally it's not wrong. And since I have no desire to serve in the armed forces and would shriek at the idea of the draft, why not let willing participants join?

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics "Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, seasonally adjusted"
Center for Immigration Studies "Two sides of the same coin: The connection between legal and illegal immigration"
"Giannoulias calls for meaningful immigration reform"
"Gutierrez Sends Letter to Senators Regarding the DREAM Act"
"Gutierrez to delay decision in possible mayor run"
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights "Immigration History and Current Laws"
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights "Let Us Serve Our Country"