National Dreamers Action Day: About the DREAM Act of 2017

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has a decades-long belief that our community’s youth should have equitable access to quality education and a path to successful adulthood. And we believe in the wondrous futures they will have.

One path that is being offered to some of our youth may come from a recent piece of federal legislation that has bi-partisan support. Senators Graham (R-SC) and Durbin (D-IL) are the principal sponsors of The Dream Act of 2017. This bill provides continuing opportunities to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as minor children. The status known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protects nearly 29,000 young Georgians from deportation.

DACA has been a grand success. Data from the National Immigration Law Center shows that 87% of these youth are employed and 46% are working to obtain a higher education certification or degree. Those with jobs have seen their wages increase by 42% during the past two years, while 54% have purchased a car and 12% have found stable housing. These personal successes translate into higher tax revenues, job creation and an influx of new spending within our neighborhoods.

The DREAM Act of 2017 seeks to ensure the continuation of the current program with a few adjustments. They include eligibility being extended to youth who are employed or in military service, the extension of an age limit for eligible youth and encouragement for states to extend in-state tuition benefits for higher education. Youth will have to submit to biometric, biographical and criminal background checks and be able to speak, read and write in English.

We encourage you to take a look at The DREAM Act of 2017 and consider the positive impact it promises for all of us. And, as always, we encourage you to demonstrate your civic leadership by contacting Senator Isakson and Senator Perdue and offering them the wisdom of your opinion on this matter. The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121. You can email either Senator directly from their websites.

Creative Commons image by Flickr user SEIU International