The DREAM Act of 2009: Potential Impact on College Access and Success
Prepared by Campus Compact
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 provides qualified undocumented students with a conditional path to U.S. citizenship. After meeting certain provisions and completing two years of college within a six-year period, students will become eligible for permanent citizenship.
The bipartisan legislation has significant support in both the House and the Senate, and would provide higher education and citizenship opportunities for thousands of qualified, undocumented youth. In addition, the Act amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibilities Act of 1996, permitting states to determine state residency in order to offer immigrant students in-state tuition rates.
Due to its potential for supporting college access and success, Campus Compact is following this legislation and will provide our network with updates as we become aware of them. There is speculation that DREAM Act provisions could be included in President Obama’s Immigration Reform plan, expected this summer. Obama supported the DREAM Act while serving in the Senate.
Basic Provisions:
- Repeals Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996:
o Section 505 prohibited states from ‘providing a postsecondary education benefit to an alien not lawfully present unless any citizen or national is eligible for such benefit.’
o Repealing this section allows states to decide who qualifies for in-state tuition.
- The Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the status of undocumented students who demonstrate:
o They entered the country before the age of 16 and have been present in the US for a continuous period of 5 years;
o They are of good moral character;
o They are not deportable under specific grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
o They have graduated high school or received a GED, or been admitted to a college or university;
o Since age 16, they have never been under a final order of deportation;
o They are under 35 years of age.
- Eligible aliens will be granted conditional permanent residency for 6 years, within which they must attend two years of college, and will be eligible for assistance, including:
o Student loans
o Federal work-study programs
o Other services, subject to requirements of such services, (including Federal Pell grants).
For more information, please go to www.thomas.gov. Enter the appropriate bill number: The House version of the bill is H.R.1751; the Senate version is S.7294.
