Immigrants in the United States are still facing improper treatment, despite the DREAM Act now sitting in the halls of the US Congress. Deportation rates have risen to an all time high of 1,200 percent for the past two decades. From what were 30,000 deportations each year has now risen to almost 360,000 under President Barack Obama’s governance. These figures are sources from a study made recently by the New York Immigration Coalition, and points to the harsh reality that immigrants go through each day.
Almost 1,000 immigrants are sent home on a daily basis. The creation of the DREAM Act, also known as the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors, under the Senate almost ten years ago is yet to bear fruit. The bill is supposed to provide some relief to young immigrants who are facing America’s most difficult immigration crisis ever. It also aims to enable immigrant youth to qualify for conditional permanent residency, thereby easing up accommodation hardships. To qualify, immigrants have to graduate from an American high school, and should be certified as having good moral character.
Further requirements for conditional permanent residencies include having immigrated into the US at a minor age, and should have stayed in the country for a minimum of five years before the bill is passed as law. Also, qualifiers should undergo military training for at least two years or study in college for at least four years. The DREAM Act however is still sitting in Congress awaiting further deliberation.
