DREAM Act in Congress

[falconmaster]

Here is a website that does a great Job of informing about the DREAM Act and what the current status is

http://dreamact.info/
also included is the predicted vote

Here is a list of senators and what they are predicted to vote
http://dreamact.info/senators

If you don't know what the DREAM act is....

Purpose
The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also called the DREAM Act, is to help those individuals who meet certain requirements, have an opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship which they otherwise would not have without this legislation. Supporters of the DREAM Act believe it is vital not only to the people who would benefit from it, but also the United States as a whole. It would give an opportunity to undocumented immigrant students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young, a chance to contribute back to the country that has given so much to them and a chance to utilize their hard earned education and talents.

Would I qualify?
The following is a list of specific requirements one would need in order to qualify for the current version of the DREAM Act.

Must have entered the United States before the age of 16
Must have been present in the United States for at least five (5) consecutive years
Must have graduated from a United States high school, or have obtained a GED, or have been accepted into an institution of higher education (i.e. college/university)
Must be between the ages of 12 and 30
Must have good moral character

I have also included a copy of a letter I wrote and I am circulating

A statement from Faridodin “Fredi” Lajvardi in support of the DREAM Act, March 28, 2009

With all the economic grief and unyielding warfare at the front of our national consciousness, it is unsurprising that the immigration debate has faded somewhat. Yet the problem is ever present and without a strategic plan in sight. The federal legislature, however, is revisiting the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act. While not a comprehensive immigration policy in itself, its promise as part of a path toward immigration compromise is easily overlooked.
In the U.S., approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year. Arizona is among those states making it almost impossible for a qualified student who is undocumented to pursue higher education. I believe that many Arizonans who feel gratified by this unfortunate trend would feel differently if they had a clearer view of its unintended consequences to the immigrant students and to society generally.
Contrary to popular perception, more and more of these undocumented students are valedictorians of their graduating class, captains of their football teams, the nerds who win science competitions, and the color guard of the ROTC programs, carrying the flag that represents their hopes, dreams, and values just as it represents our own. Regarding their residency status, they are not guilty of committing any crime even though they are often called “illegals”. Many of these students, often brought to this country as very young children, are unfamiliar with their country of origin. Their identity and outlook is rooted in this country. Say what you will about the actions of their parents, these young people are bearing the burden of belonging to no country through no fault of their own. As Americans who value the dignity of the individual and believe in individual responsibility, we should reject the stigmatization of these young people.
Reality matters. Any workable solution to the immigration problem must take into account the impossibility of “deporting them all.” I am surprised to hear so many otherwise reasonable people hold firm to this unrealistic “solution”. The DREAM Act requires undocumented high school graduates to continue with higher education or to serve in the military, and maintain a clean criminal record. Passing the DREAM Act would help focus our resources on deporting those who are not contributing, law-abiding members of society. Furthermore, it acknowledges the reality that denying educational opportunity to young immigrants will not result in self-deportation. It merely increases the number of underemployed individuals living in the economic shadows.
Another undeniable reality is that preventing qualified, undocumented students from pursuing higher education is akin to throwing away our investment, our human capital. We spend approximately $70,000 per student to educate them from kindergarten through high school, only to prevent them from maximizing their potential as tax-paying members of society. We need all young people who are willing and able to go to college to proceed, politically unimpeded, particularly in the fields of math, science, and technology. Is higher education a right or is it a privilege? This is no longer the right question. Our country needs as many educated workers to build our economy as we can possibly produce – now more than ever. That’s the reality.
The DREAM act does not solve the entire immigration conundrum. It is, however, the right first step toward a long overdue compromise on this issue. And it is, as always, the right time to do the right thing.