My family needs the Dream Act.
When people who want to kick my kids out of the country where they grew up claim that Americans will be hurt if they stay, I take it personally.
My kids grew up here. They went to school here. They have lived here as long as they remember. Other than a legal document they are American in every way. If my kids are stealing your kids jobs, then everyone's kids are stealing your kids jobs.
The whole idea is ridiculous. Fewer workers doesn't mean better economy. In fact, a lack of workers will slow a recovery not to mention that my kids are consumers. Pitting worker against worker has been the basis of political attacks on African Americans and women, but time after time these arguments have been shown to be economically bogus.
But this isn't about the economy. This is about my family.
Our Story
I fell in love with my wife when my stepsons were very young. I knew her status. It didn't matter. I was confident that since she was a great person and married to an American citizen (me) she would have no problem gaining residency. After we started talking to several lawyers we realized the truth. Thanks to the details of our story and the random nonsensical mess of current immigration law including the latest compromises to the anti-immigrant right-wing in 1986, there is no way for my family to become legal.
The lawyers all gave the same advice. Do nothing for now, and live as a mixed-status family. We did this for years, until we were forced into a crisis.
Crisis
Our oldest happened to be riding the wrong Greyhound bus with the wrong skin color. He was travelling from the Midwest to Boston when two ICE agents boarded the bus. They didn't speak to any of the white passengers (this was in upstate New York, closer to the Canadian border). They singled him out for questioning and he was arrested. We have been fighting his deportation for over a year, his fate will be decided early next year.
Why the Dream Act
Obviously my family has a more urgent need then many. I could tell you about how smart, talented and upstanding our kids are. But our story is not that uncommon. The Dream Act will help thousands of kids and their friends, families and communities.
This is about human beings. The people involved are good people caught in a mess caused by inconceivably complex and arbitrary immigration law. My kids, as many many other kids, have done well in high school, and are fully part of American society to the point that they would have trouble adjusting to the foreign country our government wants to send them to.
It seems unbelievable to me that anyone would oppose the Dream Act. It is such an obvious step to help people that, because these are good, well-educated and hardworking kids, will be a benefit to the country.
Stop the Stupid Attacks
The reasons they are inventing to oppose the Dream Act are as offensive as they are stupid. My kids don't have leprosy. They speak English flawlessly. They are great kids who belong here.
My kids should not be made an example so that no more immigrants come. It is upsetting the people want to use my kids in this way. And, it wouldn't work. The decision to immigrate is a personal one, and people have very different stories, many are sympathetic. Putting heads on stakes at the border doesn't solve any problems.
The economic argument that ripping thousands of American educated workers from the economy is a good thing, is nonsense.
Let's get the Dream Act Passed
There are many reasons people have for wanted to prevent comprehensive immigration reform. Of course, I support CIR, but I understand that finding a reasonable way to fix our immigration laws will involve some work.
But the Dream Act is such a clear win. People who were brought here as kids didn't break the law. Since they were educated here and belong here they will benefit our country as much as any other American kid. It is only knee-jerk anti-immigrant sentiment that is stopping people from supporting this.
Let me make a personal plea. Let's pass the Dream Act this year. This would be a great help to my family and to two great kids who deserve a promising future here.