This is what it has come to.
Our nation’s immigration system is so dysfunctional that a Harvard biology major, a stellar student who dreams of curing cancer, is being threatened with deportation by the Department of Homeland Security.
Eric Balderas was detained earlier this month while trying to board a flight back to Harvard. He had gone home to visit his mother in San Antonio, who fled Mexico to escape domestic abuse when he was only four years old. In the United States since then, and valedictorian of his San Antonio high school, Balderas has no memory of his Mexican birthplace. Eric’s first language is English, and he does not speak Spanish well.
The story of Eric Balderas illustrates the perversity of our current failed immigration policy. Currently, Eric is considered a criminal by the government of the United States. Harvard University considers Eric a promising sophomore.
Eric’s story underscores the need for Congress to pass the DREAM Act immediately – it makes you wonder what objections any Member of Congress could possibly have to embracing Eric and thousands of other young people who are Americans in all but paperwork. The Balderas story, as well as hundreds of other of similar examples, is a perfect example of why Congress should pass the DREAM Act without further delay.
Watch the Harvard Crimson’s take:
Helping to pass the DREAM Act is exactly what Eric hopes his experience will lead to:
As he awaits the final verdict on July 6, Balderas assures others who find themselves in a similar situation that the battle is not over.
"Just hang in there," Balderas said. "Let others know of your problem and try and gain support for the DREAM Act, because that's ultimately what's going to save us all."
Eric is right. The DREAM Act is an important down payment for full, comprehensive immigration reform. With comprehensive stuck in Congressional gridlock, it’s time for Senate leadership to move the DREAM Act forward.
Under current law, undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since a young age have no way to regularize their status. Though they have grown up speaking English and watching Sesame Street, they are threatened with deportation regardless of their contributions to their communities or potential for achievement.
The DREAM Act would permit these young people to become permanent legal residents if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, and complete two years of college or military service. The Senate version of the DREAM Act, S. 729, is sponsored in the Senators Durbin and Lugar. There are 37 other sponsors in the Senate so far. In the House, Rep. Howard Berman’s bill, H.R. 1751, has 120 cosponsors.
Despite broad support from most Democrats and a handful of Republicans, the DREAM Act is opposed by the likes of former immigration reformer Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and immigration reform obstructionist Rep.Lamar Smith (R-TX).
America’s Voice has joined the call, initiated by Eric’s friends at Harvard, for Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) to step up and support the DREAM Act.
Instead of wasting precious taxpayer dollars to round up and deport Eric and the thousands of young Americans in similar circumstances, our leaders in Washington should be making sure they are able to stay and give back to the only country they call home.
It’s high time we passed the DREAM Act.
Cross-Posted at America's Voice.