The Dream Act

This page holds important information regarding the DREAM Act including government documents, important press coverage, and links to advocacy groups. This page is divided into the following subtopics:



What is the DREAM Act?


The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, more commonly referred to as the DREAM Act is a piece of proposed legislation that was introduced to the United States Senate, and the United States House of Representatives in March of 2009. Senator Durbin the Bill’s co-author says,”the DREAM Act is “a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit undocumented students to become permanent residents if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years.” The proposed bill will pave a path for undocumented individuals to earn legal status through a two step process. The first step is to earn Conditional Resident Status. CRS is achieved by the following criteria:

1) The individual has been physically present in the United States for a period of at least five (5) years

immediately preceeding the enactment of this Act and had not reached the age of sixteen (16) at the time of initial entry to the United States.

2) The individual has been a person of good moral character and free from any criminal activity.

3) The individual must be admitted to an American institution of higher learning, or has earned a high school diploma, or obtained a G.E.D. in the U.S.

4) The individual has never been under a final administrative or judicial order of exclusion, deportation, or removal unless the person:

(a) has remained in the U.S. under color of law after such order was issued; or

(b) received the order before reaching age 16

5) The alien had not yet reached age 35 on the date of the enactment of the Act.

Step two is applying for Permanent Resident Status. The criteria for this process is as follows:

1) The individual has demonstrated good moral character during the entire period thathe/she has been a conditional permanent resident. Criminal, terrorist, or smuggling charges could make an individual ineligible for permanent residency.

2) The alien has not left the United States for more than a total of 365 days during CRS period.

3) The individual has either

a) acquired a degree from an institution of higher learning in the United States

b) has completed at least two (2) years in good standing in a bachelor’s degree program or higher degree in the United States

c) has served in the armed forces for at least two (2) years and, if discharged, was done so honorably.

4) The individual has provided a list of all secondary school that he/she attended in the United States.


DREAM Act Documents



Advocacy Organizations & Resources





Media and Press








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