There are 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., of which 1.7 million are under the age of 18. 1.8 million Asian American Pacific Islanders are undocumented, including 1 in 5 Korean Americans without legal status.
On March 26, 2009, the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) was introduced as S. 729 in the Senate and H.R. 1751 in the House. If passed, this national law will allow eligible undocumented immigrant students to legalize their immigration status and reach their fullest potential.
QQualifying students are eligible for conditional status which allows them to stay in the country for 6 years. During this time, the student must graduate from a 2-year college, complete 2 years towards a 4-year degree, or serve in the U.S. armed forces for two years. Students who meet these requirements will be granted legal permanent residency status.
To qualify for the DREAM Act, a student must:
- Have been living in the U.S. more than 5 years prior to the bill’s enactment.
- Be 15 years old or younger at the time they came to the U.S.
- Graduate from a U.S. high school or obtain a GED.
To view the actual language of the House bill and the current listing of co-sponsors in the House of Representative, please visit American Dream Act
To view the actual language of the Senate bill and the current listing of co-sponsors in the Senate, please visit Dream Act of 2009
