Conclusion

After exploring the many different viewpoints on the DREAM Act issue, specifically the contrary side, I have concluded that there are many misconceptions and false understandings many Americans have. Although the DREAM Act would indeed change and benefit the lives of many undocumented immigrant youth, not everything is great in the eyes of many of these. I believe that if these people were to be appropriately informed they could maybe see this issue from a better perspective. As I continue with my research on the opposing side of the DREAM Act, I am not sure how I will be able to strongly persuade to the audience that this is the right thing to do. I still want to do more research and find more data and statistics from the opposition side. Also I want to find better more scholarly journals that would help me. I haven’t found as many peer reviewed journals, or other sites that would seem to have a more credible and genuine fountain of information or possible evidence exploring the false idea that the DREAM Act should be passed. As I look forward the argument essay, I’m still thinking about how I could reach out to my audience and bring forth a new perspective of this issue that affects so many. Something that I would like to add is that over the course of my research I started noticing general stereotypes or generalization that Americans have on immigrants per se “All immigrants are criminals, gangbangers and drug traffickers” “Undocumented immigrants rely on taxpayers to support themselves”  that will be key for me to address in my argument essay. I want to be able to refute these ideologies many people have. I would like to do this by making my audience think about “What exactly do undocumented immigrants do to you?” Now that I think about it, I also want to find out Why Americans have a problem with immigrants? I believe it’s not the immigrants, but government policy that’s the problem and that’s what I also want to argue in my next assignment. I would like to conclude my blog with a strong quote I reserved for last, in which I took out from the article “The Tired Arguments Against the DREAM Act” by Maurice Belanger:

“An opinion poll conducted by First Focus (an organization concerned with families and children, found that, when the contents of the DREAM Act was described to them, 70% of the American public Supported the DREAM Act”

This quote was saved for last because not only will it be key to helping me in my next assignment, but I will take this assignment as a personal task to reach out and properly inform about the contents of the DREAM Act to people who would otherwise be opposed to it. This quote also concludes my blog implying that the American population clearly needs to be properly informed on this issue in order to come together and have a better of understanding of why it affects many people.

Too Good To Be True (Continued ...)

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I also found two online articles which favor the DREAM Act (looking and comparing at both sides of the issue now).

The first Article titled “Conservative Quotes on the Politics of the DREAM Act” was published on October 6^th of 2011 by the America’s Voice Education Fund, gathers the quotes of many conservative public figures in the government who surprisingly are in agreement that the DREAM Act should be and needs to be passed. These well known figures include: Former Arkansas Governor and Republican President Candidate; Mike Huckabee, Former Bush Administration Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Colin Powell, Florida Republican; Senator George Le Mieux, Utah Republican Senator; Bob Bennett, former Republican Government Office; Jeb Bush, Former Republican Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives; Newt Gingrich and the Bush Administration Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel of Readiness amongst many others. What do all these public figures have in common you ask? Well, they are mostly all Republican, yet agree that; “This needs to be positioned as a first step in a comprehensive solution and not a substitute for a comprehensive solution”- Former Republican Commerce Secretary, Carlos Gutierrez.

“…many of these young people may wish to join the military and have the attributes needed – education, aptitude, fitness and moral qualifications”- Bush Administration Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

“We believe that if politics are put aside, the DREAM Act could be a first step towards a comprehensive immigration bill, and one that will only benefit our nation… These young immigrant students were raised in America, educated in America and think of themselves as Americans. They did not make the decision to come here without documents. Our nation has already invested taxpayer dollars in their education and training and the DREAM Act will ensure that America will reap the benefits of those investments. America needs and every American should want their talent and skills.”-Juan Hernandez, Founder of Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Looking at this article I can’t help but think about a previous article that I analyzed which also stated that the DREAM Act is the right thing to do by exploring the misconceptions many conservatives have. If that was true and in this article government figures are agreeing with this viewpoint, then again I ask “Why are Americans still opposing this when there are facts and evidence that it will not only benefit undocumented immigrant youth but the country as well?

The second article titled “The Tired Arguments Against the DREAM Act” by Maurice Belanger published on December 21^st 2010, Belanger exposes the arguments many other conservatives against the DREAM Act repetitively argue against every time the bill comes up at the senate table. Many conservatives like Lindsay Graham, and Jon Kyl, insist that the country must first and foremost secure the borders before any legalization program can happen. Belanger, states that these senators have neglected to mention that border patrol enforcement has been greatly escalated by the government in the last few years. An additional $600 million was specifically allocated for border security. Now the border patrol budget stands at $3 billion- nine times that of what it was back in 1992. What they also fail to demonstrate to the public is that as of now, El Paso, Texas ranks as having the lowest crime rate of all cities in the U.S. With a population of 500,000 plus, a recent survey of border residents along the border felt safe in their neighborhoods. They feel the border is secure and also feel it is time to move beyond an argument that had more relevance a decade ago.

In a recent story the Washington Post published, a public opinion poll was conducted by The Post and ABC News. This was what they concluded: 

“The poll suggests that the election, while perhaps a vote against the status quo was not a broad mandate for Republicans and their plans. The survey also underscores the degree to which Americans are conflicted about who they think is setting the agenda in Washington.”

Reading this makes me wonder if Lindsay Graham and Jon Kyl are aware of these statistics or if they are overlooking them and using them as arguments to block the DREAM Act. If this is true as well, that El Paso is the safer now than before, then why does this argument keep popping up everywhere research. This is one of the main reasons why so many oppose the issue. I now am starting to believe that people are not being informed about this. Is the media helping at all? Or are they influencing the American population in a negative way? By now my thinking has evolved. I have learned and possibly come to an assumption that these people are just not getting properly informed and educated. I have also seen that there is more information based on the DREAM Act that supports why it’s a good thing, why it would be beneficial and why it would be the right thing. In many cases I found the opposition sides were not able to back up their counter arguments with data and facts. I believe I have answered my initial question.  My new question arising are how can we educate the public more about this issue in a way that they could have a better viewpoint of it? I would like to argue that this is indeed the right thing to do in my next assignment. As I stated in the beginning, I am an affected person by this issue and I will stand behind supporting this issue no matter of all the negative things I read that would help me in my research. It has also made me become more aware of areas where I need to be more prepared when debating, arguing or trying to persuade someone from the opposite side. 

Too Good To Be True

In a recent quest to search for more information for my final blog posts, I came across a series of four online articles. Two of which opposed the DREAM Act and two who favored it. 

The first two articles that strongly oppose the issue were: “The Proposal” by Darin Smith, published in 2011 through the San Joaquin Delta College and “A DREAM Bill That’s More Like A Nightmare” published on November 25^th of 2010 by David Frum from TheWeek.com

In both articles Smith and Frum argue in their articles that the DREAM Act provides amnesty for illegal behavior, encourage future illegal immigration and make tuition unfair to everyone.  

In his article, (The Proposal) Smith begins describing the typical story of an undocumented child who wishes to pursue a higher education but cannot because of the high tuition rate undocumented youth are obliged to pay. He notes that the DREAM Act is and in a perfect world would be the solution for many in this situation, but later on begins to show his real stance on his issue. 

According to Smith, “people oppose to immigration views on subject with prejudice and ignorance” I agree with his quote. I do see that many who counter argue aren’t the most educated about the issue as the ones who usually favor it and those who aren’t facing and dealing with the situation often act with prejudice. He continues his article arguing that the DREAM Act does nothing but the following: 

“… by participating in an illegal act, an immigrant can obtain legal status”

“… more illegal immigration secures millions of green cards to the parents of the beneficiaries”

“… immigrants refuse to or are unwilling to obtain legal status”

“… provide unjust tuition favors, law-abiding foreigners and out-of-state students are denied.”

“… illegals receive tax-payer-funded tuition assistance”

            In David Frum’s article (A DREAM Bill That’s More Like A Nightmare), Frum begins his article also by presenting the compassionate story of many who children who came into the United States illegally and are relying on the DREAM Act to help them reach their dreams of obtaining legal status and quickly starts bashing Harry Reid’s legislation that would provide “amnesty” for illegal aliens saying that it has no chance of passage and starts listing the many reasons why that’s  good news for Americans. 

According to David Frum, the DREAM Act cannot and it’s not meant to pass, it’s not even “meant to come to vote” it’s a “ruse and a sham” “an appalling, deceptive piece of legislation with very sinister consequences”. Frum in a way implies to Americans that those too old to qualify or entered the border can simply get and will get a means of obtaining falsified papers to file an application under DREAM. Not only is he misinformed but the use of falsified papers to apply for the DREAM Act is unacceptable. In order to apply one needs contending proof they were registered in an American high school, have paid taxes and have constantly lived in the U.S for more than five consecutive years. Frum also goes on asking his audience a question “wont using false papers get me in trouble? Not a bit” Also wrongly informing readers. Of course the use of falsified papers will prevent and disqualify one from qualifying or be considered for the DREAM Act.

 Frum continues stating that DREAM can offer a parent amnesty too, right away and be able to “gain access to a lifetime of tax-payer funded disability payments” Again, a misinformed and falsely statement. DREAM Act beneficiaries won’t be able to qualify for government funded programs, also excluding direct family members. 

Lastly Frum states that if one is too young to attend a university, they need not to worry because they can apply as soon as they turn twelve years of age by only giving notice to DREAM that they are intending to either go to college or join the military in the future, offering them a safe harbor. Wrong again. One cannot apply for the DREAM Act before they have graduated from an American High School. Ideally the age would be of eighteen years, the age when a typical high school senior tends to graduate. 

Frum keeps his article’s momentum with falsely and misinformation that would be candy to any American who opposes the issue, as valid, credible and a cleverly yet magnificent easy way to understand and convince someone why the DREAM Act is not a good thing and therefore should be put in the trash and forgotten about. This was gold for me. 

At this point I see a clearer view of where Americans are getting convincingly wrong misinformation. Being more informed and educated about this issue throughout my research i know that Frum's article cannot be trusted entirely. I'm questioning their website. In my opinion they are very anti- on many of the issue they present not only the DREAM Act but other various. Now on Smith's blog type article, I can understand why he thinks that it will be unfair for those who are legally here but would still have to pay out-of-state tuition rates, while undocumented individuals get would "get away" with it. I do however have to disagree with his quote regarding that undocumented immigrants simply refuse to obtain legal status. The main reason why the DREAM Act exists is because of the same reason that many don't have the means to start an immigration process and therefore this would be the only way to obtain legal status. I have become more informed of why many people oppose this and will probably keep opposing this side and in many ways has made be become more tolerant and see their side of this issue.