Myths vs. Facts

A few nights ago sitting in a Starbucks I was trying to find something that would answer one of my questions based on American opinion. Would the DREAM Act be rewarding illegal behavior? I re-took my research though the web but this time looked at better sources such as the [.org] websites.

I came upon two very useful articles. One titled “Myth vs. Fact: The DREAM Act (No More Excuses on This Bill)” published recently in December 7th of 2010 by Marshall Fitz from the Center for American Progress. The second article was “Dispelling DREAM Act Myths” published by the Immigration Policy Center. Both articles lay out the myths and facts most people on the contrary side of this debate often use as reasons as to why the DREAM Act should NOT be passed. Some of these myths include: 

America can’t afford the DREAM Act

The DREAM Act would reward illegal behavior

Passing the DREAM Act would encourage more illegal immigration

 The DREAM Act would trigger large-scale “chain migration”

We have to secure the border before doing anything else on immigration, we can’t bother with issues like the DREAM Act when we have more pressing priorities

 and

We need more time to analyze the DREAM Act

These are just some to name a few. 

Both articles had my questions as some their myths to discuss about. Is the DREAM Act rewarding illegal behavior while contributing to the spur of illegal immigration? The answer both articles imply was no. The DREAM Act has a cut off dates that offer no incentives for more illegal immigration and in order to qualify for the DREAM Act a student must have entered the United States before the age of 16 and have lived in the U.S for at least five years before the date of enactment, with proof, leaving many who came after the cut-off-date not eligible. According to the article “Denying hope and opportunity is already a punishment for an act beyond their control. Enabling them to work hard and earn the privilege of citizenship is hardly “rewarding” illegal behavior. “The hypocrisy of some of the elected officials who would condemn these kids to marginalization is shameful. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), who has confessed to moral waywardness, complaints with a straight face that these kids are subverting the rule of law”

Both articles and writers effectively address many misconceptions that I have been questioning non-supporters to give me a clear understanding of why they oppose this issue when clearly both these articles point out the opposite. It is a necessity, the U.S cannot afford not to pass the DREAM Act because the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO has done the analysis and has concluded that the DREAM Act would reduce the deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years. More importantly the alternative of removing the 700,000 eligible kids would cost taxpayers $16.2 billion over five years. Both articles provide statistics to its research and correctively straight and accurate facts. But the Immigration Policy CenterCenter for American Progress does not include. At this point I am on the fence. If this is true and there is more evidence that the DREAM Act is a good thing and is indeed beneficial not only for undocumented immigrant but the country as well. Are Americans not being briefly informed and is this why they don’t support the issue? Also, where are they getting these misconceptions from? Are they even true? Is there evidence or research to their misconceptions and claims? I wonder if these articles are also favoring the DREAM Act to a point where they are only exposing the good things about the issue but not the negatives.