This video is a YouTube interview with President Obama, post-State of the Union Address, concerning the issue of immigration. He advocates the DREAM Act, which is designed to help individuals who meet certain requirements. This act was proposed to help such individuals to have easier access to opportunities such as enlisting in the military or going to college and have a generally easier path to citizenship. Those who support this act believe it would be vital not only to those people, but the United States as a whole as well. It would allow those illegal immigrant students who have been living in the United States to, in a sense, contribute back to their respective home countries. President Obama answers a student's question, "Will you help us make sure there is a moratorium to stop the deportation of innocent students who qualify for the DREAM act?"
I personally believe that immigrants should be documented before coming to the United States. What are your thoughts on the issue and President Obama's comments?
I believe that the Dream Act is a good idea because they are here anyway, so we might as well have them be a part of America fully, including paying taxes and contributing with the skills they learn in their studies. Also, like we talked about in class, it takes years and years for immigrants to get papers to enter the country, and that whole time they are waiting, they could be going to school here and contributing to taxes.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows that the issue of illegal immigrants and allowing new immigrations, is very delicate. The US has been a country of immigrants ever since it was founded. From some perspective, there is no more any "real American" and so the right for legal documentation should be granted to immigrants. Besides, even President Obama said that many immigrants have grown up in this country, have pledged to our flag and are basically good law abiding citizens. Personally, I hope the Dream Act will be enforced because it will give immigrants the opportunity to become legalized.
ReplyDeleteI have fairly strong feelings on the immigration issues at hand. I believe that it is a problem, and it is a touchy subject that nobody wants to touch. I also feel that the dream act is a good one though. Those children had no choice in the matter of coming here, and shouldn't be punished for the choices that their parents made. As long as those people are contributing to society, are law abiding citizens, and pledge allegiance to our country, I feel that they should be entitled to citizenship.
ReplyDeleteWhat if the DREAM act could be used to encourage immigrants to enter the country legally? Lets say for 10 years it could apply to as many in-country students as applied, but the government could gradually raise the percentage of potential immigrants required to apply from Mexico. The student could even act as a kind of ambassador for their family: if the student pays taxes, abides laws and earns a degree, the family can immigrate as contributing members of society. The DREAM act sounds like a good concept, but I think that an automatic and unlimited support of that many immigrants would be to much for our economy and school systems to handle.
ReplyDelete