I'm glad you posted about the new OneDream2009; I just found out about it as well.

DREAMActivist - I've already put grad. school on hold for two years, so waiting another year is not really option for me. The school I will be attending is actually my first choice; the school that offered the assistantship was my second choice - so I was considering that school more only because it would haved easied the financial burden of paying for school.

I fixed it. The use of the word 'crime' was just meant loosely, but I understand what you mean. I do know the Army and Marines supported DREAM; I just wish they'd done more to push for it.

I was overjoyed to read this! For some reason I thought Marie was graduating this year, but I guess not.

Hey Brian,

Sorry about that; I took away the edit and link. As I stated in the blog, immigration laws are very confusing. Thanks for the correction, and for reading the blog.

Completely agree. It all comes down to 'us-versus-them syndrome'. Yes, there are criminal immigrants just as there are criminal American citizens. Most immigrants, especially the ones who risked their lives as well as their families lives to cross the border, do not come to the United States to cause it harm. And this is even more true for us - who just want a chance to contribute.

Chris - I agree that all immigrants should learn to speak English. I think that should be top priority for anyone if they move to another country. Using this argument for a reason to be against the DREAM Act however, just doesn't hold. To benefit from the DREAM Act you must have graduated from high school in US or passed GED, and to do either of these you must be able to read, write, and speak in English.

hmmm...yea I'll look that up later.

Yes, not everyone is going to get into the college of their choice. Yes, there will be American citizens who lose spots because of a DREAMER. It will also occur the other way around. Colleges base their admission decision on merit, not legal status, and that is how it should be. I also agree that the government should give more aide to its citizens for college or make it more affordable. We agree on that, and that is something I'll fight for should when I obtain legal status.

I have to disagree. I don't believe that DREAM Act devalues U.S. citizenship. DREAMERS are some of the most patriotic students I have ever met. We love this country, and we want a chance to help make it a better place. One of the ways to qualify for the DREAM Act is to join the military. They are willing to risk their lives for this country to get a chance for legal status. Because we are in this situation, when we were to get US citizenship, it is something we would never take for granted and would highly value.

Teri-

Most of us *do* pay out-of-state even when we live in the state. I've lived in my state for 18 years, my parents have payed taxes and I've payed taxes. Where in your case, your sons would pay out-of-state because well they are going to an out-of-state college. We don't want to pay in-state for out-of-state schools, just be able to qualify for in-state in the state we live in. Though the main point of the DREAM Act is to get legal status, since like Iamshadow commented, there is no other way to fix our status.

Yea, I recently told a Professor of mine the situation I was in. I knew he would be sympathetic since he is an immigrant himself, but it was still a little nerve-racking. Not that I recommend this, but I believe most people, even strangers, would be sympathetic as well, if any of us would go up to them and explain the situation we DREAMERS are in. Most Americans are good people who don't think along the lines of the narrow-minded 'illegal is illegal'. The opposition is a small, but very vocal crowd. That is why this blog is so important - so US citizens can get to know DREAMERS and to see that we deserve more than anything the chance to succeed.

I completely agree that college tuition in the United States is very high, especially out-of-state costs. I think the government should make college more affordable to everyone. This however is a separate issue from the DREAM Act.

If as an American citizen, you can't find a college to accept you, in my opinion, you just haven't tried hard enough - especially now with so many community colleges out there.

Chris - By all the comments you have posted so far, you don't seem to understand that there is no line. Let's say it again together 'no line' for DREAMERS. If any of us were to leave the United States and attempt to apply for a student visa, we'd be banned for ten years.

Lofty goals? I'm sorry that we actually want to better ourselves and America.

We aren't asking for Americans to pay for our college expenses. If you think that than you are missing the point of DREAM Act. We want the same chances as every other American student to work three jobs to pay for school. We aren't asking for handouts.

Michelle - Please read the text of the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act does not automatically give in-state to undocumented students. It will just give the states a choice, like it is now, which is why some states like California, New York, etc can give students regardless of legal status in-state.

I agree with it having a darker humor as well.

And Fash, you are so right about people who comment on news articles are generally evil and filled with hate, and not just immigration topics, other topics as well, you just read people writing the most ridiculous comments... someone needs to do a study on this.

I have very fond memories of my college graduation. I was able to fully live in-the-moment that day, and not focus on my future. Despite still being in the same position as I had been freshman year in terms of ‘legal status’, I knew I deserved to celebrate this accomplishment. I had worked four long, arduous years for my degree, and I wasn’t about to let the anti-immigrant community take that day away from me.

Exactly. If we have a defeatist attitude, which I even see over at DREAM Act Portal, than our opponents have already won. This story just really hit home for me, and reminded me so much about our own fight and also about Senator Durbin's speech about 'not giving up' after DREAM Act failed cloture vote.