Dream Act

For probably twelve months, I've sat and watched German public TV (both ARD and ZDF networks) attempt to hype on an 'American-problem'.....the Dream Act and 'dreamers'.  As with a lot of things associated with US news....there is a vast amount of information missing and most Germans are left with a half-understood topic.

So this is my short piece for Americans or Brits in Germany, and facing some hostile German wanting to harp on an anti-Trump piece or anti-US piece centered on the DREAM Act.  Here's how you lead the German to a moment of reality. 

1.  The DREAM Act was a simple piece of legislation written originally in 2001 (17 years ago) by Senator Dick Durban of Illinois and Orrin Hatch of Utah (a Democrat and a Republican).  No, it's not a recent thing.

2.   The emphasis of the original draft centered on a non-American getting citizenship eventually.  So the DREAM Act had these stipulations (it was a path): you had to be younger than 18 years old when you legally or illegally entered the US.  You had have proof of having arrived in the country before age 16 (paperwork trail).  You had to have proof of residence in the country for a minimum of four consecutive years since arrival.  If you were a guy, you had to have registered with the Selective Service at some point.  You had to have either a high school diploma or a GED, or been at some US university.  Finally, you had to have some good character (yeah, it was written in a way to be questionable).  If you had major charges against you.....you likely failed that part of the deal.

3.  When you examine the emphasis of the DREAM Act....with all the paperwork required and Selected Service gimmick built into it....if you looked over the entire US, I doubt that more than 50,000 folks would actually fit into this whole concept.  The news media will argue that several million could fit, but no one can explain how.

4.  So the original DREAM Act failed in 2001.  Six years pass, and Durban tries episode number two in 2007.  It fails.

5.  Episode number three occurs in 2009.  Some wording changes but it doesn't matter.  With a strong Democratic House (in charge) and a Democratic-controlled Senate.  It fails once again.  Note, this was during the Obama period.

6.  Episode number four?  In 2010.  Yes, it fails.

7.  Episode number five? In 2011, started this time by Senator Harry Reid.  Yes, it fails.

8.  In 2012, President Obama steps around passing the law and creates DACA. It took a couple of pieces from the DREAM Act and simply made an executive order to accomplish bits and pieces of legal immigration.  Three-quarters of a million immigrants have registered with DACA.  Because it's not a law....it means any President can modify it and go a different direction.

9.  Why all the hype of the DREAM Act now?  Some people act like they've never heard of the draft law before and pretend that it's brand new.  It's more or less a staged event to get public attention.  The fact that the Democrats had House and Senate control at various times and should have passed it....but did not....means that it's not really well supported. 

10 Would Germans like to see a DREAM Act on their soil?  Oh, well.....yeah, it's best not to bring up that topic.  Would this type of law or legislation even pass via the current Bundestag?  I have my doubts.  The minute you hint that it might be unlimited....that would freak out a majority of Germans.