Center for American Progress
October 12, 2012
During an election year dominated by concerns about our economy, policymakers and voters easily draw connections between domestic issues, such as education, Medicare, or tax policies, and the health of our economy. But so far public discourse hasn’t connected the dots between immigration policies and the economy. There is no clearer example of how sensible immigration policies would lead to significant economic gains than the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act proposes to create a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants who came to the United States as children and aspire to be citizens but lack documentation. To qualify for citizenship under the DREAM Act, these immigrants must have been in the United States for more than five years and must have arrived before the age of 16. They must also meet a set of specific requirements, including finishing high school and completing at least two years of either college or military service.
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