By Eric Byler
The shifting debate over The DREAM Act illustrates one of the themes of 9500 Liberty and the Coffee Party — that a fact-based, solutions-oriented approach to collective decision making can supersede blind partisanship when we focus on the facts instead of the fight.
70% of Americans support the DREAM Act. If enacted, it would offer six years of residential status for young people who are in every way “American,” but were brought to the U.S. as children without proper legal status. After ten years, they could apply for a green card if they have completed two years of college or two years of honorable service in the U.S. military. And, after acquiring a green card, they could apply for citizenship.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates this measure would reduce our deficit by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years due to increased tax revenue. A recent study by UCLA’s North American Integration and Development Center estimated that $1.4 TRILLION over 40 years in income would be generated by DREAM Act beneficiaries. And, America’s military leaders advocate for the DREAM Act because it would significantly increase the pool of recruits qualified to defend our nation.
Despite bipartisan support for the DREAM Act, the irrational ugliness we are seeing in opposition is a manifestation of widening division within the Republican party between pragmatists and extremists.
In a Washington Post op-ed, former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson urges his party to support the DREAM Act, writing:
“The choice here is not between the presence of these young immigrants and their absence. No one is proposing the mass deportation of this particular group, which would be last on the target list of even the most enthusiastic immigration restrictionist. The actual choice is between allowing these young men and women to develop their talents and serve in the military, or not.”
And Illinois’ former governor, also a Republican, begins his outstanding editorial:
“A rational approach to comprehensive immigration reform should begin with the young people who were brought here as babies, toddlers and adolescents.”
Passing the DREAM Act would be a significant step for our Congress, proving that it is possible for elected leaders to vote in the nation’s best interest, even if a small fragment of the nation is vociferously against it. (I compare it to young parents who learn to say no to their children if necessary, even when they make a fuss).
2 on-line tools to make your voice heard:
We can help Congress cast the vote they know is best for America. How? By giving our Senators a call and providing a rational, fact-based voice to balance out a minority of reactionaries who oppose this common-sense measure. Call your Senator’s office, and, even if you get an answering machine, say something like this:
“Please vote for the DREAM Act. It will help grow our economy by allowing an estimated 2.1 million people to stay in this country and contribute up to their highest potential, and it will improve our national security by encouraging qualified and patriotic young people to serve. Most importantly, it will show that Congress has the courage and integrity to respond to our nation’s need for immigration reform.”
CLICK HERE to find the phone number for your U.S. Senator. Or, call your Senator by CLICKING HERE and participating in this cell phone campaign by Reform Immigration for America. Just enter your cell phone and zip and you’ll be connected to the offices of your representatives in Congress.
Or if you prefer, Americas Voice offers this easy to use system for sending faxes: CLICK HERE.
Immigration policy questions are not a Republican vs. Democrat fight, nor a white vs. Hispanic fight. With courage and leadership, the immigration issue can unite America.
UPDATE: The U.S. Senate is 4 or 5 courageous votes away from passing the DREAM Act. Click below for the list of 20 Senators who could be emboldened by your phone call. Right now, a swarm of angry, misinformed people are hounding and threatening them. Please join the fact-based, composed, and patriotic rejoinder to the anti-immigrant noise machine. Our nation’s economy, our national security, and our integrity will be the better for it. Please call these Senators:
ALASKA
Murkowski (R) : (202) 224-6665
FLORIDA
LeMieux (R) : (202) 224-3041
INDIANA
Lugar (R) : (202) 224-4814
KANSAS
Brownback (R) : (202) 224-6521
LOUISIANA
Landrieu (D) : (202) 224-5824
MASSACHUSETTS
Brown (R) : (202) 224-2315
MICHIGAN
Stabenow (D) : (202) 224-4822
MAINE
Collins (R) – (202) 224-2523
Snowe (R) – (202) 224-5344
MISSOURI
McCaskill (D) – (202) 224-6154
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Gregg (R) – (202) 224-3324
NORTH CAROLINA
Hagan (D): (202) 224-6342
OHIO
Voinovich (R) – (202) 224-3353
SOUTH CAROLINA
Graham (R) – (202) 224-5972
TEXAS
Hutchison (R) – (202) 224-5922
UTAH
Bennett (R) – (202) 224-5444
Hatch (R) – (202) 224-5251
VIRGINIA
Warner (D): (202) 224-2023
Webb (D): (202) 224-4024
WEST VIRGINIA
Manchin (D): (202) 224-3954
Video by Leah Carnine, a college student in Arizona.
Stand up for students and CALL U.S. Senators in these swing states even if you live elsewhere: AK,AR,CO,DE,FL,KS,IN,LA,MA,ME,MI,MO,MT,ND,NE,NH,OH,SC,VT,TX,VA,WV
Thanks for all Eric!
Thank you and bless you, Eric, for being there for our DREAMers. What a relief it will be when the DREAM Act passes and our gifted young Americans will have a path to legitimacy and hopefully an end to their persecution.
This seems such a win win situation. Hopefully congress comes to senses.