There are students who have been in the US since they were children, and often don’t know that they are undocumented until they apply for a driver’s license or student loan. The DREAM Act was intended to address the disincentive these children face to remain in school and continue into higher education. A general sense of instability and hopeless discourages students from applying themselves when they know admission to college may be impossible or deportation is imminent. Likewise, students often pursue higher education to enable greater job prospects, this is not the case when a young person is barred from the workforce altogether.
Virginia teenager, Heydi Mejia, was a granted reprieve from deportation a few days after her high school graduation, allowing her time to apply for college. She was only 4-years old when her mother brought her across the Mexican border after a long trip from Guatemala. This is one of several examples of high achieving students being granted time to reopen their immigration cases.
Discretion in meritorious cases has been encouraged by the Obama Administration, as legislatures continue to tinker with the DREAM Act. While students like Heydi had no control over their past, with a stable DREAM Act, they may have control over their future.
Vanessa Arno is currently a 2nd year law student at Seattle University School of Law focusing on immigration and international law; she is not yet an attorney.
Vanessa’s contributions to the The Law Office of André Olivie BLOG provide general information only and are not to be considered legal advice. If you are in need of legal advice regarding the issues discussed above or any other immigration related issue please contact Attorney, Andre Olivie at (206) 724-1940
