The DREAM Act would take significant steps to remove the obstacles faced by young people who were brought to the U.S. by their parents and who now, because they lack legal immigration status, cannot pursue higher education, employment, or military service. The DREAM Act would allow immigrant students who entered the U.S. before turning 16, have been present for at least five years before passage of the DREAM Act, and have earned their high school diploma to apply for conditional status and, ultimately, lawful permanent resident status.

About the DREAM Act: 

• The DREAM Act amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien's eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence.
• The DREAM Act also authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States before his or her 16th birthday and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act; (2) is a person of good moral character; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (4) at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education or has earned a high school or equivalent diploma; (5) from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal; and (6) was under age 35 on the date of this Act's enactment.
• Finally, the DREAM Act sets forth the conditions for conditional permanent resident status, including: (1) termination of status for violation of this Act; and (2) removal of conditional status to permanent status and authorizes an alien who has satisfied the appropriate requirements prior to enactment of this Act to petition the Secretary for conditional permanent resident status.

Learn more about the DREAM Act from the National Immigration Law Center.

Take Action!

Please take a moment to contact your senators and representative to let them know you support the DREAM Act. 

You can reach every member of Congress by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to be connected to the member’s office. Ask them to vote for the DREAM Act.