NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER
National
Immigration
Law Center
www.nilc.org
Los Angeles (Headquarters)
3435 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 2850
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213 639-3900
213 639-3911 fax
Washington, DC
1101 14th Street, NW
Suite 410
Washington, DC 20005
202 216-0261
202 216-0266 fax
Oakland, CA
405 14th Street
Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
510 663-8282
510 663-2028
The Economic Benefits of the DREAM Act
and the Student Adjustment Act
February 2005
■ Introduction
The DREAM Act (Student Adjustment Act in the House) is bipartisan legislation pending in
Congress to clear up the immigration status of and address federal barriers to education and work
confronted by the U.S.-raised children of undocumented immigrants.
Under current law, about 65,000 students graduate from American high schools each year
who have been in the United States more than 5 years but who face limited prospects for
completing their education or working legally in the U.S. because they were originally brought
here by parents lacking immigration status. Among those prevented from working legally or
completing their education are valedictorians, honors students, award winners, homecoming
queens, class presidents, and other student leaders.
These young people deserve a fresh start, both in fairness to them and in our own self-
interest. The pending legislation would address the issue in two ways:
• by providing a mechanism for certain long-term resident immigrant students with good
moral character to apply for legal residency so that they can work and otherwise fully
participate in their communities; and
• by deleting a federal provision that interferes with a state’s right to determine whether these
students qualify as “residents” for purposes of in-state tuition or other state education
benefits.
■ Impact on the Economy
REDUCED DROPOUT RATES
The DREAM Act would reduce the dropout rate of immigrant students. Foreign-born
students represent a significant