American Citizens and Politicians Do Not Understand the DREAM Act Suggests Miami Immigration Lawyer
Mar 30, 2012
Miami, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 29, 2012 – If people and politicians did understand the DREAM Act, there would not be hundreds of kids hanging in limbo over what to do with their lives in America.
“Kids are the future of our country. Kids with education are on the right track, but with the veto of the DREAM Act, the lives and futures of hundreds of kids hangs in the balance. It’s amazing how political infighting affects everything from the economy to education. It’s high time to get something done with immigration; something that is a right step in the right direction,” says Larry S. Rifkin, managing partner at Rikfin & Fox-Isicoff, an immigration law firm with Miami immigration lawyers and Orlando immigration lawyers.
It seems the history of what immigration was supposed to accomplish has been lost in the midst of the near distant past. Ronald Reagan brought in the Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986) and as it stood, it was simple and pretty straightforward. It was to grant amnesty, secure the border and fine companies who hired illegal aliens. Then along came the various interpretations of what it could, should, and would mean. Lost in the mire of finger pointing, nothing got done, and Congress avoided dealing with immigration.
At the time the 1986 Act was signed there were literally hundreds of kids in the country, brought here when they were young, without having an opinion on the matter. Most of those kids will be graduating soon. Graduating to what? “These kids don’t have Social Security numbers, which means they can’t go to college, and they can’t go to college because they can’t apply for funding or get a job to pay their own way. In other words, they’re stuck with no place to go and potential candidates for the welfare system,” Rifkin added. It is not much wonder why there are gang issues in many neighborhoods in America.
There is a mistaken belief that the DREAM Act would just attract more illegal immigrants to the U.S. That is not the case, largely because it was designed to only be for those kids brought to the U.S. before the legislation was signed into law. Additionally, the children would need to be in the U.S. for a minimum of five years before turning 16. “As things stand right now, there is no way for these kids in limbo to be legal,” explained Rifkin.
What is the issue? Many people think the parents do not pay taxes, but they do. They have jobs, get a paycheck and pay two sets of taxes and have Social Security taxes taken out of their pay. They also pay sales tax. However their children are barred from contributing to the U.S. economy because some politicians, and the public at large, do not understand the DREAM Act and what it was to achieve. “Frankly, if we as a nation keep shooting ourselves in the foot like this, we will never get anywhere on the immigration issue, and maybe that’s the point. What progress has anyone really seen on immigration reform?” Rifkin asked.
The future of America is at stake and all the politicians want to do is argue over nit-picky points. What that says about their priorities is depressing for everyone.
To learn more or to contact an Orlando immigration attorney or Miami immigration attorney, visit http://www.rifkinfox.com.
Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, P.A.
1110 Brickell Avenue
Suite 210
Miami, Florida 33131
Toll Free: (866) 681-0202
