Talking to Moderates about the D.R.E.A.M. Act

The Senate will likely vote on the House version of the D.R.E.A.M. Act before the holiday recess. There is a tested overall message on immigration that works with the vast majority of Americans, including a strong majority of Hispanics. That message is tough, fair, and practical.

Tough means tough on border security and workplace enforcement.
Fair means FAIR TO TAXPAYERS.
Practical means finding a realistic and lasting way to restore the rule of law.

In supporting this bill, proponents should stress to moderates that the D.R.E.A.M. Act is the type of tough, fair, and practical immigration policy that Americans are demanding.¹ Here are five key points to emphasize in this debate.

1. It’s tough on the border.

Border enforcement is up and new entrants are down. The D.R.E.A.M. Act continues in the current tough vein that President Obama and DHS Secretary Napolitano have instituted since taking office—tougher on border enforcement than the previous administration. In fact, of the 10.8 million illegal immigrants most recently estimated to be in the country, most came during the Republicans’ watch.²

2. It’s tough on fraud.

The D.R.EA.M. Act requires background checks utilizing biometric, biographic, and other data that the Secretary of Homeland Security determines is appropriate to determine whether there is any criminal or national security reason an applicant should be excluded. The bill also specifically excludes anyone who:

is older than 30 years old;
has been convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors;
has not lived in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding its date of enactment;
has not earned a high school diploma or G.E.D., or has not been admitted to an institution of higher education in the U.S.; or,
has committed marriage fraud or abused a student visa, or has aided any other alien to enter the United States in violation of the law.

The bill also provides for penalties (fines, imprisonment, or both) for any applicant who willfully and knowingly files a falsified or misrepresented application.

3. It’s fair to taxpayers.

The D.R.E.A.M. Act takes into account the interests of the U.S. economy and the middle class. Those who will be eligible are those who will most likely be productive, taxpaying Americans. In addition, the cost of the bill is mostly borne by those who apply, including:

A $525 filing fee, in addition to the application fee, to recover the full costs of adjudication and processing; and,
A $2000 filing fee for extension of conditional nonimmigrant status beyond the initial five year period.

The D.R.E.A.M. Act is also carefully crafted to ensure that applicants do not get benefits they don’t deserve, including in-state tuition and health care.

It keeps the federal restriction on in-state tuition for undocumented students;
Students will not be eligible for Pell and other federal education grants;
It excludes recipients from receiving government subsidies to participate in the health insurance exchanges created by health care reform; and,
It excludes recipients from Medicaid, food stamps, and other similar entitlement programs.

Finally, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 6497 will increase revenues by $1.7 billion, and when combined with other savings, result in total deficit reduction of more than $2.2 billion over the next ten years.

4. It’s practical.

As former Speaker Newt Gingrich recently said–we can’t deport them all. This is a practical solution that creates a path to citizenship to the most deserving undocumented Americans.

5. It furthers American values.

Immigrants who are eligible to apply for conditional nonimmigrant status under the D.R.E.A.M. Act have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and are assimilated into our country and heritage. They are seeking to get an education, serve in the military, and go on to be productive members of society.