Diocese of KalamazooThe Good News
Justice for Immigrants
By Kish Enstice
Director of the Immigration Assistance Program

“[W]ithin the community of believers there can never be room
for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life.”
(Deus Caritas Est, 20)

A statistic that is familiar to most these days is that there are roughly 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.  A less well-known statistic, is that 15 % of that 12 million, or 1.8 million, are children; children who face the same obstacles and fears as adult undocumented immigrants, but who had no say where they were going to live.  More than 65,000 of the 1.8 million children have lived in the United States five years or longer and graduate from U.S. high schools each year.

These 65,000 children are star athletes, high academic achievers and have aspirations to be doctors, lawyers, healthcare providers, and scientists.  Yet due to numerous legal obstacles, many of these kids are unable to apply to college.  It is estimated that only between 5 and 10 percent of undocumented high school graduates go on to college.  Given the opportunity to attend college and obtain lawful employment, these undocumented students will get better jobs and pay more in taxes.  Obtaining a higher education, pursuing a career, having a stable home life without fear - these are the pursuits of now-undocumented children across the country and within our Diocese.  These children are in pursuit of a dignified life.

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007 is bi-partisan legislation that addresses the unique obstacles facing undocumented children in the U.S. and gives them relief and hope that they can fulfill their dreams.  The DREAM Act was offered by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) as a stand-alone bill.  This bill grants up to six years of conditional residency to students who were brought to the U.S. more than five years ago when the student was 15 years old or younger and can demonstrate good moral character.  In order to be eligible for permanent residency at the end of the six years, the student must have graduated from a two-year college, complete at least two years towards a four-year degree, or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years and demonstrate continued good moral character. 

Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, chairman of the U.S. Bishop’s Committee on International Policy and a consultant to the Committee on Migration, told members of the National Press Club on September 19, 2007 that the Catholic Church, “as a provider of education to thousands of children and young adults nationally, …has witnessed the suffering of young persons who through no fault of their own reside in an undocumented status and are denied …an opportunity to continue their full education.”  The DREAM Act, Bishop Wenski stated, “would give these young people an opportunity to meet their potential and to fully contribute to our society.  This is not only good for them but good for our country.”  Finally, Bishop Wenski challenged Congress to address this urgent situation for the nation’s children by asking, “Should we forsake these young people because we lack the political will and courage to provide them a just remedy?”

Unfortunately, on October 24, 2007 the Senate failed to muster enough votes to move the bill to a full floor debate, effectively stopping the bill in its tracks.  This failure quashed the dreams of thousands of faultless kids and demonstrates a surprising lack of understanding of the value of these children’s lives.  While the vote against the DREAM Act is disappointing, it is important that we continue to encourage our Senators to have the political will to make the changes in our immigration laws that are humane and necessary to create a truly functioning system of immigration laws.  Please take the time to call your Senators and thank them for their votes in favor of the DREAM Act and let them know that you are standing behind them as they act courageously to make positive change.

For more information on the USCCB campaign, visit www.justiceforimmigrants.org.