a poster and a movie clip about a solution to the education in immigration

In regards to the role of secretary, I have kept a documented record of the team’s discussions. I have kept my logs well organized by dates and written well. I have kept each log brief and kept to the point of our discussions. The role of the secretary is important in the fact that I provide a running log of what the team discusses. This log helps to keep the team informed if someone were to miss a day of class or a meeting. It also helps us to remember our previous discussions to refer back to when we need to. I will continue to document any further meetings or discussions the team has. I will also continue to communicate with my fellow team members to assure my logs are accurate.

Conservative Views

Republicans have addressed the issue of immigration in education through the reaction of the 2010 DREAM Act. The Act was made to help illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children though higher education and military as well as tax credits, social security, Medicare benefits and federal student loans. It promotes the argument that the DREAM Act would educate thousands of young people and enlist them in Armed Forces which would benefit the United States as well as boost the economy because of increased productivity.

The Dream Act consisted of two main controversial parts: the pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants instead of deportation for children under the age of 16 and the second consisted of provision of public benefits, particularly higher education benefits. Higher education benefits would qualify to students who were it not for their lack of legal residency. This would fund public education for illegal immigrants which would then affect federal budgets which has been a very controversial subject for many Americans.

Republicans viewed the DREAM Act as “back door amnesty” that would reward the violation of immigration laws. It would then encourage more migration to the United States and eventually strike an exponential population growth (Harvard Journal of Legislation 623). It was also viewed a bad idea because Republicans felt that the limited spots for higher education would then be given to illegal aliens instead of American candidates. Not only would the spots for higher education be replaced with illegal aliens but the government aid would rise and would affect tuition to subside to them as well. There was thought by Republicans that the Act would grant legal status to criminal illegal aliens as well as create a safe zone for any of them facing deportation. Republicans aimed more towards securing the boarders against immigration and enforcing the immigration laws instead.

About 54% of Americans supported and favored the pathway to citizenship and the DREAM Act in late 2010 (Harvard Journal of Legislation 625). Nine-in-ten or 91% of Latinos for example, support the DREAM Act and 84% say unauthorized immigrants should be eligible for in-state tuition for public colleges if they attended high school in their state and were to be accepted into the college (Motel 1). The DREAM Act failed to pass because of the Senates composition of mostly Republicans along with five Democrats what was looked upon (by the public) as the last opportunity to pass such a bill before Republicans were to take over the House. There was a foreshadowing that it was unlikely that Congress would look over the current immigration laws and change it in such a way to “encourage” more illegal immigration. If the Act were to pass then there would be an increase in immigration to the United States. Republicans have made it clear that undocumented immigrants should only be allowed to apply for legal status if there was more control and security at the borders. There was a majority of 56% of Republicans who felt that border control should be more strongly established before immigrants try to apply for legal status and there was 38% who thought they should not have to increase border security for immigrants to receive legal documentation (Motel 1).

In conclusion, Republicans have explored the topic of immigration in education but more in the sense of monetary affects. They feel as if changing immigration laws would also increasingly change the rate as to which migration has been to the United States. It would then increase population and cause less jobs for American citizens and more financial support from the government to the immigrants causing a toll on the countries budget. They feel as if they were to eventually change immigration laws to allow illegal aliens become citizens, and then it would be very necessary to increase the security at the borders. They feel it is important to increase security at the borders so that there is less migration to the United States by having it be more controlled. Even though Republicans have had very narrow views on immigration, they are beginning to open up to the possibilities that arise when it comes to citizenship and immigrants.

References

1. THE DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS (DREAM) ACT. (2011). Harvard Journal on Legislation,48(2), 623-655

2. Motel, Seth. “On immigration, Republicans favor path to legal status, but differ over citizenship”. Pew Research Center 28 January, 2014. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/28/on-immigration-republicans- favor-path-to-legal-status-but-differ-over-citizenship/

3. Lopez M.H., Gonzalez A., Motel S. “As Deportations Rise to Record Levels, Most Latinos Oppose Obama’s Policy”. Pew Research Center 28 December, 2011. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2011/12/28/as-deportations-rise-to-record-levels- most-latinos-oppose-obamas-policy/