DREAM Act - Legal immigrants (green card, law, Americans, controversial)

[ForumUser]

The controversial DREAM Act, a fixture in the immigration debate since 2001, would give undocumented students the chance to become citizens. Its chances of passing are better than ever, and legal immigrants say they deserve to take part.


Bhaskar Chitraju came to the United States from India at the age of 13, and has never been back, living legally in the U.S. for the past 10 years. In Southgate, Mich., he played soccer, excelled at Quiz Bowl, and indulged in Battlestar Galactica marathons with his buddies. High school was easy for him, he remembers, because people accepted him for who he was.
However, the aspiring business owner is as far from American citizenship as the day he stepped off the plane. And two years ago, a clock started ticking down on the only life he knows.
His father, a computer programmer, applied for a green card as soon as he could file the paperwork. Bhaskar would have benefited from that petition, but at 21, he was hit by a provision called "aging out" — a consequence of a visa processing backlog that affects thousands of aspiring Americans a year. He continues to live in the United States on a student visa, but Bhaskar may be legally obligated to leave after he graduates from business school next year.
"I feel frustrated and helpless most of the time," said Bhaskar, who insists he is determined to play by the rules,. "There's so much uncertainty in my life — I don't know if I'll be here next year or not."


http://www.miller-mccune.com/politics/what-about-us-dream-act-1234?article_page=1

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by ForumUser

The controversial DREAM Act, a fixture in the immigration debate since 2001, would give undocumented students the chance to become citizens. Its chances of passing are better than ever, and legal immigrants say they deserve to take part.


Bhaskar Chitraju came to the United States from India at the age of 13, and has never been back, living legally in the U.S. for the past 10 years. In Southgate, Mich., he played soccer, excelled at Quiz Bowl, and indulged in Battlestar Galactica marathons with his buddies. High school was easy for him, he remembers, because people accepted him for who he was.
However, the aspiring business owner is as far from American citizenship as the day he stepped off the plane. And two years ago, a clock started ticking down on the only life he knows.
His father, a computer programmer, applied for a green card as soon as he could file the paperwork. Bhaskar would have benefited from that petition, but at 21, he was hit by a provision called "aging out" — a consequence of a visa processing backlog that affects thousands of aspiring Americans a year. He continues to live in the United States on a student visa, but Bhaskar may be legally obligated to leave after he graduates from business school next year.
"I feel frustrated and helpless most of the time," said Bhaskar, who insists he is determined to play by the rules,. "There's so much uncertainty in my life — I don't know if I'll be here next year or not."


http://www.miller-mccune.com/politics/what-about-us-dream-act-1234?article_page=1

I know this is heart breaking and thousands of children and families are in the same situation.
For E2 visa's...who never will have a chance to obtain a green card it is even worse. Many people bought them self a business, had already children and might got more children who will be American zitizens, but their older siblings (and many didn't get additional children) have to move back to the country they were born...some were as young as 2, 3 or 4 when they arrived and except for a short visit back for a renewal of the visa they have lived their whole life over here, while their parents gave opportunities to American's to get a job...one of the requirements of a E2 visa. When the kids turn 21 the parents can stay but the kids have to return. Many parents can't even go back since over here is their business and their income. Even worse, if the parents after...let's say...20 years or more, sell their business and want to retire, they have to return to a country they have left decades ago. This doesn't sound fair. They don't need a hand out from the government and can pay for them self, but they aren't allowed to stay here longer than 3 months in a row...So basically although they want to spend their money over here they can't! I never heard anything more ridiculous and why are Americans' so suprised if these people end up staying here illegal, although they never wanted to be an illegal!
Something need to change!

[the one]

its tough/

for people in his position there should be help.

Originally Posted by ForumUser

The controversial DREAM Act, a fixture in the immigration debate since 2001, would give undocumented students the chance to become citizens. Its chances of passing are better than ever, and legal immigrants say they deserve to take part.


Bhaskar Chitraju came to the United States from India at the age of 13, and has never been back, living legally in the U.S. for the past 10 years. In Southgate, Mich., he played soccer, excelled at Quiz Bowl, and indulged in Battlestar Galactica marathons with his buddies. High school was easy for him, he remembers, because people accepted him for who he was.
However, the aspiring business owner is as far from American citizenship as the day he stepped off the plane. And two years ago, a clock started ticking down on the only life he knows.
His father, a computer programmer, applied for a green card as soon as he could file the paperwork. Bhaskar would have benefited from that petition, but at 21, he was hit by a provision called "aging out" — a consequence of a visa processing backlog that affects thousands of aspiring Americans a year. He continues to live in the United States on a student visa, but Bhaskar may be legally obligated to leave after he graduates from business school next year.
"I feel frustrated and helpless most of the time," said Bhaskar, who insists he is determined to play by the rules,. "There's so much uncertainty in my life — I don't know if I'll be here next year or not."


http://www.miller-mccune.com/politics/what-about-us-dream-act-1234?article_page=1

[BigDGeek]

People like Bhaskar Chitraju are the type of immigrants we want here and since he has spent a large part of his life here he is essentially American. Immigration reform should help people like him, not people who came here illegally. He is being screwed.

[antireconquista]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

People like Bhaskar Chitraju are the type of immigrants we want here and since he has spent a large part of his life here he is essentially American. Immigration reform should help people like him, not people who came here illegally. He is being screwed.

Indeed.

[bentlebee]

There are many people like him out here and nothing is done for them...I wonder what will happen if they legalize illegals...how many people will start to sue the government if they came here legally and have no chance and send away after years while criminals (illegals are basically people who broke the law) can become legal here without the money the legal aliens have spend to stay here!

[casper324]

This sounds like busy work for the INS..............

I would like to see a class action law suite from all those like this man, caught up in what is nothing more then BS.

[bentlebee]

That could be reality...I guess it would help a lot of people and I guess the lawyers won't mind to get some money out of it...

[malamute]

If the DREAM act was limited to legal children of legal immigrants, maybe I could see it.

[ArizonaBear]

As the rest of you stated.

Legal immigrants I welcome here------------especially prodigies like Bhaskar Chitraju.