An estimated 114,000 young illegal immigrants living in Arizona could benefit from legislation that would allow them to become legal U.S. residents if they attend college or join the military, a report released Thursday says.
Arizona ranks fifth among the Top 16 states where potential beneficiaries of the DREAM Act live, according to the report by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. It follows California, Texas, Florida and New York.
Nationwide, an estimated 2.1 million young immigrants could benefit from the bill, which is being increasingly touted as the only immigration-related bill that has a chance to win enough bipartisan support to pass this year.
However, barriers such as limited English proficiency, poverty and family obligations would keep many of those young people from fulfilling the proposed law's requirements for becoming a legal resident.
As a result, only about 38 percent of potential beneficiaries - an estimated 825,000 people nationwide - would likely obtain permanent legal status, the report says. The report's authors based their estimates on the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Still, the legislation could have a profound impact on children who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents but who want to become legal residents and contribute to the nation where they grew up, the report's authors said.
"The investments they would be required to make in their education or military service on the path to permanent legal status would ensure that they are well integrated into U.S. society and bring important skills and training to the U.S. workforce," said Margie McHugh, co-director of the institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy.
To meet the DREAM Act's requirements, an immigrant must have entered the U.S. before age 16, been continuously present in the U.S. for at least five years before the law's enactment, obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, and be younger than 35 years old.
If those requirements are met, immigrants would be allowed to stay in the U.S. on a conditional basis for six years. At the end of that periodDxhmmigrants could apply for lawful permanent residence if they obtain a degree from a college or university, complete at least two years in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher, or honorably serve at least two years in the U.S. military.
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