Dreamer?
The Initial DREAM Act S.1291 (2001)
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (
S.1291) legislation was introduced in 2001 as a bipartisan bill in the Senate. The legislative goal was to provide a means for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to gain a pathway to permanent legal status; provided those individuals achieved certain milestones, including:
- Attending or graduating from an institution of higher learning;
- Be of a certain age to apply;
- Be physically present in the U.S. for a certain number of years;
- Have good moral character; and,
- Not have violated other immigration laws
Individuals who would have qualified under the DREAM Act are often referred to as “DREAMers.” The term has been used to define individuals in the U.S. who were brought to the country at an early age without documentation but have assimilated to U.S. culture and have been educated by U.S. school systems.