Dream Act more a national nightmare

The so called Dream Act was actually a nightmare. It would of provided in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants. Being an illegal immigrant is the prerequisite to getting this preferred treatment which is denied to legal citizens. The illegal immigrant also becomes eligible for taxpayer-funded federal student loans and federal work-study programs for which lawful foreign students are ineligible.

Any illegal immigrant is eligible for this preference by declaring he entered the U.S. illegally before his 16th birthday. He doesn't have to prove when he entered the U.S., he can simply make a sworn statement. The illegal immigrant would also be rewarded with a conditional lawful resident green card. The alien then has six years to adjust their status from a conditional green card to a non-conditional green card.

To do so he only needs to complete two years of college or two years of military service. If the alien has already completed two years of study or military he can convert to non-conditional status immediately and use this green card to bring in family members.

In 1996, congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act. President Clinton signed this into law. This makes it illegal for states to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants unless it provides the same discounted tuition to all U.S. citizens. At this time, there are 10 states in violation of this law and Illinois is one of them.

This gift to illegal immigrants was proposed at a time when millions of U.S. citizens have had to mortgage their future to attend college. Two-thirds of college students graduate owing huge sums of money. U.S. citizens should be first in line to receive a break on college costs, not illegal aliens.

These issues are important to me and I will only vote for individuals who agree with me.

Ronald R. Kowalski

Carpentersville