Pass The New York DREAM Act

The New York Dream Act would allow undocumented students who meet in-state tuition requirements to access state financial aid for higher education. An estimated 146,000 youth in New York who have been educated in New York public schools are currently ineligible to receive financial aid under federal and state law. Of the more than 4,500 undocumented students who graduate from New York high schools every year, only 5-10% pursue a college degree due to tremendous financial obstacles.

Myth 1: The Bill would provide an incentive for people to come here illegally.

Fact: The New York Dream Act offers absolutely no reason for people to enter the country illegally. It does not legalize students nor does it provide benefits for immigrants who are not already here. In fact, the New York Dream Act requires students to graduate from a New York high school or obtain a GED in New York to qualify for state financial aid

Myth 2: It will be a fiscal burden and increase the strain on state educational systems.

Fact: The New York Dream Act would make money for taxpayers. State and local taxpayers are already investing in the education of undocumented students in elementary and secondary school. It would be economically illogical to bar students from attending college and developing their careers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, those who obtain a Bachelor’s degree earn $1 million more over his or her lifetime than those with a high school degree, contributing tens of thousands of dollars to New York State’s economy. The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that undocumented immigrants paid $662.4 million in taxes to New York state in 2010, making it the state with the fourth highest revenue in taxes from undocumented immigrant

Myth 3: Documented New Yorkers will lose spots in college due to passage of the New York Dream Act.

Fact: The small number of students who will be impacted by the New York Dream Act is not significant enough to affect the opportunities of others. The colleges and universities in the 12 states, including New York, which have passed in-state tuition bills that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates have not experienced a large influx of Dreamers that have taken seats away from U.S. citizen students

Myth 4: The New York Dream Act is a form of amnesty and would reward people who come here illegally.

Fact: The New York Dream Act will not legalize students. The focus of the bill is to expand access to higher education for undocumented students who live in New York and have graduated from a New York high school. These students are here to stay and we should provide them with the tools to succeed fully and contribute to the state's economy. The New York Dream Act does not provide amnesty or change immigration law. These issues must be decided at the federal level.