The National Immigration Forum recently posted an update on the legislative status of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors). The DREAM Act proposes to eliminate the federal regulation discouraging states from giving in-state tuition rates for university education to undocumented individuals that graduated from the states’ public schools. In addition, the DREAM Act would provide a six-year conditional permanent resident status to some of these undocumented students after they graduate from high school. These particular students could then apply to have their conditional status changed to official permanent resident status after completing either two years of college education or two years of military service.

On March 1, 2007, Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1274, the American Dream Act, to the House of Representatives. Five days later, on March 6, 2007, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), along with ten co-sponsors, introduced S. 774, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, to the Senate. As of today, no further action has been taken on these bills, but motions will assuredly soon be taken.