A chance to chase dreams

There are mixed feelings about a presidential executive order passed on Wednesday.

Undocumented individuals under the age of 30 can request legal work status while avoiding deportation for two years if they are diploma recipients or current students, do not have a serious criminal history, do not pose a threat to national security, arrived in the country before age 16 and have been in the U.S. for five years.

While a pared-down version of the Dream Act that would have provided a path to permanent residency, the order does provide a temporary solution for an estimated 1.8 million young adults and teenagers.

While no exact number is available due to the nature of illegal immigration, most recent estimates from the Center for Immigration Studies detail between seven and 20 million undocumented individuals in the U.S., with approximately 80 percent from Mexico and countries in Latin America.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, the majority of undocumented individuals originally entered the country legally, but have expired visas.

Stalled in Congress for over a decade, the Dream Act has been a controversial topic - critics have argued it provides amnesty and rewards for law-breaking behavior of those who have entered the country illegally.

While neither the Act or executive order provide caveats for adults, it does provide a way for children and teenagers to eventually become productive members of society while providing a way to higher education, while the alternative traps undocumented individuals in a cycle of welfare, under-the-table low-paying jobs and poverty.

Arguably, many of these young adults are at the top of their high school graduating classes and understand the value of hard work. Asking these teens to return back to their "home countries" and "wait in line like everyone else" is likely a frightening scenario, as the U.S.has been their home for as long as they can remember.

Since there is no guarantee young adults will be accepted to the program, some in the shadows are hesitant about giving the Homeland Security their fingerprints and personal information, things that can be used against them and their family in the future if the program was ended.

Taking a chance like this is risky, especially with an uncertain future next January, but has the potential to pay off in the long run.

* Ashley Miller is a member of the Pilot news staff. Reach the columnist at amiller@stormlakepilottribune.