Summary:Development,Relief,andEducation forAlienMinors(DREAM)Actof2011

S.952/H.R.1842

Purpose:
TheDREAMActprovidesconditionalresidencetoundocumentedyouthwhoattendedhighschoolinthe United States if they meet certain requirements. Those students might then be eligible to proceed towardscitizenshipstatusiftheyattendschoolorserveintheU.S.ArmedForces.

Title:
Abilltoauthorizethecancellationofremovalandadjustmentofstatusofcertainalienstudentswhoare longterm United States residents and who entered the United States as children and for other purposes.

Sponsors:
SenateRichardDurbin(IL) HouseHowardBerman(CA28),IleanaRosLehtinen(FL18)

Summary:
ConditionalPermanentResidentStatusforCertainLongTermResidentswhoEnteredtheUnitedStates asChildren DepartmentofHomelandSecuritycancancelremovalandadjusttoconditionallawfulresidence personswho: o Have been continually present in the United States for at least 5 years immediately precedingenactmentoftheAct; o Wereunder16yearsoldwhentheyenteredtheUnitedStates; o HavebeenofGoodMoralCharacter; o Are not inadmissible or removable for criminal, US security, trafficking, committing persecution,orchildabductiongrounds; o Has been admitted to an institution or higher learning, has earned a high school diploma,orobtainedageneraleducationdevelopmentcertificate(GED);and o Havenotreachedtheageof35onthedateofenactment. Secretary can waive inadmissibility for those guilty of smuggling, F visa abuse, and unlawful voting. Applicationforreliefmustbesubmittednolaterthan1yearafterthelaterof: o TheapplicantearningahighschooldiplomaorGED;or o Theissuanceofthefinalregulationsimplementingthelaw. Stops the deportation of people with pending applications who can demonstrate prima facie eligibility. Secretary cannot start proceedings, or will stay proceedings, against students in primary or secondaryschoolwhomeeteligibilityrequirementsotherthanhighschooldiplomaorGED.

TermsofConditionalPermanentResidentStatus Conditionalresidencestatusisvalidfor6years. Statusissubjecttoterminationiftheapplicant: o Isguiltyofacriminalornationalsecurityviolation;or o LeavestheArmedForceswithoutanhonorabledischarge. Anyone whose conditional permanent resident status is terminated will revert to whatever statustheyhadpriortoobtaintheconditionalstatus. RemovalofConditionalBasisofPermanentResidentStatus Inordertoremovetheconditionalbasis,anapplicantmustshowthat: o He/shehasgoodmoralcharacter; o He/shehasnoconvictionsthatwouldmakehim/herineligibleforrelief; o He/she has not abandoned his/her residence in the United States (less than 365 days absencefromthe countryinaggregate,unlessabsenceisduetoserviceintheArmed Forces); o He/she has either graduated from college, completed 2 years in good standing in a bachelorsorhigherprogram,orhashonorablyservedfor2yearsintheUnitedStates armedforces; o He/shemustprovidealistofallsecondaryeducationinstitutionsattended;and o He/shehasbasicknowledgeofEnglishandU.S.Civics. Anapplicantwhohasnotsatisfiedthesatisfiedthecollegeormilitaryservicerequirementscan either: o Applyforawaiverbasedonextremehardship;or o Applyforanextensionbasedonashowingofgoodcause. An applicant can submit a petition to remove conditions no sooner than 6 months before expirationoftheirconditionalstatusandnolaterthantheexpirationoftheirconditionalstatus. o Applicantwillbeconsideredtoretainconditionalstatuswhileapplicationispending. For purposes of naturalization, Conditional Permanent Resident status will be considered the sameasLegalPermanentResidentstatus,exceptthatapersonmaynotapplyforcitizenshipas aConditionalPermanentResident. PenaltiesforFalseStatements Anyapplicantwhowillfullyandknowinglymakesafalsestatement,makesamisrepresentation, orconcealsamaterialfactwillbesubjecttofineandupto5yearsimprisonment. ConfidentialityofInformation Informationcontainedintheapplicationcannotbeusedincivilproceedingsagainstanyperson referencedintheapplication,butcanbeusedinacriminalinvestigation. HigherEducationAssistance ConditionalPermanentResidentswillhavelimitedaccesstostudentloans,federalworkstudy programs,andservices. Stateswillhavefullpowertodetermineresidencyforpurposesofhighereducationbenefits.