Locals host DREAM act meeting

FOLEY, Ala. (WALA) - The Ratliff Legal Group along with local Reverend Enrique Escobar hosted an informational meeting for undocumented students.

The meeting, meant to inform students about the DREAM act, was held at the Foley United Methodist Church at 6 p.m.

Israel Lopez was among the crowd. He says he came to the U.S. as a young teen, where he has lived and gone to school.

He says he wants to go to college to study computer programming and hopes the DREAM ACT will get him there.

“I came here to try to find out what I can do,” said Lopez. “I've been here about 7 years already.”

On June 15 President Barack Obama issued an executive order that furthered the reach of his development, relief and education for alien minor policy. Immigration Attorney Robert Ratliff explained to concerned Hispanics what that means to them.

“This is something in between,” said Ratliff. "Something that gives these children a chance. Many of them have lived their entire lives in the United States.”

Obama's amnesty program allows young, undocumented immigrants to work legally, continue their education at a college level and obtain a driver’s licenses.

“What they basically said is if you entered the US before you were 16 years old and if you’ve been here for five years and if you've completed your high school education or working toward completing your high school education, the government will choose to not deport you and offer you work authorization for a temporary period of two years,” said Ratliff.

Undocumented immigrants who are under the age of 30, have lived in the United States for at least five years, entered the United States before the age of 16, and not have a criminal record are covered under the amnesty program.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that many of the provisions of HB1070 the state of Arizona’s immigration law were unconstitutional.

The majority opinion said it is a matter of federal discretion whether or not to deport a person from this country.

Ratliff says that it is a great stride in allowing young people who have called this country their home for years to contribute to society.

A recent study at the University of California Los Angeles found that DREAM Act participants could contribute between $1.4 and 3.6 trillion to the U.S. Economy during their work lives.

Ratliff argues that there are some flaws in the recent ruling. He said he thinks “it doesn’t go far enough.”

"It creates some risks for these kids, to come out and put themselves voluntarily on a list because when the next administration comes, or in two years when it expires, there's a list of people and we don't know what's going to happen," Ratliff said.

With the new, strict state immigration laws pushing through in Alabama, Arizona and other states, Ratliff says many immigrants are fearful of making themselves known, even if they would receive short-term benefits.

He says immigrants should be wary of taking advantage of the DREAM act since it is only a temporary motion.

Still, Ratliff is essentially glad to see that the President is taking a stand for young undocumented immigrants through the DREAM Act.

"It does provide a great benefit for these kids who have been here since they were infants,” Ratliff said. ”They don't know any other way of life and this is their country.”