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Colorado U.S. Rep. Jared Polis on Friday announced the introduction of the American DREAM Act, a bill that would provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented college and military-bound children who have lived most of their lives in the United States. 

Under the American DREAM Act, qualified students would be eligible for legal immigration status upon high school graduation. The students would then achieve permanent legal residency if they attend college or serve in the military.

“These kids are as American as anyone else, but for too long they have had their dreams shattered by an education system that ignores their good grades and hard work,” said a statement from Polis, a Democrat. “We are taught that if you work hard and never give up, you can do anything. The DREAM Act will ensure that undocumented children who have grown up in the United States and studied in American schools can do the same.”

Not everyone is dreaming of the legislation passing through. Anti-illegal immigration advocate and former Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo said the bill should be renamed the NIGHTMARE Act because it will increase the amount of people who come to the United States illegally.

“If that’s the purpose of it then it should be a success,” he said. “But for everyone else who considers more illegal immigration into the country as a bad thing, then this isn’t a good idea.”

The Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, an adamant opponent of illegal immigration, isn’t against the American DREAM Act in principal, according to president Chris Simcox. Simcox said if the bill focuses only on the child, and doesn’t have any extra provisions like allowing the student’s family a pathway to citizenship as well, then, depending on the bill’s language, he isn’t necessarily against it.

“They need to be brought out of the shadows. They need to be documented and swear an oath to become a citizen,” he said. “If they do that, then by all means they deserve the opportunity that anyone else has.”

SB 170

In addition to providing a pathway towards citizenship, the DREAM Act would also eliminate a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state tuition rates to undocumented high school graduates. 

If the DREAM Act passes, which Tancredo said he expects to happen because “if you look at what’s gone through goose already, this is just a bit more of you know what,” then it will be up to individual states to enact so-called tuition equity legislation. Sen. Chris Romer, D-Colo., has already introduced legislation in the form of Senate Bill 170 that would allow undocumented students in-state tuition in Colorado.

“The DREAM Act is an enormously important piece of economic public policy,” said a statement from Romer. “When students have hope, they do great things; when they have hopeless options, they do hopeless things. My hope is that Colorado will be a leader in the implementation of the DREAM Act.” 

Romer acknowledged last week that passing SB 170 would be no easy task. The legislation was heard March 13 on the Senate floor, where it was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee — where it faces an uncertain future. 

A national group that aims to stop in-state tuition for illegal immigrants has brought its fight to Colorado, claiming that SB 170 would produce devastating consequences. 

“In-state tuition for illegals legislation replaces innocent American students in the limited seats in college at taxpayers’ expense,” said a statement from William Gheen of Americans For Legal Immigration PAC.

Regardless of the opposition, Romer said he will continue to battle to pass the legislation because he believes it’s the right thing to do. 

“While it’s an uphill battle, I continue to try to pass SB 170 because I don’t want to send a hopeless signal to a bunch of kids who deserve to dream and do well,” he said. “I know there are some challenges ahead of me, but there has to be a common sense to come to a compromise for SB 170.”

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