The Maryland DREAM Act

MARYLAND DREAM ACT VICTORY!

"The passage of the DREAM Act is a remarkable victory for Maryland and its immigrant community, especially aspiring citizens. By approving Question 4 by a wide margin, Marylanders have shown that they stand for fundamental fairness and equality for all of Maryland's students. This achievement places Maryland at the forefront of efforts to secure rights for immigrants who are an integral part of communities throughout Maryland." - Sirine Shebaya, Liman Fellow on Immigrant's Rights issues at the ACLU of Maryland

The ACLU of Maryland is a member of the Educating Maryland Kids, a coalition of education organizations, faith groups, labor unions, and civil rights advocates dedicated to defending the Maryland DREAM Act.

Dozens of organizations were instrumental in passing the DREAM Act legislation in the spring of 2011. This law allows Maryland students regardless of immigration status to pay in-state tuition at Maryland universities if they've graduated from a Maryland high school (and attended a Maryland high school for at least 3 years) and if their families have paid taxes for at least 3 years.

• The law applies only to young people who grew up in Maryland, worked hard and played by the rules - their families pay taxes and they attended a Maryland high school for at least 3 years and graduated.

• Most of these students were brought here by their parents at a young age and the only country they know as home is the United States.

• All students have to earn acceptance to college; this law only affects tuition rates.

• DREAM Act students must start at a community college and then transfer to a four-year institution. They aren't competing with other Maryland applicants-community colleges have open enrollment and they're considered in the same pool with out-of-state applicants for four-year institutions.

• In other states that have passed DREAM Acts, only small numbers of immigrant students have enrolled in college, so we're talking about a small group of smart, hardworking kids.

• Everyone eligible for the DREAM Act must pay taxes for three years before becoming eligible and must pay taxes every year they're in college.

• These kids will graduate college and give back to our state. Education is always a sound investment and these students will help build the educated workforce that will ensure Maryland's economic strength and competitiveness in the future.

• President Obama's announcement that his administration will stop deporting DREAM Act eligible students nationwide and provide them work permits makes an even stronger case for upholding the Maryland DREAM Act. Kids in our state who've excelled in school and earned acceptance to a Maryland college will be great assets to our economy. We should make sure they have the education they need to fully contribute to our workforce.

Montgomery College Maryland Dream Act

Check out this great video above of Maryland DREAMers and supporters of the Maryland DREAM Act throughout the state!