Chicago Tribune Opinion by Jim Edgar
"A rational approach to comprehensive immigration reform should begin with the young people who were brought here as babies, toddlers and adolescents.
"Many have worked hard in school. Some want to serve in our military. All are undocumented. They live every day in fear of being caught, uprooted and sent to a country some have never known as their home.
"A nation as kind as ours should not turn its back on them. Congress needs to support the sensible, humane approach embodied in legislation known as the Dream Act.
"The measure charts a rigorous path that undocumented youths must negotiate to gain legal status and qualify for citizenship, and supporting it would be both good government and good politics.
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"The proposal would require prospective beneficiaries to have been younger than 16 when they arrived and to have lived here for at least five years. They would need to have a high school diploma or GED or to have been accepted into a higher education institution. They must also have good moral character.
"This is no amnesty bill."
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