The lives of millions of immigrants are affected every day due to limited access to acquiring legal citizenship. Of this group there are 2.1 million children and young adults under the age of 18 who are entitled to permanent citizenship at this time (The DREAM Act). In 2001 Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch introduced a DREAM (Development Relief and Education of Alien Minors) Act that provides a path to becoming a legal citizen. The DREAM Act has yet to be passed, but there is Temporary Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (The DREAM Act). The DREAM Act will provide options and opportunities for people to continue their life journey in America. The DREAM Act should be passed as it will benefit our economy, positively affect and strengthen our military, along with increased access to education. The process of obtaining temporary residency in the United States requires several steps on the part of hopeful immigrants related to age, education and future potential. Immigrant children must have resided in the United States before the age of 16 to be eligible for assistance (The DREAM Act). “These men, women or children must have lived in the United States for at least five years prior to the legislation taking effect.” The immigrant must have earned a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) diploma and be under the age of 35 when applying for The DREAM Act. If after six years of the program you have obtained at least a two-year college degree, or have served in the United States Army for two years: in addition to maintaining morality you are entitled to permanent residency in the United States (Batalova). If you fail to meet any of these requirements, expulsion is a likely…middle of paper…ion. The DREAM Act should continue to be seriously considered and worked upon so that maximum benefits can be derived from it. hopeful immigrants and the American community. The DREAM ACT has come a long way, and if our government continues to follow it and improve, it will be able to provide better education, strengthen our military, and stimulate the economy. It is time for a law to be passed that will not only benefit our country as it exists now, but also provide the opportunity for a prosperous future for all hopeful citizens. Everyone in life deserves to be the best they can be, and America is paralyzing itself by not achieving the possible contributions of aspiring American citizens. Immigrants come to the United States for this very reason. The DREAM Act will help these men and women take the best path in life, become educated and free from restrictions.