"The American Dream" Up for Vote In Maryland - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

MARYLAND - Maryland Ballot Question Four, nicknamed The Dream Act, is one of the seven ballot questions Maryland voters will decide upon once the poles open.

If voted into law, the measure would allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Maryland colleges and universities, granted they meet certain conditions.  Students would have had to attended a Maryland high school for at least three years before graduating, their parents must also show documentation that they've paid income taxes (a social security number isn't necessary to pay income tax), and intent to apply for permanent residency.

They would then be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland.

"For them, the United States is their home and they want to have their careers here, they want to be successful here and the American Dream is to graduate, go to college, get your degree, and be successful in whatever you do and so that's embedded in them," says Lisjuan.

But Brad Botwin, director of HelpSaveMaryland.org, a non-partisan organization opposing The Dream Act, thinks the passage of this law could promote illegal immigration in Maryland.  The group also feels that while these students may be able to get a college degree under The Dream Act, their legal status in the country will inhibit them from a number of other rights, saying "at the end of the day, if they've received their degree, they can't legally work, vote, or even get a drivers license."

While they understand the students' desire to further their education, Botwin says Maryland's first priority should be to its legal residents saying, "who we're really punishing is Maryland students.  There's no free lunch here...someone has to pick up the tab for this."

A major area of both concern and excited anticipation is the financial impact of The Dream Act.  According to a study released by the University of Maryland Baltimore County,  Maryland could stand to gain $6.2 million dollars a year from the increased income and taxes from a better educated work force.  That same report also said Maryland could lose $3.5 million dollars per year offering lower tuition.

Lisjuan believes the good definitely outweighs the bad.  When posed with the question of whether or not The Dream Act would be taking money away form Maryland, since the state allows undocumented immigrants to attend college in-state at an international student rate, she says "it's not whether they're going to pay 3 times as much or pay in-state tuition, it's whether they're going to go or not."

According to a Washington Post poll, 59% of those likely to vote are in favor of the Maryland Dream Act, but like with any election, nothing is guaranteed until the votes are counted.