This question is for those who disagree with the current language of the DREAM Act. What amendments would you propose to give your support to this bill?
As a legal immigrant, I would prefer that immigration happen legally--but I recognize that some of these Dream Act potential beneficiaries are here unlawfully through no fault of their own and some consideration should be granted.
However I would require some changes to personally support a Dream Act.
For one thing, I think the concept of giving a path to citizenship for people UNDER a certain age (eg 25, 30, or 35) is the complete opposite of what is needed. It is the people OVER a certain age (eg 25, 30, or 35) who deserve such consideration--assuming as always that they were brought here as children by their parents. Such people will have much more deeply entrenched lives in the USA and making the adjustment to return to their original countries will be much more difficult for them--so it is these older immigrants who deserve a path to citizenship. For example, the older one gets, the harder it is to pick up a new language--so if the only language spoken is English, it would be very difficult for a 50 year old to return to their original non English-speaking country.
Plus if their only "crime" was to be brought here by their parents unlawfully, and they have otherwise followed the law, the older someone is, the more they have contributed to this country, and the more consideration they deserve.
I would still provide some relief to the younger group, but it would be more limited. For the people under the age limit (eg 25, 30, or 35) I would stop short of giving an automatic path to citizenship, but I would forgive all past time in unlawful status and grant them a one-time, non-renewable, 3-to-5 year, work status. Although there would be no automatic path to citizenship, because they would be in status, they would be allowed to change status to another status (eg F-1, H-1B, etc) or apply to adjust status to a GC. They would have to qualify for the GC using one of the same paths to a GC (eg EB1, EB2, EB3, etc) that anyone else has to use. Simply being a Dream Act beneficiary wouldn't, by itself, qualify them to apply for a GC. They could also leave the country for a period of time without being subject to a bar for their previous overstay.
In other words, for the younger group, I would expect them to earn permanent status the same way any other potential immigrant needs to do. But I would give them a one time chance to get back in status so they aren't unfairly penalized for their parents' actions.
Finally, all my comments above are in a civilian context. For someone--of any age--who has served honorably in the US military, I have no problem granting a path to citizenship unless they have been convicted in a civilian court of the absolute most serious crimes (murder, kidnapping...).