For Some, Free Citizenship Classes; For Others, a Dream Delayed Again
[MP3]https://server1.vnkienthuc.com/files/3/Media/se-ed-citzenship-classes-dream-act-30sep10.mp3[/MP3]This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
Americans talk a lot about illegal[A] immigration[/A] but not as much about legal immigration.
Legal immigrants who want to become [A]citizens[/A] must learn English and show a [A]knowledge[/A] of American history and government. They must also pay a fee and meet other [A]requirements[/A].
Immigrants may take what are called [A]citizenship[/A] classes to help them [A]prepare[/A] for the naturalization test. Last year, thirteen groups [A]received[/A] a total of just over one million dollars from the [A]government[/A] to offer these classes.
This year, that [A]support[/A] has grown to almost eight million dollars, and the money is going to seventy-five organizations across the country. And now, starting in October, many classes will be offered free of [A]charge[/A].
This will happen through a [A]program[/A] supported by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Alejandro Mayorkas is the agency's director .
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: "We hope to make it an easier transition for people to realize their [A]aspirations[/A] of becoming U.S. citizens."
Elsy Ventura from El Salvador enrolled in a one-hundred-dollar class near Washington. She says that is a lot to pay as a single mother also supporting her own mother, who lives with her. But her goal is to [A]become[/A] an American.
ELSY VENTURA: "I want to have rights as [A]anybody[/A] else in this country."
Other immigrants share that goal. But for some young people, hopes of [A]citizenship[/A] were recently blocked in Congress for the fifth time in ten years.
The United States has an estimated eleven million illegal [A]immigrants[/A]. About two million of them arrived as children brought by their parents.
A measure known as the Dream Act would put these children of [A]undocumented[/A] immigrants on a path toward citizenship instead of possible [A]expulsion[/A]. In return, they would have to show "good moral character" and graduate from high school. They would also have to complete two years of college or serve in the [A]military[/A].
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT: "I grew up in the United States, ever since I was six years old, and it's the custom here and the [A]culture[/A] I have grown to love."
(SOUND: Protesters shouting "Dream Act Now!")
"Dream" is short for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. Some [A]conservatives[/A] say it could increase illegal border crossings at a time when many Americans want stronger [A]controls[/A].
But the idea gained support among [A]conservatives[/A] and liberals, the military and education leaders. Still, the measure died this month in the Senate, where it was tied to a bill to let gays serve openly in the military.
Political observers do not expect Congress to consider the Dream Act again before congressional elections in November. But they do expect [A]supporters[/A] to keep trying in the future.
And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. Our reports are online at 51voa.com. I'm Steve Ember.
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Reporting by Elizabeth Lee and Laurel Bowen
