Steve Jobs’ Widow Promoting Dream Act, Immigration Reform [Video]

Steve Jobs’ widow, along with filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, has launched a website in an effort to promote the Dream Act. Advocating immigration reform, the website shares videos in an effort reveal the real faces of immigrants facing deportation.

Millions of children are brought to the US illegally as children. Undocumented status prevents them from becoming productive members of our society and they live under constant fear of deportation.

As reported by Yahoo News, the Dream Act would offer them legal protection. The law would apply to those who entered the country illegally when they were under the age of 15. The undocumented immigrants, if under the age of 30, could apply for legal status. Applicants would be required to either attend college for two years or serve in the military. Anyone with a criminal record would be excluded.

The Dream Act was turned down by the House in 2010, when it failed by five votes. In June of last year, President Obama directed his administration to halt the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were in the military or possessed a high school diploma. In a program he call “deferred action,” he further limits the protection to those who entered the country under the age of 16. The program allows work permits that can be renewed every two years.

The website created by Jobs’ widow promotes the Dream Act and encourages President Obama and members of Congress to make immigration reform a priority. The website refers to the “deferred action” currently in place as a “temporary fix.” As stated on The Dream is Now, for some of the children, the US is the only home they have ever known:

“There are an estimated one to two million undocumented young people living in America who were brought here as children. These young people have grown up here, attended our schools and learned to speak English just like their classmates. The U.S. is the only country they’ve ever known. Current law provides no path for them to remain in the country lawfully.”

The website provides a forum where undocumented immigrants, brought to the country as children, can share their stories. The submitted videos are like filmed confessionals, some of which are heartbreaking.

Although immigration has been a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats, the Dream Act is largely supported by both parties.