By Stephen A. Nuño.

The overwhelming concern for conservativism is the perpetuation of society; to sustain a moral order that adheres to convention and is respectful of the institutions developed by those before us.  Conservativism also believes in the fallibility of humanity, but the wisdom of the species.

It is said that the Dream Act is an abomination of the law, that it rewards illegal behavior and that it encourages more people to come here nefariously.  Yet, these arguments are inconsistent with conservativism because they ignore the convention of human migration, the nature of humans seeking a better life for themselves, and most importantly, it is a contradiction to persist in maintaining a society of citizens stuck in the shadows of society.

To not acknowledge that the people who would gain a pathway to legalization are already citizens is inconsistent with conservativism because the ideology of conservativism does not recognize paperwork as the overarching prerequisite for membership into society.  One’s contribution to society, their participation as a member of society, and their stake in the future of society is much more important, and in each of these ways, children who were brought here on no part of their own free will, but have grown with and into the heart of this country are as much a part of this country as you or I.  To rip that bond with society out of animosity for an act they had no power to prevent is as radical as those who argue that the bond between a father and his son is inconsequential.

Human migration is a natural phenomenon that has occurred throughout history.  Our Founding Fathers argued that King George’s attempt to prevent migration into the colonies was an assault on the lives of the colonists.  Without humans, the fundamental engine of society, there can be no nation.  There exists no successful country or nation on this planet that has ever persevered without human and economic growth.  We are a unique society in that our biggest problem is managing the massive growth of our economy as we absorb more people.  For many countries they build walls not to keep people out, but to keep them in.  The wall we are building along our southern border is not only a remarkable testament to our ignorance of history, but an astonishing example of just how much conservatives have lost their faith in the power of liberty and human spirit.

The Dream Act acknowledges our government’s role in creating an immigration policy that is incongruent with reality.  To think that people will simply accept their fate of poverty when hope and opportunity are a border away is as impractical as it is foolish.  The Dream Act acknowledges what we already know, that we are inextricably tied to the world around us.  We argue that the free movement of capital and that the diversification of the flow of goods is positive for society, but for some reason diversification is bad when it comes to human capital.  This is the true radicalism.   Those who would try to preserve this country as one would a diorama in a snow globe are the true radicals trying to socially engineer society.

We must accept human fallibility, our role in the creation of our immigration policy contradictions and we must work to rectify the damage we are committing on our community by rejecting our own daughters and sons.  Rather, we must work to integrate these people into society so they can be productive members of this great country from outside of the shadows.  These people have worked in the face of great obstacles to be good citizens, to get an education and they only seek a chance to further their contribution.  They are overwhelmingly faithful people by nature.  They are overwhelmingly already related to us by blood.  Our Founders were well aware of the important link between liberty, faith and education.  Thomas Jefferson, a genius of his time, had written on his gravestone, “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson. Author of the Declaration of Independence of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia”.  For a man who accomplished so much, this is what he chose to be remembered as.

Let us move forward as a society.  Let us support the Dream Act.  Let us embrace our sons and our daughters.  They are us and they are our future.

Stephen A. Nuño, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University. He can be reached atStephen.Nuno@nau.edu ^[1]