DREAMers and their families: A family impact analysis of the DREAM Act and implications for family well-being

Discourse around immigration reform largely centers on economic and national security issues and rarely mentions the well-being of families. This paper applies Family Impact Analysis (FIA) and rhetorical discourse analysis to the congressional hearings, debates, and documents surrounding the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act to examine representations of immigrant families and implications for their well-being. Our analysis reveals that while the discourse in the DREAM Act and related congressional documents gives voice to undocumented children, it undermines family well-being. In particular, the Act promotes the rights of children over their parents, discourages family stability and unity, and impacts family interdependence negatively. Findings suggest that further consideration of FIA, in light of immigration reform efforts, is essential to crafting a policy that supports children and families during periods of transition.