Today the Senate leadership made several strategic and unprecedented moves to make sure the DREAM Act has the greatest possible chance of passage. On Wednesday, the Senate delayed its initially scheduled cloture vote on S. 3992. That delay enabled the House to take its vote and win last night. Today, Thursday, the Senate withdrew its bill on the "table" vote. Now the way is cleared for the House bill to move forward in the Senate.
Washington D.C. - Today, the Senate voted 56 to 43 against proceeding to the Defense Authorization Act. This procedural vote, which basically followed party lines, ends consideration of critical social issues that affect the military and were to be offered as amendments to the bill. Among the amendments not considered is the DREAM Act, an immigration bill that would provide legal status to young people who graduate from high school and pursue college or military service.
Washington, D.C. - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would attach the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act to the Department of Defense authorization bill expected to come before the Senate as early as next week. The vote will be an important test of whether Congress can transcend partisan politics and work together on crafting solutions to the broken immigration system that both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge is in desperate need of reform. That the proposal will be considered as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill is appropriate, given the Department of Defense's support for DREAM Act as a way to improve military readiness.
First introduced in 2001, the DREAM Act would address the plight of young immigrants who have been raised in the U.S. and managed to succeed despite the challenges of being brought to the U.S. without proper documentation. The proposal would offer a path to legal status to those who have graduated from high-school, have stayed out of trouble and plan to attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.
Each year, approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school, many at the top of their classes, but cannot go to college, join the military, work, or otherwise pursue their dreams. They belong to the 1.5 generation - any (first generation) immigrants brought to the United States at a young age who were largely raised in this country and therefore share much in common with second generation Americans. These students are culturally American, growing up here and often having little attachment to their country of birth. They tend to be bicultural and fluent in English.
Research has shown that providing a legal status for young people who have a proven record of success in the United States would be a boon to the economy and the U.S. workforce. University presidents and educational associations, as well as military recruiters, business and religious leaders have added their voice to those calling for passage of the bill. Foreign-born students represent a significant and growing percentage of the current student population. Unfortunately, immigration status and the associated barriers to higher education contribute to a higher-than-average high dropout rate, which costs taxpayers and the economy billions of dollars each year.
The DREAM Act would eliminate these barriers for many students, and the DREAM Act's high school graduation requirement would provide a powerful incentive for students who might otherwise drop out to stay in school and graduate. This will help boost the number of high skilled American-raised workers. As they take their place in the workplace as hard working, taxpaying Americans, they will contribute a lifetime of revenues at the local, state and federal level.
Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Bill Carr, supports the DREAM Act and stated that the law would be "good for readiness" and would help to recruit "cream of the crop" students. The DREAM Act is part of the Department of Defense's 2010-2012 Strategic Plan to assist the military in it's recruiting efforts.
For more information on the DREAM Act see:
Here is an interesting article by Mary Giovagnoli that appeared in the Immigration Impact.
An interesting read from Julia Preston of the New York Times regarding allegations from Republican lawmakers that the Obama administration is attempting to enact “meaningful immigration reform absent legislative action” — that is, without the consent of the American people through a vote in Congress.
Katie Couric talks to experts on both sides of the Arizona immigration law (SB 1070) that has ignited a firestorm of controversy as well as a federal lawsuit. She is joined by Christina Rodriguez, a Law Professor at NYU; Doris Meissner, a Senior Fellow at Migration Policy Institute and a former INS Commissioner; and Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
As a follow up to President Obama's immigration speech last week, Kiran Chetry, Anchor of CNN's American Morning interviews Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, author of a new book, "A Country for All". Ramos comments on President Obama's speech and urges him to make comprehensive immigration reform a priority. Last week, President Obama called for securing the borders and paving the way for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants to become legal citizens.
Given the firestorm of controversy surrounding Arizona's new immigration law (SB 1070), we are providing a copy of the law for your reference. Whichever side you take, it is important to read the law so that you can formulate an opinion based on the facts.
Nothing like one of the NBA's greatest coaches and most recognizable personalities adding a little fuel to the immigration embrolio. In fact, the timing couldn't be any better as "Los Suns" face Jackson's Lakers in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
