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Title: BREAKING: (DREAM Act) Student Immigration Bill DIES In U.S. Senate
Source:
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
URL Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/act-267385-dream-bill.html
Published: Sep 21, 2010
Author: CINDY CARCAMO
Post Date: 2010-09-21 18:19:48 by Murron
Keywords: None
Views: 18363
Comments: 29
Sept. 21, 2010 Updated: 2:05 p.m. (DREAM Act) Student Immigration Bill DIES In U.S. Senate BY CINDY CARCAMO An act that would have given U.S. residency to certain students and military hopefuls who are in the country illegally died today in the Senate. Senators voted 56 to 43 for the bill, falling short of the 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor. The vote comes after activists ratcheted up their lobbying Monday, generating thousands of calls and faxes to members of Congress in a last-minute push for the DREAM Act. Democratic Senate leaders had wanted the DREAM Act – Development, Relief and Education for Minor Aliens – to be included as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. The act would give students and military hopefuls who are in the country illegally a pathway to U.S. citizenship. Locally, the measure has been met with fervor among the anti-illegal immigration contingency that is calling on its members to step up efforts, and threaten Senators with ouster if they vote for the act. Barbara Coe of Huntington Beach-based California Coalition for Immigration Reform – an anti-illegal immigration organization – sent members urgent e-mails listing the names and numbers of Senators. Tuesday afternoon, Coe rejoiced when she heard the news. "We were fighting every inch of the way and we had not idea which way it would go,” she said. “We were constantly contacting fellow patriots in addition to urging them to get on those phones and stay on those phones, send those faxes and so forth. With our messages, were our hopes and prayers." The push to build support for the act has also gained unprecedented steam nationally and locally in recent months. Members of the Orange County Dream Team have placed calls to decision makers and posted updates on their Face Book page, urging friends to take action. Nationally, supporters have held vigils and even spread out on a Florida beach to spell out the word "DREAM." Yenni Diaz, a community liaison for the orange County Dream Team, said she hoped the act would pass but was realistic, too. "We still want and are still going to be pushing for a stand-alone bill," said Diaz who said she's holding to hope that the bill will pass during the lame duck session in Congress. Diaz became part of the movement to support students who have lived here most of their lives and have gone on to higher education but are limited because of their legal status. Diaz said she and other Dream Act supporters planned to attend a rally in support of the bill in at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles. President Barack Obama has vowed to support the Act since his time in the Senate. "Now, the Senate is going to have a chance to do the right thing over the next few weeks when Senator Reid brings the DREAM Act to the floor," Obama said at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala on Wednesday, according to news reports. "Keep in mind, in the past, this was a bill that was supported by a majority of Democrats and Republicans. There's no reason why it shouldn't receive that same kind of bipartisan support today." The proposed federal legislation -- introduced by Senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Richard Lugar of Indiana and Reps. Howard Berman of California and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida -- has been around since 2000 but has faced opposition and defeat in the past. The bill would allow students who are in the country illegally and who have finished at least two years of college to apply for legal status. If the bill were to become law, those who are in the country illegally and serve at least two years of military service could also be eligible for legal residency. The bill would also allow those students to apply for legal permanent resident status, protect them from deportation and make them eligible for student loans and federal work study programs. Students would need to have lived here at least five years and have arrived before they were 16. Supporters of the bill say it would give students a chance to give back to America by allowing them to use their ability and education to become productive members of society. Critics say it would take already-scarce higher educational resources away from American students and give it to those who are in the country illegally. California senators Diane Feinstein (D-San Francisco) and Barbara Boxer (D-Rancho Mirage) are co-sponsors of the bill. LAWMAKERS AND READERS TAKE SIDES Aside from Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Anaheim), local members of Congress are overwhelming opposed to the DREAM Act.
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#1. To: Murron (#0)
Good news.
I think so too, but they'll try and slip it back in come November. If something like this ever passed, there would be no stopping the intire population of Mexico storming this country demanding the same.
#25. To: Murron (#2)
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#2. To: Nebuchadnezzar (#1)
(Edited)
Good news.
Replies to Comment # 2. Mexico storming this country
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