Delay gives DREAM Act short rest within Senate

Measure's backers hoping to build support
By GARY MARTIN WASHINGTON BUREAU
Dec. 9, 2010, 11:54PM
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EDWARD A. ORNELAS San Antonio Express-News
About 150 supporters of the DREAM Act march Thursday in San Antonio from Milam Park to the Alamo Plaza.

WASHINGTON — Supporters of a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who attended college or served in the military won a reprieve Thursday when Senate Democrats delayed a vote on the divisive legislation.

The delay will give supporters more time to sway Republican senators to pass the so-called DREAM Act bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate owed it to those whose lives would be affected to "honestly address the issue."

The House passed its version of the bill, 216-198, late Wednesday.

Texas senators targeted
"We now have the weekend and into next week to launch a national mobilization to get the votes to enact this important bill," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a major supporter of the measure in the House.

President Barack Obama supports the bill.

Mobilization efforts have targeted Republican senators for support of the bill, including Texas Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn. Republicans have vowed to vote en bloc to keep the Senate from passing the bill in this Congress, and Democrats need about a half dozen GOP lawmakers to reach the 60 votes needed to end procedural delays and bring the bill to a vote on passage.

Students and supporters have launched a hunger strike in San Antonio to persuade Hutchison to vote for the bill.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, on behalf of the strikers, spoke by telephone to Hutchison in an effort to convince the senator to vote for the legislation, aides said.

The conversation was described by aides as "cordial" but produced no change in her stance.

Supporters of the DREAM Act, meanwhile, applauded Reid for delaying a vote so that the Senate could take up the House version of the legislation before Congress adjourns.

"This keeps the opportunity to bring it up again later in the lame-duck session," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigration advocacy group.

The Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act would make eligible for citizenship immigrants who were brought into this country before age 16 and served in the military or went to college for two years.

1 million could apply
As many as 1 million immigrants would be eligible to apply for citizenship over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The House version of the bill would establish a one-year deadline to apply for legal status after completion of educational and military requirements. It contains tougher criminal and immigration restrictions on eligibility.

Applicants would have to pay $2,500 in fees under the House version and be 29 years or younger to seek a temporary protected status for 10 years before becoming eligible for citizenship.

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