http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary ... 5a.article

A win-win idea loses in Senate

October 25, 2007
Hard to believe, but the U.S. Senate on Wednesday turned down a potential pool of 1 million new soldiers.

They told them to forget about going to college, too.

The message they sent was that our country doesn't need any more teachers, doctors, lawyers or soldiers. They might as well have said we want more dishwashers, maids and farm workers.

Their decision means that fewer young immigrants will pay taxes and more will rely on public health care. Ultimately, there will be fewer young people contributing to the economy, building our brain trust.

So, what did the Senate do? They voted down the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, co-sponsored by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin. It needed 60 votes but got only 52.

The DREAM act would have benefitted children who came here before they turned 16, lived here at least five years and graduated from high school without getting into trouble. Under the proposal, they would have received green cards after completing two years of college or serving two years in the military. Eventually, they could have become U.S. citizens.

The Senate wasted an opportunity to make America stronger. They had already failed to enact comprehensive immigration reform this year, and this could have made up a bit for their colossal mistake by crafting a win-win: Illegal immigrants who went to college or served in the military would get to stay legally, and we would get soldiers and educated taxpayers.

But that's not what happened. Worse, the debate turned ugly. Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado called on immigration officials to raid a news conference Tuesday where Durbin featured students who would benefit from the act. Luckily, someone was thinking over at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they refused to send agents. As it turns out, the students at the news conference have temporary legal status. Durbin said the immigration debate has reached a "low point in America."

The bill didn't differ that much from current immigration policy. Our country already allows highly skilled professionals from foreign countries to work here through specific visa programs and gives citizenship to legal residents who serve in the military. Why can't we give visas to kids who grew up on American soil? They speak English and graduated from our high schools. These young people are culturally American. They are not criminals. How can we hold them accountable for the crimes of their parents? They were brought here as children. To send them back to countries they don't know just doesn't make sense.

The truth is there aren't many Americans clamoring to join the military, and our troops are on their second and third tours of duty in Iraq.

"Publicly and privately, military officials said this was a great opportunity for young people to become part of America's military strength," Durbin told us.

If these young people are willing to sign up, we should make them legal. Now that would be a true act of patriotism.