Durbin bill triggering lobby blitz

Durbin bill triggering lobby blitz
TheHill.com
By Jessica Holzer
September 25, 2007

The immigration battle may reignite this week over Senate legislation that would allow hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to achieve legal status after attending college or enlisting in the military.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the majority whip, wants to offer the legislation, dubbed the DREAM Act, as an amendment to the defense authorization bill, which the Senate could vote on this week.

But the Illinois Democrat has yet to strike a deal with Republicans, who may block the amendment from consideration, and he faces intense competition from Senate colleagues fighting to attach other provisions to the defense bill.

Although procedural obstacles could bottle up the amendment, the possibility of a vote has spurred groups on both sides of the immigration debate to ratchet up their lobbying efforts, three months after sweeping immigration reform collapsed in the Senate.

NumbersUSA, which was instrumental in sinking the earlier Senate legislation, has alerted its 550,000-strong activist network to the prospect of a vote on the DREAM Act and on Thursday it flooded lawmakers with more than 260,000 faxes opposing the legislation, according to a spokeswoman for the group, Caroline Espinosa.

Meanwhile, the roster of Hispanic, civil rights, church and labor groups that have been pushing for a relaxation of the immigration laws are supporting the legislation. They are joined by new allies, such as the National Education Association and the American Council on Education, that believe the legislation will help keep talented students in school. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, however, is not throwing its weight behind the DREAM Act because it doesn’t do enough to help businesses, the group’s director of immigration policy, Angelo Amador, said.

Durbin’s legislation would allow only those illegal immigrants under the age of 30 who came to the U.S. at least five years before the date of enactment to apply for permanent residency. Also, candidates must display “good moral characterâ€

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Proponents portray the DREAM Act as a targeted measure that would give a limited group of high-achieving immigrants a chance at legal status, while critics say it will lead to untold cases of fraud and encourage more illegal immigration.

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How is getting a GED considered "high acheiving"? Give me a break.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce, however, is not throwing its weight behind the DREAM Act because it doesn’t do enough to help businesses, the group’s director of immigration policy, Angelo Amador, said.

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Yeah, they're saving their political capital (bribes and influence) and energy for Feinstein's Ag Jobs Amendment to the Agricultrual Bill next.

[quote]Durbin’s legislation would allow only those illegal immigrants under the age of 30 who came to the U.S. at least five years before the date of enactment to apply for permanent residency. Also, candidates must display “good moral characterâ€

Good point zeezil. You can drive a truck through all the large loopholes in the DA amnesty proposal.

Really, "tallented students" would be recieve scholarships.

What is La Raza and LULAC doing with all those tax dollars that are given to help the needy and for education? Isn't that why they beg our government for funding. They submit funding applications.

Dixie