In a surprise and significant move, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid today announced plans for a vote on the Defense Department Re-authorization bill early next week that will include the DREAM Act, according to the National Immigration Forum.

The DREAM Act, legislation that has been lingering in Congress for years, would provide a path to legalization for some young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents or others. It offers legalization to young people who attend college or join the military.

Pro-immigrant groups have in recent months pressed aggressively -- in light of the impasse on comprehensive immigration reform -- for passage of the more narrowly targeted DREAM Act.

The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum:

Senator Reid continues to be one of the Senate's greatest champions for immigrant youth in America and he has shown great courage with his decision to bring the DREAM Act to the floor of the United States Senate. The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation that enables high-achieving young people - immigrants who have been raised in the United States, have worked hard in school, and then pursue higher education or serve the United States Armed Forces - to achieve the American Dream. It is time to pass this important stepping stone to comprehensive immigration reform and we commend Senator Reid for bringing this forward for a vote.

There's a lot to digest here. First, the DREAM Act once did draw bipartisan support, but in today's tough-on-illegal-immigration climate, it faces a harder sell.

Critics of Reid will likely say he's simply pandering to the sizable Hispanic vote in Nevada on the eve of his challenging re-election bid to the U.S. senate.

In any event, it will be interesting to see what happens next week. Attaching bills to legislation that's urgent and high-priority like the Defense Department Re-authorization bill is a tried and true political maneuver.



http://blogs.chron.com/immigration/arch ... t_447.html