Senate set to vote on whether to take up DREAM Act

Hourly Update
Senate set to vote on whether to take up DREAM Act
By Dave Montgomery
McClatchy Newspapers

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.23.2007

WASHINGTON — The Senate faces another contentious showdown on immigration Wednesday when it considers legislation designed to put thousands of undocumented immigrant students on track to U.S. citizenship.


Though far more limited than a comprehensive immigration bill that collapsed in the Senate in late June, the debate on the proposed DREAM Act will nevertheless resurrect the same warring sides from the earlier immigration battle.


The Senate faces a late-morning vote to take up the measure Wednesday, with supporters needing at least 60 votes to move forward with debate. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the chief sponsor, acknowledged Tuesday that his side has solid assurances of only about 55 votes, but he hopes to secure commitments from wavering senators.


Known officially as the “Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act,â€

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
Oct. 23, 2007 – 1:25 p.m.
Senate Sets Test Vote on Immigrant Education Bill
Senate Democrats will resume the immigration debate tomorrow with an effort to call up legislation to allow some children of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States and earn legal status.

Wednesday’s vote on whether to proceed to debate on the so-called DREAM Act is a test to see if the chamber is ready to support a piecemeal approach to legalization of some of the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

The billl, sponsored by Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., would allow the children of illegal immigrants who entered the United States before age 16 and lived here at least five years to gain conditional legal status and eventual citizenship if they attend college or join the military for at least two years.

A spokesman for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., implied that the chamber should be focused on moving the unfinished fiscal 2008 spending bills instead of addressing the DREAM Act.

“It’s curious, though, now that we’re in the fourth week of the new fiscal year, and still haven’t sent a single appropriations bill to the president, why we’re setting aside the funding bills for non-emergency issues,â€

Thousands of gang members, other criminals, and assorted illegal aliens are eagerly awaiting, with forged documents in hand, for this to pass. The fraud potential is enormous. How many millions of grade school illegals are there and they continue to pour in........it's an ongoing amnesty for anyone with a kid or who will ever have a kid. What an enormous incentive for someone to come here and have a child.

The military will become a training ground for gang members as has already been shown.

Senate bills could reopen immigration debate

TheHill.com
By Manu Raju
October 23, 2007
Two measures headed to the Senate floor could reopen an immigration debate that left the chamber bitterly divided this past summer.

The Senate on Wednesday will vote to proceed to the so-called Dream Act, which would give undocumented students a chance to attend college. Next week the Senate may move to a measure that would overhaul farm policies, which Senate Democrats want to become a vehicle for a plan allowing undocumented agriculture workers to win legal status.

The outcome of the votes will likely determine whether the 110th Congress can move any measures that could pave a pathway to citizenship for any of the nation’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

“I think the Dream Act is a litmus test,â€

All you need is the Dream Act and the AG bill. What the first one doesn't catch, the second one will. Think about it. Every illegal alien will suddenly become a farm worker, just like the last go around. We will have 30-40 year old "students." They won't deport any of these peoples familes, so you just about covered everybody!

[quote]Sessions warned that he would bury the bill with amendments if cloture is invoked on Wednesday. He said if Democrats try to use procedural tactics to block amendments, the measure will have the same fate as the broader overhaul.

“I think it’s going to be a whole big messâ€

[b]We must stop it NOW!! Get your call in everyone we need all the support we can get, according to Numbers USA they have 55 votes and only need 60!!! CALL!!![/b



------------ACTION ALERT! ----------------------
10/24"DREAM ACT" AS A STAND ALONE BILL" HELP STOP IT NOW!!
VOTING CLOCTURE TODAY !!! CALL
Link to action thread!!
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=87045
Contact Info...Senators, Representatives & USEFUL INFORMATION
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?

FAIR ACTION ALERT!!!

DREAM Act Vote Wednesday Morning!!!
Urge Your Senators to Vote NO!

Information spread like wildfire across the back rooms of Capitol Hill today as Senators continue to weigh their votes on the DREAM Act. Senate sources confirm that the first cloture vote to bring the bill up on the floor is expected WEDNESDAY MORNING! Senate Republican Leadership has taken an official position against the DREAM Act and is working hard behind the scenes right now to tally Senators' positions. At this point, all indications are that tomorrow's cloture vote is going to be a "squeaker" and that every vote will count.

The DREAM Act will grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and help them pay college tuition at taxpayer expense. There is NO CAP on the number of people who may receive amnesty under the DREAM Act. Moreover, to make even more people eligible for amnesty under the program, Homeland Security may waive the following offenses:

Failure to show up in court;
Obtaining visas by fraud;
Alien smuggling;
Document fraud;
Violation of student visas;
Marriage fraud;
Falsely claiming citizenship;
Voter fraud.

Once an illegal alien applies for legal status under the DREAM Act, he or she may not be removed-FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER-while the application is pending. Furthermore, the educational requirements in the bill are virtually meaningless as Homeland Security may waive the application of them if the alien can show "compelling circumstances for the inability to complete the requirements." And, illegal aliens who obtain amnesty under this bill will likely become eligible for in-state tuition and for federal financial aid.

Again, the first cloture vote tomorrow will be to decide whether to bring the bill up on the Senate floor. If that passes, the Senate will debate the bill. Then there will be a second cloture vote to decide whether to end debate on the bill. Even if you have already called your Senators, PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS AGAIN AND URGE THEM TO VOTE NO ON BOTH CLOTURE VOTES!!! Tell your Senators that if they were serious about true immigration reform, they would not be rewarding illegal activity, but instead would secure the border; mandate employment eligibility verification; put an end to state and local sanctuary policies; stop businesses from importing cheap foreign labor; and end chain migration.

To find the phone numbers of your Senators, click here. Remember, if you cannot get through to the D.C. office, be sure to try the local offices. Their staffers will be logging calls too.

ONCE YOU HAVE CALLED YOUR SENATORS, URGE YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS TO CALL TOO! EVERY CALL IS CRITICAL!

Yes, I think we all greatly respect Sen. Sessions, but we can't take any chances, who knows what will happen if this gets by cloture, as you know.

Everyone, PLEASE keep calling, leave voice mails tonight and let's hit hard early tomorrow morning!!