Thread: Houston Chronicle today on Dream Act

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Sept. 26, 2007, 8:35AM
Hope fades for passage of bill to aid young illegal immigrants


By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

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WASHINGTON — The hope for immediate Senate action on the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants, faded Tuesday as the measure's chief Senate sponsor acknowledged he was having difficulty surmounting Republican opposition.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has been seeking to attach the DREAM Act to the defense authorization bill pending in the Senate. But in an interview Tuesday, he said the DREAM Act isn't among the items on the table as Republican and Democratic leaders discuss ways to quickly wrap up debate on the defense bill.

"We haven't given up completely, but the options on this bill are limited,'' Durbin said.

"I'm disappointed for thousands of young people whose lives are just in limbo," he added. "They want to move on with their lives and do good things, and unfortunately we haven't been able to pass the laws to make that happen."

Immigrant-rights advocates were dismayed by the setback but vowed to find other means to pass the legislation, which they have sought since 2001.

"There is no question that this issue doesn't stop here," said Cecilia Muñoz, senior vice president of the National Council of La Raza. "The longer we wait, the more talented young people we close the door of opportunity to."

The DREAM Act would allow illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. before the age of 16, and have lived here at least five years, to receive conditional legal status if they have graduated from high school and have a clean record. After six years, they could become permanent legal residents if they serve in the U.S. military for at least two years or complete at least two years of college. As with most green card holders, they could apply for citizenship after five years.

The non-partisan Migration Policy Institute estimates slightly more than 1 million high school graduates and children still in school could gain legal status under the legislation.

The bill is officially the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

With conservatives being barraged with calls, faxes and e-mails from anti-illegal immigration groups that view the DREAM Act as a form of amnesty, some Republicans who supported the measure in the past have been reluctant to do so now. Durbin needs 60 votes to surmount an expected filibuster.

"We will try to block it," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Some Senate Republicans, including Texans Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, object to the immigration measure being brought up on a defense bill.

"Putting extraneous things on this bill isn't helpful," Hutchison said.

Other Republicans aren't ready to revisit an immigration debate that imploded in June when the Senate scuttled a sweeping overhaul endorsed by the White House that would have given most illegal immigrants a chance for legal status.

"People, I think, want to let the immigration thing cool off a bit before we jump back in," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican who helped derail the comprehensive immigration bill.

Josh Bernstein, federal policy director for the National Immigration Law Center, predicted DREAM Act supporters eventually will prevail.

"The politics is right and the commitment is there," Bernstein said. "We're not giving up."

michelle.mittelstadt@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5165794.html

This is my comment to Senators Durbin, Obama and Clinton. Use if you wish. Now the Senators want your zip code to make sure you are a constitutent or they won't pass your comments on to the elected official. I think this is a load of bull. We should be able to contact any elected official and express our feelings.

The people of America keep saying NO to amnesty but the Washington politicians continue trying to ram it down our throats. We have said NO to previous occasions and now Sen. Durbin and others are attaching an amnesty amendment to the Defense bill. Any Senator who votes FOR this bill will NOT be re-elected. Supposedly you are in Washington to represent the American public but you're NOT listening to us. Now you are limiting our contact with Senators who do not represent us. WE have the right to voice our opinion to ANY Senator in Washington whether we are his/her constitutent or not. Maybe you don't understand how disgusted we are that you keep trying to reward illegal criminals and NOT American citizens who contribute to this economy and shed blood and limbs for our freedoms. You have voted AGAINST English as the official language of the United States. Our constitution and Bill of Rights do NOT start with "see page 2 for espanol". You have voted FOR giving our social security to illegal immigrants who have not contributed but only take from the system. Now there is another 'amnesty addendum' being attached to the Dept of Defense budget and you are listed as being one of the co-contributors with Sen. Durbin. If you are so interested in taking care of Mexicans why not immigrate to that country and run for office there? Americans do NOT need you giving our jobs and money to criminals.

Originally Posted by puglover

This is my comment to Senators Durbin, Obama and Clinton. Use if you wish. Now the Senators want your zip code to make sure you are a constitutent or they won't pass your comments on to the elected official. I think this is a load of bull. We should be able to contact any elected official and express our feelings.

The people of America keep saying NO to amnesty but the Washington politicians continue trying to ram it down our throats. We have said NO to previous occasions and now Sen. Durbin and others are attaching an amnesty amendment to the Defense bill. Any Senator who votes FOR this bill will NOT be re-elected. Supposedly you are in Washington to represent the American public but you're NOT listening to us. Now you are limiting our contact with Senators who do not represent us. WE have the right to voice our opinion to ANY Senator in Washington whether we are his/her constitutent or not. Maybe you don't understand how disgusted we are that you keep trying to reward illegal criminals and NOT American citizens who contribute to this economy and shed blood and limbs for our freedoms. You have voted AGAINST English as the official language of the United States. Our constitution and Bill of Rights do NOT start with "see page 2 for espanol". You have voted FOR giving our social security to illegal immigrants who have not contributed but only take from the system. Now there is another 'amnesty addendum' being attached to the Dept of Defense budget and you are listed as being one of the co-contributors with Sen. Durbin. If you are so interested in taking care of Mexicans why not immigrate to that country and run for office there? Americans do NOT need you giving our jobs and money to criminals.

Welcome to the fight puglover. We need all patriots to call against this travesty and help us spead the word about ALIPAC.US.

Welcome aboard puglover - thanks for the help!

Another line that we use here is like this one (re: constituent vs. non-constituent):

Q. (to staffer) "And where does senator <x> get his/her paycheck?
A. (US Treasury; FEDERAL Government)
Q. (to staffer) "So only citizens/residents of state <X> pay the senator ?
A. No. - So, I'm a member of the public, and I'm calling!

Welcome Puglover, great letter!
I love pugs too

Well, it sounds encouraging and I hope it's true.

Gosh, Senator Durbin ... if you're wondering why you can't pass your bill, it's because AMERICANS REJECT AMNESTY IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM!!

You just wonder exactly how long it's going to take before they get this???

To Dreamies I say, head back home, apply for citizenship the legal way. If you want an education so badly, get an Hb1 Visa and WORK FOR IT. Be grateful for the education you have received here, and go back home and make YOUR country better than it is. Don't try to steal from this one to get what you want. Doing things the right way always wins out in the end. Cheating, lying, stealing -- never gets you anywhere.

No more THIEVERY of the American people!! We have had enough!

Q. (to staffer) "And where does senator <x> get his/her paycheck?
A. (US Treasury; FEDERAL Government)
Q. (to staffer) "So only citizens/residents of state <X> pay the senator ?
A. No. - So, I'm a member of the public, and I'm calling!

Sweet

ENFORCE THE LAWS and let them SELF-DEPORT. We don't need them destroying our country.

Well done, puglover!
Welcome to ALIPAC!

Originally Posted by reform_now

Well done, puglover!
Welcome to ALIPAC!

Yes, welcome. Every time they try to pull this on the American public we get more patriots joining ALIPAC. Welcome you are fighting for your country, kids, and generations to come.