Thread: Foes line up to oppose Dream Act

Foes line up to oppose Dream Act
The Miami Herlad : September 14 , 2007 -- by LESLEY CLARK

''I'm somewhat sympathetic, but in the eyes of the law they are illegal, regardless of age or however gifted they are as students,'' said John Keeley of the Center for Immigration Studies. Keeley acknowledged the bill would affect a small "but to the extent it's passed and signed into law, it creates momentum for more of its kind.''

Months after the collapse of a sweeping immigration overhaul, a top Senate Democrat plans to push for a smaller measure that could give tens of thousands of undocumented high school and college students a shot at legalization.

The legislation, known as the Dream Act, could give students who were brought to the United States before they were 16 a chance for residency if they graduate high school, stay out of trouble and complete at least two years of college or enlist in the military.

Immigration advocates say the legislation, which Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., hopes to introduce as soon as next week, is the best chance for students like brothers Juan and Alex Gomez, who came to the United States as infants, were educated in Miami-Dade public schools and are now fighting orders of deportation to Colombia.

But opponents already are gearing up, hoping to torpedo the measure, which they consider "piecemeal amnesty.''

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who who helped derail the immigration bill, this week sent out a letter to his colleagues, warning that ''a conservative estimate suggests that at least one million illegal aliens will qualify'' for the provision.

Though Sessions' opposition is not unexpected, it represents one of the considerable hurdles the legislation has faced since it was introduced in 2001. The climate for passage may be particularly tough this year, with anti-immigration advocates emboldened by the defeat of the larger immigration bill, which had the backing of President Bush and Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, the general chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Pro-Dream Act groups are unlikely to have Martinez's support this time around. Durbin plans to offer it as an amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill. A spokesman for Martinez said Friday that the senator doesn't support ''adding immigration-related amendments'' to the defense bill.

Durbin acknowledges the uphill battle, but said he has bipartisan backing and is working both sides to garner more support.

''Thousands of young people are counting on this effort,'' said Durbin, who argued on the Senate floor that ``we can allow a generation of immigrant students with great potential and ambitions to contribute more fully to our society and national security, or we can relegate them to a future in the shadows.''

Durbin suggested the act could boost military recruiting efforts and is hoping interest from the Defense Department will persuade some of the bill's critics to take a second look.

Bill Carr, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, told representatives of veterans' group in June that the measure -- which was then part of the immigration bill -- could "boost military recruiting.''

A Defense Department's news agency article quoted Carr as saying that because the provision applies to the ''cream of the crop'' of students, it would be ''very appealing'' to the military.

Cheryl Little, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, which represents the Gomez brothers, says the act is the best opportunity for the Kendall brothers to stay in the United States.

''They've done everything right, studied hard, worked hard. Why wouldn't we take advantage of that?'' she said. "It's counterintuitive to be deporting success stories.''

But groups that favor stricter caps on immigration argue that the law doesn't make exceptions.

''I'm somewhat sympathetic, but in the eyes of the law they are illegal, regardless of age or however gifted they are as students,'' said John Keeley of the Center for Immigration Studies. Keeley acknowledged the bill would affect a small "but to the extent it's passed and signed into law, it creates momentum for more of its kind.''

Sessions argues in his letter to his Senate colleagues that the Dream Act and a separate immigration measure that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is pursuing ''would provide amnesty to approximately four million illegal aliens [roughly one third of the current illegal alien population].'' Feinstein's AgJOBS bill would allow agricultural workers to obtain legal status.

Among Sessions' complaints: it would eliminate a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state tuition to undocumented immigrant students.

The act, he says, would "allow future illegal aliens to qualify for in-state tuition even when it is not offered to citizens and legal permanent resident students living just across state lines.''

And Sessions argues that the act ''is not just for children and young adults.'' It only requires that the immigrant's illegal entry occur before they were 16 years old and says nothing about their current age.

Where's the url to the article??

And Sessions argues that the act ''is not just for children and young adults.'' It only requires that the immigrant's illegal entry occur before they were 16 years old and says nothing about their current age.

Which adds how many millions???

Here's the url:

http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/238390.html

U.S. SENATE
Martinez balks on new immigrant measure
Posted on Mon, Sep. 17, 2007
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Immigration advocates hope to push a small part of the failed immigration-reform package forward, but they are unlikely to have one of the package's biggest champions in their corner.

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who came under withering criticism from the conservative wing of his Republican Party for playing a key role in backing an immigration overhaul, said Friday he was not inclined to support the DREAM Act -- legislation that would help the children of illegal immigrants stay in the United States.

Martinez's office said the senator -- who doubles as general chairman of the Republican National Committee -- does not support ''adding immigration-related amendments'' to the defense bill. That is exactly what DREAM Act sponsor Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., plans to do.

Durbin says the Defense Department has given the legislation a thumbs-up because it would give children of illegal immigrants a shot at residency if they complete two years of college or enlist in the military.

Look for a day of lobbying Wednesday, including a likely protest at Martinez's offices in Miami. Florida's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, is a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act.

-- LESLEY CLARK

http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/240502.html

Does anyone know if the American Legion has an official position on the provision which would grant illegal aliens amnesty in return for military service? They had such a strong platform on immigration reform which coincided with the Senate Amnesty Bill (S. 1639); it really would be great if they came out in opposition to this provision of the DREAM ACT!

Has anyone read anywhere exactly who is going to police these rules and regualtions should this be passed?

Who is going to decide whether thousands of young people are staying out of trouble? What if they drop out of college?

This is another fast one being pushed through without alot of thought on how it would be enforced. We'll need a whole new government agency to monitor this mess unless we stop this in it's tracks.

What they need to do is start introduceing bill to get our laws enforced and put these out of hand judges in their place, evidentlily they are writing the laws so the judges can 't under stand them, how about a little of that energy in the law enfocement area!!!

Im emailing and calling my representatives and trying to alert others to do
the same. Im a bit shocked at how many people dont know whats going on.
At least they are infuriated and will make their opinions known first thing
tomorrow!

THE ANSWER IS NO. NO AMNESTY FOR ANY ILLEGALS IN ANY FORM. I DO FEEL SORRY FOR SOME WHO CAME HERE AS LITTLE KIDS, BUT WE HAVE TO HOLD THE LINE. EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL. BUT I AM MORE SYMPATHETIC TO THE MYRIAD OF STORIES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THAT HAS TO COME FIRST. AMERICANS FIRST ALWAYS.