Thread: Action Alert! DREAM Act Update

Update: DREAM Act previously S.774 has been introduced as an amendment to H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act (Defense Authorization Bill) as SA 2237, Title XXXIII (National Defense Stockpile), Sec. 3301 (Authorized Uses Of National Defense Stockpile Funds). It is number 254 of 353 proposed amendments.

[b]Who but our corrupt and pandering senators would think of incorporating the DREAM Act into “stockpileâ€

RELATED STORY

To stay in U.S., grab a book or rifle
By Dan Moffett

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Except for Halliburton shareholders, broadcast gab freaks and Al-Qaeda recruiters, it's hard to find people who are benefitting from the war in Iraq.

You certainly would not expect the children of illegal immigrants to wind up in the ever-shortening Iraq winners column. But, strangely enough, some of them might.

A chain of unintended consequences that reaches from here to Baghdad could have a beneficial link for college-bound illegal immigrants. It goes like this:

As the war moves into its fifth year, the strain on the U.S. military is growing intolerable. And the Army can't make recruiting quotas. And Congress - especially Republicans who support the war effort - are inclined to take extraordinary measures to fill uniforms. And one of the leftover ideas from the summer's failed attempt at immigration reform is called the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

The Dream Act, as it is popularly known, calls for giving permanent residency to illegal immigrants who complete two years of college or two years of military service.

And so, conservative lawmakers who otherwise might recoil at the thought of giving even limited amnesty to illegal students have no problem at all saying yes if part of the deal also involves giving amnesty to illegal soldiers.

The Pentagon has about run out of ways to lower recruiting standards - the Army has turned to offering $20,000 enlistment bonuses to 42-year-olds and overweight high school dropouts - and is desperate to put bodies in uniforms. This is the wrong time to make immigration status a barrier to service, when it seems almost nothing else is.

And so, as a political trade-off for helping restock the military, as many as 300,000 young illegal immigrants in the United States could get the chance to go to college without fear of deportation and remain here permanently. Of course, they also would get the chance to serve in Iraq.

About 5,000 illegal immigrants graduate from Florida high schools each year, and among them are some of the most gifted students the state produces. Nationally acclaimed Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach has graduated dozens of talented, high-achieving illegal immigrants through the years and then watched them enter a scholastic limbo.

They do not qualify for in-state tuition rates, and without Social Security numbers, they can't get scholarships, loans or work. Worse, because the federal government tightened restrictions on foreign enrollment at colleges after Sept. 11, illegal students fear deportation for even applying to schools.

Advocates for the Dream Act make the compelling argument that promising college students are exactly the kind of immigrants the nation wants and needs. They have a high probability of success, have a lot to contribute and have stayed out of trouble.

Lawmakers on the right long have argued that U.S. immigration policy should give priority to educated immigrants who bring skills into the economy. These are those immigrants, and the government is casting them aside.

Children who were brought into the country illegally by their parents don't deserve punishment for decisions that were out of their control. Among GOP senators who have supported versions of Dream Act legislation proposed during the past five years are Utah's Orrin Hatch and Kansas' Sam Brownback. Republicans don't come much more conservative than that.

"We have a chance to either keep these talented young people underground," Sen. Hatch says, "or give them a chance to contribute to the United States."

Immigrants who dream of a college education may end up doing their dreaming in Iraq. For many, it is a price worth paying.


www.palmbeachpost.com

I think it should be a felony to attempt to put anything in a bill that does not relate directly to that bill. This one is going to be hard, if not impossible to defeat. Have the talk radio hosts heard about this?

Article 1 of the US Constitution says:

Section. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Well this bill seems to me to have constitutional problems. It is against the constitution for laws to apply retroactively. Therefore, the law that applies is the one in place when they broke into our country by cover of darkness. They would still be criminals, at least until they were deported and broke in again. Even so, they then would not be "innocent children" being dragged against their will by their parents anymore would they? I am not an attorney, but this is my interpretation. Of course, the constitution is nothing but a GD piece of paper right?

I just heard General David Petraeus talk about a troop withdrawl tonight.

Doesn't look like we are going to need those illegal aliens in Iraq.

More on the withdrawl.
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... 495#470495

Dixie

OK, don't get upset about this yet.

Lots of ammendments are filed on this bill 99% will not even be considered. This is an active bill but it is not on the floor.

254. S.AMDT.2237 to H.R.1585 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 7/16/2007) Cosponsors (16)
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2007 Senate amendment submitted

This ammendment can not be passed, until this bill is on the Senate Floor for discussion. Reid will decide what ammendments will be considered and they are suspposed to be related to the bill. Also, the Senate will vote on each ammendment before it is attatched to the bill.

The last action on this bill.

7/31/2007:
Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 189.

They are backsiding the citizens of this country and is truly a slap in the face.

I am a disabled veteran and have 2 children and 4 grand children ... I dont see an appropriations bill for them or your children and grand children... it is time to empty the house and Senate and as for BUSH... IMPEACHMENT IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS CORRUPT PIECE OF SHI_

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

They are backsiding the citizens of this country and is truly a slap in the face.

I am a disabled veteran and have 2 children and 4 grand children ... I dont see an appropriations bill for them or your children and grand children... it is time to empty the house and Senate and as for BUSH... IMPEACHMENT IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS CORRUPT PIECE OF SHI_

Airborne ...I emailed Hillary about a mth. ago and told her if anyone should get a "Dream Act" it should be the children of our brave soldiers NOT the children of illegal Immigrants.

I hope you email some of these idiots and let them know how you feel...how we all feel about this.

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

They are backsiding the citizens of this country and is truly a slap in the face.

I am a disabled veteran and have 2 children and 4 grand children ... I dont see an appropriations bill for them or your children and grand children... it is time to empty the house and Senate and as for BUSH... IMPEACHMENT IS TOO GOOD FOR THIS CORRUPT PIECE OF SHI_

Careful Airborne, you could find yourself in gitmo I personally think he should be impeached and charged with treason and perjury. I recall him taking an oath to defend our constitution.

Dixie, I pray you are right. Clearly the DOD is only supporting this garbage for recruiting purposes. If they are withdrawing troops there will be no justification the pro-illegals can use for passing this.

I asked my reps if provisions were being made for the children of U.S. citizens who are incarcerated, deceased, veterans, etc. I'm so sick of Americans being ignored while they continuously champion causes for the illegals.

I will continue to watch this closely, because I simply don't trust our government. There is no limit to their deception, and they may attach this to another unrelated bill in hopes of securing the Hispanic vote.