On-Going Push For the DREAM Act

Katie Pavlich | December 03, 2010 10:57 AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is now pushing four different versions of the DREAM Act, each giving illegal immigrants brought to the United States by their parents citizenship if they promise to attend college for two years or join the military. The DREAM Act has not yet been reviewed by the Judiciary Committee and an official Congressional Budget Office shows the legislation costing taxpayers $6.2 billion per year, adding to the deficit.
Senator Jeff Sessions, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote a letterto his Senate colleagues yesterday expressing his disappointment by Democratic leadership to push this legislation, calling it “poorly drafted, filled with loopholes and will without doubt encourage future illegal immigration.” He also said all four versions of the bill would provide unrestricted amnesty even for illegal aliens with criminal records.
“Trying to rush this bill through the lame duck session, against the wishes of the public, and in this highly suspect fashion, is the perfect example of why the American people have lost faith in this institution,” he said.

The White House disagrees with claims that the DREAM Act is amnesty, saying the bill requires a “lengthy and vigorous process” for illegals to obtain legal status and believes it is essential to pass the bill immediately.
“There is such an urgency to act,” Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke stated in a phone conference today regarding why this legislation is being pushed now.
“The important thing here is to get the job done,” Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Munoz added.
Munoz also said in a video produced by the White House earlier this week that the DREAM Act is just a portion of President Obama’s agenda on immigration.
Regent University President Dr. Carlos Campo had an interesting take on the legislation.
“The DREAM Act goes a long way in some ways to make amends for and address our own responsibility for where we are today,” he said in reference to the overall issue of illegal immigration.
A vote on the DREAM Act is expected next week and needs 60 Senate votes to pass.