As the Senate Comes Back Into Session, DREAM Act May Be On The Move

Immigration Activists have long championed passing the DREAM Act, as the Senate comes back into session this week, momentum is building to finally achieve this goal.

According to America's Voice, the DREAM Act is:

"bipartisan legislation that would give eligible young people who were brought to the U.S. as children the opportunity to legalize their immigration status and work towards citizenship."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has indicated that he would like to bring the DREAM Act to the Senate floor this session. From an interview in El Tiempo:

El Tiempo: On immigration, it seems any hope for a reform is at a standstill. Is there any chance left?

Reid: Contrary to what people think, I don’t think immigration is at a standstill. It’s not at a standstill.The problem is Republicans won’t let us move forward on immigration, it is a federal problem. As I said before, the two Arizona senators are the most opposed to this legislation. Our federal system needs to be fixed. You can’t have states making their own immigration laws, we need comprehensive immigration reform.

And I am going to continue pushing for it, but I can’t do that unless we have a few Republicans supporting us. I have people asking me, “why don’t we put it to a vote?”, and I won’t do it until I know we have the votes because losing the vote would set back immigration for a long time and I don’t want to do that. Republicans will have to get moving because I know what my Democrats will do.

Now, the other issue that lingers is that if I can’t get immigration reform, there is the Dream Act, because I don’t see why someone who has been in the country at least five years should face tough legislation. All we are saying is that these young folks should be able to go to college when they graduate from high school, and when they graduate they should be able to have a work permit, or if they wish, serve in the military two years. What is wrong with this?

Republicans don’t want me to do this either, but I will keep fighting for it. I have five or six calls I need to make to Republicans senators to see if they will work with me on this. I will call them to see if they are willing to support this.