The DREAM That Just Won’t Die … (UPDATE)

Blue Collar Muse has some updates and corrections to the post. Check it out here)

The DREAM That Just Won’t Die …, is partially cross posted from Blue Collar Muse:

This morning, Nashville radio talk-show host Michael DelGiorno announced the US Senate was considering an end run around the recent defeat of the President’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, often referred to as The Amnesty Bill.

Despite overwhelming opposition from the general public to what practically amounts to the contents of the entire CIRA, Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat from Illinois, recently announced he would renew efforts to pass a portion of it. That portion is The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act provides a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens and their children provided they meet specific requirements, including:

  Proof of having arrived in the United States before reaching 16 years of age;

Proof of residence in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since their date of arrival.

Having graduated from an American High School, or obtained a GED.

“Good moral character,” essentially defined as the absence of a significant criminal record (or any drug charges whatsoever).

An estimated 65,000 immigrant students who meet these requirements graduate from high school each year.

Immigrants who meet the above requirements would be eligible to apply for a temporary six (6) year “conditional” residence permit which would allow them to live legally in the United States, obtain driver’s licenses, attend college as in-state residents, work legally (including obtaining a social security number), and apply for special travel documents which would allow for travel outside of the country for limited amounts of time.

It is not new legislation.  The DREAM Act’s Wikipedia entry also notes:

The bill, in all its incarnations, has never been brought to a vote in either the United States House or the United States Senate. The text of the bill has also been included in various other immigration-related bills, including the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, which was approved by the Senate and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, which failed in a 46-53 cloture vote in the Senate. [1]

What is unique about this attempt is that Senator Durbin is not introducing the bill as a stand alone or as part of legislation dealing with immigration. This time around, it’s being attached as part of Defense Department’s authorizations. Citing legitimate support from the military for offering citizenship opportunities for non-citizens volunteering for military service as a way of making up recruiting shortfalls, Durbin and others are trying to sell the DREAM Act as a method of rewarding hard working illegal aliens with citizenship for serving our country. Unfortunately for the Senate Democrat, his plan is flawed. We don’t need The DREAM Act to make this offer to the thousands of illegal aliens who would be eligible for citizenship under its provisions. The military already does exactly that right now and has for years! In fact, on page 2 of the article, it is noted that specific military resources are available to assist soldiers in acquire citizenship in every branch of the US Armed Forces. And since requirements for military service are pretty much the same as those for the DREAM Act, this route is easily and freely available to any person graduating from High School in the US – legal or illegal.

Why then, has Senator Durbin reintroduced this legislation?  There would seem to be two parts to the answer.

The first is related to tying DREAM to Defense. Despite some opposition to the war, most Americans tend to support the troops. Anything that can be demonstrated to help the soldiers - from better personal and vehicular armor to help in making sure there are enough soldiers to support each other is going to garner support. But as an add on to the Defense authorization bill, it also has the advantage of stealth. With all the hue and cry for support for the military, especially from the same folks that were so opposed to CIR Act, tying DREAM to Defense makes it possible DREAM’s opponents will never know DREAM is part of the package. It gives law makers cover as well when answering to voters. They can claim they were forced to vote for it in order to get Defense dollars allocated. But as we have seen, that’s not true.

The second part is the real reason I believe Senator Durbin will not let this DREAM die. It adds another path to citizenship that does not involve the military. According to the Wikipedia entry,

During the six years of conditional status, the eligible immigrant would be required to either (1) graduate from a two-year community college, (2) complete at least two years towards a 4-year degree, or (3) serve two years in the U.S. military. After the six year period, an immigrant who meets at least one of these three conditions would be eligible to apply for legal permanent resident (green card) status. During their temporary time, immigrants would not be eligible for federal higher education grants such as Pell grants, though they would be able to apply for student loans and work study.

If Durbin’s DREAM comes true, access to the American Dream is just a Junior College degree away for anyone who cares to try. Add to that the charge (which I have NOT been able to verify) that another provision of DREAM is not just eligibility for in-state tuition rates for illegal aliens (that would be bad enough) but outright subsidizing of their education by providing it to them at no charge. Of course, US citizens would continue to pay both in and out-of-state tuition as is applicable.  (more)

You can go read the entire article at Blue Collar Muse.

From Numbers USA:

The "whip lists" of Senators will change by the hour based on how well you move Senate offices to declare their opposition to this latest amnesty. 

It provides a link to a list of anti-amnesty champion Senators who have pledged to vote NO on the DREAM Act amnesty.

More importantly, the home page will be updated hourly tomorrow to show all the waffling Senators who voted NO on the Comprehensive Amnesty in June but thus far are unwilling to pledge to vote NO on this amnesty.

Also:

Congratulations, citizens of Tennesee.

We have just gotten word that Sen. Corker has pledged to vote "NO" on the DREAM Act amnesty amendment to the Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill.

A Tennessee Update:  From NumbersUSA:  Congratulations, citizens of Tennesee.

We have just gotten word that Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) has pledged to vote "NO" on the DREAM Act amnesty amendment to the Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill.

Think Again! says G.M.Roper

Think the amnesty "fix" for illegal aliens is history? Think Again!

    ... Senator Richard Durbin (D–IL) announced on the Senate floor his intention to offer the Development, Relief, and Edu­cation for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act as an amend­ment to the defense authorization bill.

Stormwarning's Counterterrorism Blog has a new home on WordPress.  Go check out his newest, "What is Going on at Fort Bliss (Texas)?"

Only 4 months ago that Ft. Dix was the target of an attempted terrorist attack. This is simply amazing! Twelve illegal aliens working as landscapers at Ft. Bliss (El Paso) with fake IDs and forged workpapers.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII).  If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

Comments

[Debbie]

Paul: As you can see, this was cross posted from Blue Collar Muse, who has since updated and made corrections to the post, as part of the Coalition Against Illegal Immigration. As a member, I'm supposed to crosspost articles from other blogs.

I thought this one would stir up some much needed commments/conversation/debate.

Thanks for not disappointing.

[Terri]

I am very much against this DREAM ACT ...

sneaky sneaky of Durbin to slip into a DoD bill...
GAH!

I've called and emailed Dingy Harry and John Ensign ...

but of course... I received the same ole form letter that always says the same thing.

[Paul Champagne]

I was an Army recruiter for a couple of years in NYC. You can not enlist a person into the armed forces unless they already have a green card. The programs offered for citizenship are for those that are already legal residents and serve this country in either peace or time of war.

You gotta think about the child that is brought over the border at 0-12 years of age. He is not liable for his parent's having broken our laws. In some cases, he may grow up not even knowing he is not a US Citizen until he graduates HS and finds that he will not be able to go to college or into the service. This kid may not even know how to speak his native language. The Dream Act was meant to help kids like this ... It is an attempt to be fair. Republicans are the party of fairness after all ... aren't we?

[Debbie]

No problem. The important thing is we correct errors when they happen.

[Blue Collar Muse]

Debbie -

I've posted an update at BCM as a portion of what I posted is, evidently, wrong.

The program we currently offer does not apply to illegal aliens.

This does not fundamentally change the point I was making but my error needs to be noted.

The update is posted on the item at BCM and now here.

Please accept my apologies for bringing bad info to the table!

Blue