Senate leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will add the controversial DREAM Act legislation into a Defense Department spending bill essentially attaching amnesty for some to the weaponry and supplies needs for the wars in the Middle East.
The Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) would provide a road to citizenship for young illegal aliens if their parents brought them into the country before age 16 and they attend college for at least two years or join the U.S. military.
During this six-year conditional period, immigrants would not be eligible for federal higher education grants, but they would be able to apply for scholarships, student loans and work study grants.
If the illegal alien does not meet the educational or military service requirement within the six-year time period, their temporary residence would be revoked and they would be eligible for deportation authors of the bill say.
Some of the DREAM Act provisions include; proof of arriving in the United States before age 16, proof of residence in the U.S. for a least five consecutive years, compliance with Selective Service, applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 35 at the time of bill enactment, graduate from an American high school or obtain a GED and finally be of “good moral character.”
The DREAM Act’s play on minors is misrepresentative. The age group included in its legislative language says 35-year-olds are eligible for amnesty and not many Americans consider their 35 year-old offspring -kids.
Amnesty proponents think it is a great strategy to attach the DREAM Act or amnesty for minors (to the age of 35) to the defense authorization bill.
“This is the first of many positive steps to take,” said the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National President Margaret Moran. “I think it is really important that we move forward on this legislation.”
However the chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus Congressman Brian Bilbray (D-CA) disagrees, “When American men and women are fighting in Afghanistan and the human-trafficking cartels are murdering innocent people trying to cross the border in Northern Mexico, Harry Reid has the audacity to play politics with the Defense bill while enticing people to risk their lives with the cartels along our unsecured southern border. This is irresponsible, and the United States Senate should not stand for it.”
While adding legislative amendments to a non-related bill is not uncommon, sneaking amnesty for children who gained entry into America illegally during a highly political midterm election cycle has divided lawmakers and citizens alike.
Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), the Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee contends; “The DREAM Act is a nightmare for the American people. It is an assault on law-abiding, taxpaying American citizens and legal immigrants.”
When many American’s are struggling to pay the bills and get their kids to college another argument presents itself. Many colleges are filled to capacity and asking American families to now compete with 2 million additional children who are not in the country legally sends the wrong message to those who continue to stream across the borders illegally.
“For every illegal immigrant admitted, an American student or legal resident would be turned away at a time when every state university is raising tuition, and many are curtailing enrollment,” Rep. Ed Royce of California said.