DREAM Act put on indefinite hold
Illinois' newest senator Saturday joined a Republican filibuster to block legislation championed by his senior Democratic colleague.
Sen. Mark Kirk was one of the 41 Senators to vote to prevent the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act from moving forward for a vote on the chamber floor.
Because Republicans will take control of the House, as well as pick up several Senate seats come January, political analysts predict that the legislation providing undocumented youth living in the U.S. with a path to citizenship through education or military service will likely not come forward again for two years' time.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, one of the sponsors of the bipartisan legislation, expressed disappointment, but promised to keep fighting for its passage.
“While today's vote was a setback, it has not changed our resolve. Throughout our history, the expansion of freedom and justice has required determination and courage,” Durbin said in a statement. “I promise we will not give up that fight. … As long as I am a member of Congress, the DREAM will be kept alive.”First proposed by Durbin and Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch in 2001, the DREAM Act would give qualifying undocumented youths a six-year-long conditional path to citizenship that requires completion of a college degree or two years of military service.
The legislation stipulates that immigrant youths taking part in the program must have entered the country before their 16th birthday, and have resided in the U.S. for five years before enactment of the law. Those who have committed felonies, voter fraud or marriage fraud would be disqualified.
The DREAM Act passed the House by a 216-198 vote Dec. 9.
Kirk, silent for months on the issue, on Saturday reiterated his stance that #8220;now is not the time#8221; to enact the legislation. Kirk said he believes the country's borders should be better secured #8220;before we pursue other immigration proposals.#8221;
Dave Gorak, executive director for the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration, said he was very pleased the Senate #8220;did the right thing.#8221;
The vote, he said, #8220;signals an end to efforts of the past 10 years to promote amnesty for illegal immigrants. So I think you're going to be seeing a whole different approach to this issue. The American people want enforcement first. You can't change anything in terms of addressing the predicament of these students without first addressing the root cause of the problem #8230; an immigration system that does not emphasize enforcement.#8221; But Joshua Hoyt, director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, called Saturday's vote #8220;absolutely heartbreaking,#8221; and, like Durbin, pledged to keep working for its passage. Hoyt said Kirk #8220;stuck a knife in the heart of the hopes of these young people.#8221;
Both Kirk and the Republican party, he believes, #8220;will pay a political price for this vote. Immigrants come to this country and they know their lives are going to be hard. They pour their hopes and dreams into their children. An attack on their children is an attack on the larger community. This was a litmus vote for the Latino community.#8221;