Sen. Harry Reid to push for passage of DREAM Act

         by KTAR.com (November 12th, 2010 @ 8:15am)   

Senate Majority Leader said he is going to make another attempt to pass the DREAM Act in the lame-duck session of Congress.
The legislation would allow thousands of young people who attend college or join the military to become legal U.S. residents. Under the bill, the young people must have come to the U.S. before age 16 and have lived here for five years. At least two years of military service would be required.
The Huffington Post reports he'll make the announcement on Sunday on Univision, a Spanish language network.

The Huffington Post confirmed Reid's remark with a Democratic source, who said that the exact timeline hasn't yet been worked out. The source noted that because the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution, the first order of business will likely be approving new funding, as well as approving a large number of Obama nominees who have been blocked by Republicans. But the source confirmed that Reid's answer to Ramos on whether he will bring up the DREAM Act was an "unequivocal yes."

The news site noted that immigration activists are encouraged. They say it will help a group of young immigrants who were brought here by their parents when they were children.

"We support and will be looking for viable efforts to pass the DREAM Act after the election," said Center for American Progress Vice President for Immigration Policy Advocacy Angela Kelley. "In order for that to happen however, like-minded Republicans will have to step forward and show their support for this modest measure to provide relief to young people. There hasn't been a lot to suggest that bipartisan constructive conversation on immigration is possible, but I'd love to be proven wrong."

Some Republicans contend that the bill rewards law breakers.
Reid attached it to a defense spending bill that was blocked by Republicans.
Congress has failed to take up a comprehensive immigration bill the past two years.
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