Reid adds controversial immigration measure to defense bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he will add the DREAM Act, a controversial immigration measure, to a defense policy bill the Senate will take up next week.
The decision means the defense bill, which often passes with bipartisan support, will be home to two major, thorny political issues – the other being the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Reid called the DREAM Act “really important” and said it should be passed because it provides a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants who go to college or serve in the military. DREAM is an acronym for Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act.
“I know we can’t do comprehensive immigration reform,” Reid said at a news conference. “But those Republicans we had in the last Congress have left us.”
Many Hispanic voters are angry with Democratic leaders for not doing more to pass an immigration overhaul. The decision by Reid to add the DREAM Act now could help soothe that anger.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called Reid’s decision “needlessly controversial.”
The Senate will need 60 votes to take up the bill next week, and Reid said Tuesday he doesn’t know if he has enough votes.
Harold
Did they (and yes, we) learn nothing from the passing of amnesty by Carter and Reagan? Has anyone noticed the increasing signs in stores and on products that have both english and spanish in the directions? Do we have to push 1 for english? Has it stopped the influx of illegals? Are we involved in the “war on terror” and still let our borders remain wide open? Has anyone noticed that the hotel maids are hispanic now – taking jobs that were previously performed by Americans? How many of them are working with forged papers from stolen IDs? There are so many signs that the feds are NOT doing what they were created to do — protect our homeland.
Join numbersUSA and send free faxes to congress as well as keep informed of what is going on in Washington with this issue. It is free to join – plus – there are switchboard numbers displayed to call your rep or senator… and they give you suggestions on talking points when you call. How many of you will do that???
I am the notice out because it degrades the importance of Citizenship, and it gives illegal people the voting power to take over this nation.
How? They are baby factories.
Most of all the bill as written is deceitful because it uses names like economic refugees to appeal to emotions rather the good sense.
No one in this nation would object giving citizenship to those serving in the military they deserve it an earned it. But why does Mr. Reid and those politicians need to give a citizenship to student when regular visa would do as well except of course cannot vote.
What else are they going to sell for votes the FLAG? Mr.Read already has a sketchy record when it comes to “America best Interest first” or he would never have appointed his friend Lieberman to those key committees after he betrayed the Party the whole time…Intelligence Committee, Military Committee??? Hello there!!! Has any one told those neocon that we are tired of hearing “we are going to war to help Israel??? Help Israel do What??? A purely Jewish Purely State? Fine as long as they stay withing the 67 borders and trade the Arabs they want out of Israel for the Jews on the West Bank. We made enough enemies for Zionist Khazar ambitions .Enough American Blood for what they have caused. Yes Bin Laden hit us nothing to do with Israel. Really??? They never hit Israel although Bin Laden stated he would hit all our friends. But Israel provided the American weapons he wanted so he owes them—As for Bin Laden does any one even bother to check that his anger was to our placing our military bases on THEIR SACRED LAND to protect the King from insurrection??? When Are we learning to listen to George Washington??? But Right now we need to stop that treacherous and devious DREAM Bill. Military yes Others NO just a visa or work permit.