Reid citizenship plan called an election ploy
Republicans were quick to dismiss Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to grant citizenship to some illegal immigrants who came to the United States when they were children as a political ploy aimed at wooing voters and pro-illegal-immigrant groups before the November election.
Others, meanwhile, are arguing over whether it is appropriate to try to tuck the plan into the defense authorization bill.
Late Tuesday, the Nevada Democrat said he wanted to create the pathway to citizenship as part of the authorization bill. He said this could be as close as Congress will get to enacting immigration reform this year because of repeated opposition from the GOP.
Known as the Dream Act, the amendment has been pushed in Congress repeatedly but has never gained enough support for passage. It applies to illegal-immigrant children and would grant a path to citizenship to those who show they are working toward a college degree or have enlisted in the military. The Senate is expected to take up the proposal next week.
“The military’s role is to protect and defend this nation, not to serve as a social experiment for elected officials during campaign season,” said Kirk S. Lippold, a retired naval commander and member of the Military Families United, a nonprofit advocacy group for military families. “Sen. Reid’s actions are irresponsible and demean the service of the members of our military.”
And now… the rest of the story. …..
Harold
