- November 24, 2010
- Category: Immigration Law
After failing to win comprehensive immigration reform during a period when Democrats controlled both the White House and Congress, immigration proponents are now hoping to use the lame-duck session to snag an 11th-hour consolation prize: the DREAM Act.
The president met Tuesday with congressional Hispanic leaders, who said afterward that Obama had pledged to lobby Democratic lawmakers who are wavering and Republicans who have supported the legislation in the past.
“Passage of the DREAM Act is achievable right now,” Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said after the White House meeting. “It is the only piece of immigration reform legislation that can get broad support from Democrats and has attracted significant Republican support in the recent past.”
Proponents haven’t pushed for separate consideration of the DREAM Act in recent years because they feared they would lose their most compelling and attractive argument for comprehensive immigration reform, which would benefit the rest of the estimated 11 million people who are in the country illegally and who are likely to be viewed less sympathetically. The people the DREAM Act would benefit are seen as the poster boys and girls for reform
I believe that the proponents of the DREAM Act must start pushing for separate consideration of this Act. In my opinion, we will not see comprehensive immigration reform in the near future. The DREAM Act represents one of the few possibilities for change in this political climate. President Obama has labeled the immigration system as ‘broken’. To repair this system, he could or should throw his full weight into supporting the DREAM Act. If you would like more information on how to support this proposed Act, you can go to the following web link: Dream Act Info