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Sen. Harry Reid May Attach DREAM Act to Senate Bill

Posted September 14, 2010 by Ted Hesson
Categories: Federal Immigration Policy

The Twit-o-sphere is abuzz with news that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) may push Congress to vote on the DREAM Act, a bill that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrant students who meet certain criteria. Back in June, LIW blogger Pat Young gave a breakdown of the bill for those who aren’t familiar with it.

According to The Washington Post, Reid may attach the legislation to a defense policy bill that will be voted on before midterm elections in November.

From the Post:

WASHINGTON—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he wants to attach to an upcoming defense policy bill an amendment that would help young people in the country illegally become legal U.S. residents.

The Nevada Democrat said Tuesday the legislation known as the DREAM Act is long overdue. But he wouldn’t say whether he has the votes for the amendment. The act allows young people who attend college or join the military to become legal U.S. residents.

Democrats have also promised gay rights groups an end to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy.” That is in the bill that Reid says he’ll try to take up next week.

Republicans oppose both measures.

Immigration has been a hot issue for both Democrats and GOP politicians campaigning in midterm elections, and both have sought to use the issue to define themselves against their opponents. Reid is one of the legislators running for reelection.

After a year’s worth of stutter-stops for immigration reform in Congress—Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) outlined a potential bill, but never introduced it—grassroots support has arisen for the DREAM Act, a narrower piece of legislation that has enjoyed bipartisan support in the past.

In late May, a group of student hunger strikers camped outside of Schumer’s Manhattan office and demanded that he meet with them regarding the DREAM Act. After 10 days and a brief conversation with the senator, the students ended the strike with a “die-in” inside Schumer’s office. On Long Island, a small group of students staged a similar protest.

The hunger strike brought national attention to the DREAM Act, and around the same time, several national advocacy groups announced their support for the bill. For more info on the DREAM Act, click here.