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On Friday, Nov. 18, a bipartisan group
of senators officially introduced S. 2075, the DREAM Act of 2005, giving
new life to legislation that has been in a holding pattern since the
beginning of the year. The sponsors of the DREAM Act of 2005 are
Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN). The
other original cosponsors are Norm Coleman (R-MN), Larry Craig (R-ID),
Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Edward
Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), John
McCain (R-AZ), and Barack Obama (D-IL). It will become law if passed by
both houses of Congress and signed by the president before the end of
2006.
The features of the DREAM Act of 2005 are nearly
identical to the version that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in
October 2003 by a 16-3 vote. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), formerly chair of
that committee, was then the sponsor of the DREAM Act. He has assured
constituents that the fact that he did not introduce it again this year
does not mean that he is any less supportive than he has been in the
past.
Introduction of the
DREAM Act comes at a time when the broader immigration debate is
becoming increasingly politicized and contentious. DREAM Act supporters
argue that it deserves to considered on its own merits, regardless of
one’s position on other immigration issues. If passed, the proposed
legislation will have a far bigger impact on education, fairness to
children, and American competitiveness than on immigration to the U.S.
Supporters argue
that young people facing high school graduation and major decisions
about college or work should not be asked to wait until Congress
resolves all the other vexing immigration issues. Rather, Congress
should act now and take these young people off of the field of battle of
the immigration wars.
Additional
information about the DREAM Act is available
here.
—By
Josh Bernstein, NILC
director of federal
policy
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