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California's US senators support DREAM Act
File photo: Students throw their caps during a mock graduation ceremony at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol April 20, 2004 in Washington, D.C.. Several hundred students and advocates took part in the ceremony and urged Congress and the Bush administration to pass the Dream Act, which would put U.S.-raised immigrant students on the path to college and U.S. citizenship.
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California's US senators support DREAM Act
California's US senators support DREAM Act
When the Senate returns to Washington, D.C. after the Thanksgiving holiday, Democratic leaders promise to schedule a vote on the DREAM Act, a measure to allow some illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S.
The DREAM Act (Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) would give legal residency to undocumented high school grads that complete two years of college or military service.
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein co-sponsored the measure. Fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer says she doesn’t understand how anyone could vote no on the bill.
"You’re a kid who was brought here at age 1. This is your country. You don’t know any other country," she says. "You’ve no clue about any other country."
Boxer cites the case of one student body president in Fresno who turned out to be undocumented.
"What do they expect these young people to do?"
Boxer says the military describes the measure a “recruitment dream.”
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However, drumming up enough Republican support during the lame duck session is unlikely. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who voted for the DREAM Act seven years ago, says Americans want Congress to focus on border security. He says scheduling the vote this late in the term is playing politics.
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