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DREAM Act reintroduced in House and Senate
Democratic Rep. Howard Berman of Van Nuys has introduced the DREAM Act every session of Congress since 2001. And he’s just done it again, along with other lawmakers in the House and Senate.
The bill would create a path to citizenship for undocumented college students and members of the military, and as it always has, faces stiff opposition.
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act passed the House last year, but died in the Senate. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) co-sponsored the latest Senate version of the DREAM Act. She has done the math: Fewer Democrats in the Senate this session will make its passage even tougher this time around. But Feinstein says that’s no reason to stop fighting.
"Supporters are trying," she says, "and they keep trying. And, you know, you drip away at the stone and you hope that one day you get through. You don’t get there by not trying."
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama stood at the U.S./Mexico border and accused Republicans of blocking immigration reform. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who has spearheaded immigration reform in the past, said he’d like to see legislation that includes a guest worker program.