Democrats delay Senate vote on DREAM act

[News_Editor]

Democrats delay Senate vote on DREAM act

2010-12-10 08:29:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Democrats on Thursday delayed the Senate vote on the DREAM act, aimed at facilitating citizenship for millions of immigrants that came to the United States as children.

Due to the Republican party's objections (GOP), Democrats decided to put aside voting and announced that the bill would be put on consideration before the end of the year. Republicans were short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation.

"This is mainly a political exercise rather than a serious attempt to deal with our broken immigration system," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

The DREAM act grants to the approximately 2 million illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status if they attend college or join the U.S. armed forces for a minimum of two years, among other requirements. Most of these people consider themselves as Americans as they speak English and have no ties to their native countries.

In the Senate, all 42 Republicans have signed a letter pledging to block action on any issue until bills to extend expiring tax cuts and fund the government were completed. The White House said that the delay was the right move as the bill must be passed with bipartisan support.

"The DREAM Act is not a symbolic vote," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin said. "We owe it to the young men and women whose lives will be affected by this bill, and to the country which needs their service in the military and their skills in building our economy, to honestly address this issue."

On Wednesday, the legislation was passed in the House by a vote of 216 to 198 after Democrats tirelessly tried to gain bipartisan support but only five GOP members supported it despite almost 40 Democrats defected to oppose the legislation.

"This vote is not only the right thing to do for a group of talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own by continuing their education or serving in the military, but it is the right thing for the United States of America," said President Obama after Wednesday’s voting.

The DREAM Act has been heavily pushed by President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Reid as it was part of their promises to the Latino community. Obama received strong support from this sector as a result of his campaign promises.

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