Senate rejects DREAM Act legislation

Two U.S. Senate Democrats and all Senate Republicans voted against a bill this week that could have allowed up to 2.1 million illegal immigrants to be given a path toward citizenship.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to get the 60 votes needed to move forward on the defense bill and attach the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) as an amendment. The vote was 56-43. Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor voted with Republicans.

Reid also voted to block the bill in a procedural move that allows the defense bill to be revisited at a later date.

According to a Washington Post report, "The controversial (DREAM Act) is being pushed by Reid (D-Nev.), who bypassed usual Senate procedures by including it in a defense reauthorization bill. Opponents consider the act a form of amnesty and have accused Reid and other Democrats of using it to appeal to Hispanic voters, an important constituency, as the midterm elections approach. Supporters, who include retired Gen. Colin L. Powell and other military officials, have argued that the measure is long overdue, humane and practical."

  If passed and signed into law, the act would have opened the door to citizenship for illegal immigrants younger than 36 who arrived in the U.S. as children, have lived here for five years or more, and are contributing to the country by attending college or serving in the military.

As many as 2.1 million of the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. could be eligible for legalization under such criteria, the Post said.

The bill also included a measure to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays.

The Obama administration has delayed deportation of some of the young illegal immigrants while the politics of the bill played out, drawing heavy criticism from some Republicans.

Two U.S. Senate Democrats and all Senate Republicans voted against a bill this week that could have allowed up to 2.1 million illegal immigrants to be given a path toward citizenship.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to get the 60 votes needed to move forward on the defense bill and attach the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) as an amendment. The vote was 56-43. Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor voted with Republicans.

Reid also voted to block the bill in a procedural move that allows the defense bill to be revisited at a later date.

According to a Washington Post report, "The controversial (DREAM Act) is being pushed by Reid (D-Nev.), who bypassed usual Senate procedures by including it in a defense reauthorization bill. Opponents consider the act a form of amnesty and have accused Reid and other Democrats of using it to appeal to Hispanic voters, an important constituency, as the midterm elections approach. Supporters, who include retired Gen. Colin L. Powell and other military officials, have argued that the measure is long overdue, humane and practical."

  If passed and signed into law, the act would have opened the door to citizenship for illegal immigrants younger than 36 who arrived in the U.S. as children, have lived here for five years or more, and are contributing to the country by attending college or serving in the military.

As many as 2.1 million of the approximately 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. could be eligible for legalization under such criteria, the Post said.

The bill also included a measure to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays.

The Obama administration has delayed deportation of some of the young illegal immigrants while the politics of the bill played out, drawing heavy criticism from some Republicans.