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Derek Washington cheers during a rally Sept. 21, 2010, in downtown Las Vegas to support the DREAM Act.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 | 5:50 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks with Fernando Romero, president of Hispanics in Politics, after a news conference at Vdara Wednesday, November 3, 2010.
Related story
Sun Coverage
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged to force at least a test vote this week on an immigration measure to put undocumented military enlistees and college students on a pathway to citizenship.
The measure, known as the DREAM Act, is one of the more popular immigration proposals to circulate Congress in the last few years, as it caters to a sympathetic set: young, high-achieving undocumented immigrants brought to the country before they turned 16.
But when it comes to immigration, popular is relative term. Reid promised to file cloture today — a procedural step that allows him to bring up the bill later this week. But when he does, he’ll need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster; and it’s not clear he’ll be able to clear that hurdle.
Lobbyists have been leaning hard on moderate Republicans, including New England go-tos Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and Scott Brown, and those from high-immigrant states — including John Ensign of Nevada.
Reid is going to need a bunch of them if he hopes to pull together 60 senators because he almost certainly won’t be able to pull every Democrat on board.
Immigration issues have never split neatly along party lines. Already, senators like Bill Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas are warning leaders not to count on their support.
But despite slimming chances, Reid seems to be even more determined to make lawmakers put their name to a position while it’s still possible to get the measure past the House.
The procedural measure he files Tuesday will let Reid hold a vote on the DREAM Act as early as Thursday.
Reid has, however, made at least one tactical decision that would appear to compromise the bill’s chances of success.
He is bringing up the DREAM Act on its own — a change in tactics from before the midterm elections, when he promised to bring it up as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. The Senate never voted to take up the bill, and lawmakers never had to cast a vote on DREAM.
Stripping it away from the defense bill will make the military funding measure easier to pass, but give lawmakers on the fence fewer convincing arguments to bite the bullet and cast a controversial vote in favor of the DREAM Act.
Making matters more complicated is that with the GOP taking over the House in a month, meaning this is likely the most controversial vote on immigration that the 23 Democratic senators whose terms come up in 2012 will take before their next election. Not all come from states with as pro-immigration a voting body as Reid.
At the same time, it may be Reid’s last chance to deliver for his base, which helped Democratic senators who narrowly won tight races in the West this cycle, before his party and the president come up for another referendum. It will be all but impossible for Obama to deliver on his 2008 campaign promise to tackle immigration reform in his current term.
Hispanic voters turned out in unprecedented numbers in Nevada on Nov. 2, casting 16 percent of votes. The turnout was credited in large part as a backlash to anti-immigrant messaging from Reid’s challenger, Sharron Angle — and on a ground operation that has been growing around the immigration issue since 2008.
Democrats — especially Western Democrats in swing states — don’t want to lose that base; meanwhile, Republicans are trying to figure out how to corral it to support the GOP.
Another reason why it was a big mistake to re-elect this left wing radical.
Serving in the military? Yes.
In college? No, unless you are majoring in a science, engineering, nursing, math, education or specialized trade school.
We have enough liberal arts or business majors.
How does an illegal immigrant get into the military to begin with?
Setting that question aside, I can see the merit in an argument to allow those who serve the US in the military to earn citizenship (ala the old Roman model.) But I just can't see rewarding any other group of illegal immigrants with that.
Yes, it can be sad that this group was brought here by parents and had no choice, but that is life. Granting citizenship to college kids immediately opens up the whole can of worms of so-called "chain immigration."
I suspect DREAM is dead for at least two more years, if not for good with the new Congress coming in.
Reid and the Democrats could care less about the 15% unemployment rate in Nevada.
The only beneficiaries would be those brought here as minors by their parents. I find it hard to punish a child for their parents mistakes.
Regarding military service, I think its a no brainer. If you serve, you should be offered a road to citizenship.
And we can surely use more college grads here in the Valley--regardless of nationality.
"The only beneficiaries would be those brought here as minors by their parents." - LVLawDog
Are there provisions in the bill to prevent those who qualify for citizenship it from sponsoring their family once they become citizens? If not, then the parents also benefit via the back door. And they were the original offenders.
No, the argument for military service to the country might have merit, but the problem of chain immigration makes it hard to extend it to others.
You see where his priorities are. He has a debt to pay now to his constituants. Next, the Unions. Thirdly, to the struggling tax payers and unemployed.
Read the Dream Act for yourself here .....http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s729/text .............. What do you think we should do to an adult who committed a misdemeanor [E. W. I. ] as a child has never been in trouble his entire life ? Six years in the military is a pretty tough sentence. Honorable discharge is required . Remember criminals will not qualify .
Harry Reid's Dream Act also known as incremental amnesty has just as good a chance as a Hail Mary pass.
You gotta give Harry credit for the showboating as he panders to the 16% Hispanic vote.
Non citizens can ALREADY join the military and be on a path to citizenship!! This is nothing new. You must apply and be granted a green card first. Curious to know how many of these illegal young adults have applied for a green card and have been turned down after stating they wanted to join the U.S. military.
Reid is insane and utterly corrupt.
Harry Reid pushes for vote on immigration measure while ignoring the real issues of extending the tax rates, passing a budget for the U.S. Government that is already two months late.
But more important for Harry, he has got to pay the IOU's that Harry had to give out during his re-election...
Wedo wrote, "Six years in the military is a pretty tough sentence."
Since when is service to our country considered a "sentence"?
@wedo...thanks for the link. It says "uniformed service". Now go look up the definition of that in the U.S. Code. Wow..guess what?? The military is NOT the only uniformed service in the U.S. code!! Why didn't they state U.S. military service instead of "uniformed service"? This act is a big joke. Will never pass based on the link you provided.
This should teach the REP to boot the crazy T-Party folks out on their...
The ONLY reason Harry is pushing this is to secure Latino votes for himself and future Democrats. He is using the taxes from hard working LEGAL U.S. Citizen to support ILLEGAL PEOPLE to help get them citizenship and then when they are legal and can vote they will remember old Harry Reid.
Mr. Reid you are what is WRONG with WASHINGTON! Your going to hold up more important legislation unless you and your fellow Democrats can use our money to buy future votes.
This is a total disgrace! Our elected officials all of them owe it to us the taxpaying American citizens not these freeloaders. The only thing I would give these illegals is a one way ticket back escorted by ICE. This would never go on in another country. No wonder why they never go to Canada!!
Hire more ICE agents to enforce the laws, and watch unemployment come down!
As long as the GOP considers racism a valuable election tool they can forget about "corralling" any ethnic group.
Hey derek, when the race card is the only one in your deck it comes out early and often, doesn't it?
I would like to clear up some of the ignorance shown regarding the D.R.E.A.M. Act. To qualify for the DREAM Act a person must have arrived here by the age of 16 AND have been here for 5 years at the time of passage. So if the this passes the child had to have come no later than December 2005 and had to be under the age of 16 when they arrived. That child would need to graduate from high school. Those people who qualify to apply would have to show they are persons of good moral character i.e. no criminal convictions of crimes of moral turpitude e.g. rape,theft, burglary, or domestic violence or failure to pay child support (there is at least a 100 years of immigration case law that helps define good moral character). The person would then be given conditional permanent residence for six years during that time the person would have to attend two years of school in a college or a school of higher learning or join the military for two years and serve honorably.After six years the person would then have to affirmatively apply for permanent resident status.(Green Card). After an individual has been a permanent resident for 5 years that person can apply for U.S.Citizenship. Less years are needed if the person is in the military. If you do not apply to have permanent resident status you go back to your original status and are subject to removal from the United States.Unlike France the United States does not grant second class citizenship.
The United States system of immigration is based on family reunification and yes once a person is a legal permanent resident or a citizen that person can apply for certain family members.A permanent resident can apply for a spouse or unmarried child. Wait time approximately 8-10 years. A U.S.Citizen can apply for parents, married or unmarried child, siblings. Wait time can vary from 1 year to 25 years.
A Dream Act Person would have to wait at least 12 years before they can apply for a parent.If that parent came into the United States legally the wait can be 1 year. If the persons entered the United States illegally and have unlawful presence in the United States they will have to process outside the US. and remain outside 10 years. Family reunification for a DREAM Act recipient with parents unlawfully here is at least 21-22 years of which 10 of those years is living and waiting outside the United States. SO tell me what part of this is amnesty? This is earned residency.
Sorry angle voters but she lost .Harry stood up before the election and said he would put the dream act up for a vote .Nevada voters have spoken . Now Harry is proving he is a man of his word .
2,000,000 unemployed Americans are about to get a lump of coal in their Christmas stockigs; Nevada still has the highest unemployment & foreclosure rates in the U.S.; LV is ranked as the world's 5th worst economy and Harry the Red is concerned with amnesty? Well, I hope some of you morons who voted to re-elect this cretin are among those losing your unemployment benefits and homes. You deserve it. Too bad you took so many others down the toilet with you!
BTW @ dave202,boftx, steve7952, KeolaGOP, Brian_D, Beck 2448, JerryD, really, rusty57. How many of you have actually served in the military? Why would you deny the opportunity to young people who want to serve our country? Recruiters have encountered young people who want to join the military and can't sign them up because they don't have legal status.
May I remind you the first US military person killed in Iraq was a permanent resident from Guatemala who originally came into the United States as an "illegal" alien. Right now all young men 18 and over are required to register for the draft , even the undocumented. So if you are unwilling or unable to serve why deny that to someone who does want to serve.
@Jerry Fink and SgtRock good to see you are finally concerned about the unemployed. You are both barking up the wrong tree going after Reid.It's the Republicans that are the Grinches and want to have tax breaks for the richest people in American and increase the deficit by more than $800B yet refuse to extend unemployment benefits which will instantly benefit the economy as a stimulus.Vote the bloody Grinches out come 2012.
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40860...
A good petition and a legal way to appose the massive money the illegal aliens are getting from the open border crowd.
But a point. Poor Harry doesn't know the illegal aliens can already enlist and gain citizenship. A new bill isn't required.
we all remember what Reid said and STRIPPING the citizenship from (his words) "ANCHOR BABIES" a few years ago.
Now, Reid wants the Hispanic vote and he has decided to EXPLOIT the Hispanic community to serve his political needs and agenda.
As long as the Hispanic people know that Harry Reid is NOT a friend to the Latino @ large, then at least they will understand his political treachery.
Harry(Chivato) Reid.
@joelwisch2 you are a LIAR. Undocumented aliens can NOT currently enlist in the military. If you are in opposition to the bill state your reasons you don't need to resort to lies.
These are the changes to Bill presently before Congress.
-- 10 years of temporary status vs. the previous 6 years
-- Specifically bars DREAMers from access to health care subsidies etc.
-- Age cap is 30 vs. the previous of 35
-- Removal of the language that would have not punished states for providing in-state tuition
The actual text of the bill will be up on www.thomas.gov in a few days, it'll be Senate bill 3999.
I now ask joelwisch2 have you served your country in the military and why would you deny the opportunity to young people who are loyal to the United States from serving?
@joelwisch2 you are a LIAR. Undocumented aliens can NOT currently enlist in the military. If you are in opposition to the bill state your reasons you don't need to resort to lies.
These are the changes to Bill presently before Congress.
-- 10 years of temporary status vs. the previous 6 years
-- Specifically bars DREAMers from access to health care subsidies etc.
-- Age cap is 30 vs. the previous of 35
-- Removal of the language that would have not punished states for providing in-state tuition
The actual text of the bill will be up on www.thomas.gov in a few days, it'll be Senate bill 3999.
I now ask joelwisch2 have you served your country in the military and why would you deny the opportunity to young people who are loyal to the United States from serving?
kickboxermoma,
I served in the Navy during the 'Nam era. And if you noticed, I said I thought there might be merit to the military service argument.
One problem here is that people are saying 'military service' when the bill says 'uniformed service' which includes a number of non-military ways to serve including the National Health Service. So, while we do have a mechanism today to allow a pathway to citizenship through the military, this would broaden that pathway out substantially. My only beef with the service side is that I think the hook should be for four years rather than two. People I know that have done two year hitches in the military seem to barely to get through with various training before they are done. As for the education thing, unlike the service thing where we get the service before they get citizenship, this could allow for kids to get their education and then leave. That's okay if they pay, it is somewhat less okay if we are paying for it. And while the comment is that there is relatively low number of these people, although it goes up to age 35, I believe, you do have them being able to petition to bring family members once they are citizens, so potentially there is a very large number involved. Lastly, the bill has the ability to waive virtually any of the requirements so if you don't get your degree or don't complete your service, they can still give you the green light.
In the end, I like some of what is trying to be done here but it does not seem like a terribly good way of doing it.
6 years military and all others get back to the end of the line!
Mr. Reid should take a poll on his web site and see if the people that elected him want the "Dream Act" to be voted on.
I think he is forgetting that he is supposed to be there for the people in his district and not for his own pet projects.
"DREAM" on Harry, Dream on...
All the illegal dreamers need to go back to mexico and join their army to fight drug cartels and let Americans do American duties. Our citizens are really hurting for jobs and education. Mexico has more millionaires per capita than the U.S. They also have the richest man in the world residing their depending on what day it is. Let mexico take care of their own people. Harry Reid is despicable.
Why the military supports the DREAM Act.http://www.laprogressive.com/immigration-reform/military-dream-act/
When people show you what they really are believe em- his campaign was all about jobs till he got re-elected- now we are back to Obama's social programs- "no-one can do more" Harry needs to work on jobs- this man has repeatedy lied and Nevadans voted him back in- I ache for our out of work citizens and seniors who will be thrashed by Obama care- the wheels are coming off and it appears no-one cares-God Bless America- our elected officials arent
Harry drops back to throw a Dream Hail Mary.
Harry gets sacked and crumbles to the turf like a wet rag....
from the washingtonpost:
Dear Leader Reid,
The nation's unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans. Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make private-sector job creation a priority all year. President Obama in his first speech after the November election said "we owe" it to the American people to "focus on those issues that affect their jobs." He went on to say that Americans "want jobs to come back faster." Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents' priorities become the Senate's priorities.
For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, WE CANNOT AGREE TO prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike....Chest Bumping!!!!
Signed Mitch and John B
Oh sure, let's reward bad acts. Who's gonna pay for the college education? And what if they drop out ? This whole 'dream act' stinks to high heaven along with Harry Reid. Shame on those who voted him back.... Angle wasn't much of an option but it could have only stayed the same or gotten better... once at the bottom there's nowhere to go but up. Thanks for nothing Harry Reid.
Yup, His priority when reelected - jobs... I guess he meant jobs for those who donated the most money. Like the Hispanic Legal Defense Fund and the Unions. Not the Nevada people.... How soon he forgets..
Sing along with Harry:
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
When I want the Hispanic vote
When I want all the Hispanic votes
Whenever I want votes, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream...
Who will Governor Sandoval appoint to replace Harry when he (Harry) becomes incapacitated?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has pushed four versions of the controversial immigration bill known as the DREAM Act without having a hearing on any of them.
Has Harry Reid completely lost it? Does the ends justify the means in Harry's mind?
Does Harry Reid realize that he is making a fool of himself and Nevada voters by using less than ethical tactics to get social change forced through Congress?
2 million dream acted aliens will mean 30 million of their relatives soon entering the usa many of them old sick uneducated unskilled and many will go right on public assistance including welfare food stamps and social security...this is another death warrant for the usa if this insane anti american bill passes...any democrat voting to this bill should be arrested and imprisoned for sedition and being a traitor against their own country. Only in america would a suicidal bill like this even be considered.
You've got to be joking. You don't know that they all can and will sponsor their familis in Mexico to get citizenship, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, etc, and those then can do the same thing. If they're of the right age they can immediately collect a big fat social security check as soon as you become a citizen even if you never paid in. Many of the new immigrant seniors I know get free housing too. Every senior I know that moved here at the right age gets a hefty SS check without every paying in. Congress passed the bill to allow this in 2008. It will completely screw the US if this is allowed to take place. Get out your wallets folks! Plus their cheating by jumping in front of the line of others that are waiting to become citizens doing the law abiding way. It's going to take us farther into bankruptcy and take more of our jobs. God what dummies to not know these things!
What happened to "I'll listen to the people" "I'll create jobs for anyone that wants one" Oh that's right the election is over....
Well, the illegals voted for harry, so he owes them.
I have a dream. I dream of a time when the laws of the land are enforced without prejudice. I think the word illegal speaks for itself. When a group like illegal immigrants, parents or children, disregard the laws we have set in place to get what they want we expect them to obey other laws later? Or will they pick and choose what works for their needs and wants. We have an immigration policy already and thousands of people from all over the world immigrate every year assimilating to our society, learning our culture while still bringing their own and learning the language of the land. Rewarding "bad" behavior with citizenship is a slap in the face for anyone who got citizenship legally and should not be rewarded.
The Mexican Dream Act will NOT pass. Senators want to get re-elected and it takes a lot of Citizen votes for that. They will force ICE to deport the illegals in our prisons. The Supreme Court is playing with California about prison overcrowding. Solution: Deport the 35,000 illegals there. Deport the 1,000 illegals in Nevada prisons and save $50,000 A DAY. Sooner or later, their spouses and children will follow them south, on their own dime. We're going after employers to ensure they NEVER WORK when American Citizens are out of work. We're not even feeding so many of them--look at Salvation Army begging us for more contributions so they can support illegals. Such a SHAME than our senior CITIZENS are going without dentures and minimal care while we K-12 educate these anchor babies.
When I went through Air Force basic training, the instructors repeatedly asked us if anyone was not a CITIZEN. They took the names of those who answered and later pulled them out and swore them in as citizens. Instructors told the rest of us how proud we should be of these people willing to defend the U.S. when they weren't even citizens..... Proud of them? For stealing an education (K-12 paid for by citizens.) Any bets on restrictions/benefits for their extended families? You thing Deportation Hearings don't "consider" that their number one son is in the Army? Or that their daughter is a legal citizen now? The Mexican Dream Act would complicate things so much we'd only be able to deport the violent criminals with no ties to family.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is now pushing four versions of his highly controversial immigration bill known as the DREAM Act without even having a hearing on any of them. This is Harry's version of "working together."
Has Harry Reid completely lost it? Does the ends justify the means in Harry's mind?
Does Harry Reid realize that he is making a fool of himself and Nevada voters by using less than ethical tactics to get social change forced through Congress?
IDIOTS! You cannot be undocumented and be in the military. What can I say that already hasn't been said. Harry, do us all a favor and do yourself in already.
Nope. Not until you pass all the funding bills, just like the Republicans said. Sorry.
This is all just a fricken joke - I see blue collar workers daily in my line of work - seems the only ones having a problem getting a job in this Country is the American Citizen. It's safe to say that I see 9 out of 10 blue collar workers who are hispanic and most can't speak enough English to tell me where they're going .... this is the god-awful truth. The other day I had a Direct TV worker who literally handed me his work order because he couldn't speak enough English to tell me the name of the customer or their address. I sure hope the customer was able to speak Spanish because I know for a fact the Direct TV worker couldn't speak/understand 2 words of English. Face it folks - this is the new America we're stuck with - it's not gonna get better as long as the rich run the country - and who but the rich can afford to run a campaign to get themselves elected? We don't need immigration REFORM - just enforce the stickin' immigration laws we have now - that's all.