For millions of people, defeat of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) in the U.S. Senate on Saturday was a huge setback for the foundation of a responsible way to address the immigration issue.
The DREAM Act failed by only five votes to get the 60 necessary to advance it. Had it passed, there were estimates of as many as 1.8 million sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants who would qualify for citizenship after meeting rigorous tests: They would have been brought into the U.S. before age 16 by parents who were undocumented; lived in the U.S. for at least five years; have no criminal record; and would have served at least two years in the military or completed two years of college.
After meeting these qualifications, they would wait six years to apply for citizenship. The DREAM Act provided an excellent foundation for addressing immigration reform for all undocumented residents. It also would serve as a means to bolster sagging enlistments in the U.S. military.
Contrary to Dan Gates’ sweeping negative comments about the DREAM Act [“Oppose DREAM Act, senators,” Dec. 12], and the ignorant remarks of a Milton Brech [“I have experience with illegals,” Dec. 19], the Act had considerable merit. Whether people like it or not, the problem must be addressed. And that is not by preposterous suggestions, such as deporting 12 million generally hard-working family people who also constitute a 12-million-consumer base.
Deportation is not a solution. And neither is keeping people in the shadows, turning good residents into bad. The problem came close to a solution in recent years through proposals by President Bush, Senators Kennedy and McCain, and now President Obama. With strong bipartisan support like this, it is evident the issue will someday be addressed in a responsible manner. And until that time, all the meaningless rhetoric will solve nothing.
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