Multiple 'Dream Acts' Emerge Ahead of November Elections

http://ethnoblog.newamericamedia.org...-elections.php


As November elections neared in 2010, the Democratic supporters of the immigration reform bill known as the Dream Act kicked into high gear, pushing it toward an eventual vote in the House and Senate that December.


The bill proposed conditional legal status for qualifying young people who arrived in the U.S. under age 16, provided they go to college or join the military. It didn’t go anywhere in 2010, but as November nears and both major parties fight for Latino votes, expect the Democratic-backed bill to figure prominently again, along with a few stripped-down mutations as Republican lawmakers formulate alternative proposals.

How many “Dream Acts” are there? Here’s the original plus a growing list of alternatives:

1) The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act: This is the original proposal last voted on in 2010. Various versions have come and gone since 2001. Originally a bipartisan proposal, its initial Republican backers have since dropped off. The bill failed to clear a Senate vote in December 2010, but a similar version was reintroduced last year by Senate Democrats. The bill would grant conditional legal status and a path to citizenship to undocumented young people who were brought to the U.S. before age 16, so long as they attend college or join the military and meet other criteria. The proposed age cap for applicants is 35.

2) The Studying Toward Adjusted Residency Status (STARS) Act: A GOP alternative drafted with the aid of Daniela Pelaez, a Colombian-born high school valedictorian from Miami who closely avoided deportation recently. The proposal was announced last month by by Rep. David Rivera of Florida. From one media synopsis: “It would allow high school graduates accepted into college the chance to stay in the U.S. for up 10 years and beyond. The first five would be to go to college. Upon graduating they get another five years. After the 10 years they are eligible to apply for full citizenship.” Unlike the Dream Act, it would apply to younger beneficiaries, undocumented immigrants who are 18 years and 6 months of age or younger and arrived in the U.S. before 16.

3) The Adjusted Residency for Military Service (ARMS) Act: The STARS Act isn’t the first stripped-down alt-Dream Act proposed by Rivera, who in January introduced a military-only version as well, after hearing GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich say he’d support the Dream Act if those who benefited were required to serve in the military as a condition for legal status and citizenship. The bill hasn’t drawn much lawmaker support so far; even with the original Dream Act, its military component has been seen as a detriment by some supporters.

4) The Marco Rubio mystery bill: It’s still in the drafting stages, but the alternative proposed by the freshman GOP senator from Florida and potential vice-presidential pick is already drawing criticism after reports that while it would allow qualifying young people to obtain legal status, it would not provide them with a path to citizenship. According to The Hill, Rubio, who has opposed the original Dream Act, and fellow Republicans working on the bill don’t plan to unveil it until “after GOP front-runner Mitt Romney has clinched the presidential nomination.”

It’s going to be interesting to see if any of the leaner versions move forward. The original bill in all its versions has never been able to clear Congress, making compromises a possibility, but a bill that leaves citizenship out of the deal may also have trouble attracting widespread support.

There’s also a bill first introduced in 2009 called the People Resolved to Obtain an Understanding of Democracy (PROUD) Act, reintroduced in January by Democratic Rep. Joe Baca of California, which would let qualifying undocumented high school graduates apply for naturalization.

Meanwhile, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada has hinted at a possible vote on the current version of the Dream Act before November.

I believe this is a good article just because it really contrast the different bill that are already out there plus what is currently being worked on. I've noticed that since the emergence of STARS, ARMS and now the Rep. version of the dream act there has been great division among Dreamers. Some want to go to college, some want to join the military ( I myself being one of them), and some just want to work, drive and travel. There are too many of us in who are in different situations, who want different things. I feel we need to stay as united as possible.

Hopefully Rubio manages to Incorporate all of those things^^^

We can only hope. It is not too much to ask for the opportunity to study/serve in the military as GC holders and eventually US citizens. Again I say opportunity, because thats all it is. If you fail to complete the requirements then you are back to were we currently are.

Hopefully Democrats and Republicans make something or revise the current dream act to fulfill THEIR OWN requirements and meet in the middle so they can pass it. But some chance at least like things you have to EARN it.

i perfer star act. i think dream act is a too controversial for American public.
American people perfer people to come here legally

And what do you suppose the rest of us do? You would be the only one on here eligible you 12 year old clown. Go back to your studying will you and let us adults decide what is right.

LOL

Aww... don't be so mean to the kid! :-p

Wow, is it any surprise that it is the GOP drafting all these last-minute bills that are designed to fail and or not garner any support for either side of the aisle? Like I said before, all these are just ploys to break up the Latino vote and nothing more. Republicans know not even their own base will fall in line to vote for these bills because of the tough election cycle for both parties.

This is so true, I am glad we're getting a DA vote this year, Will it pass? no.Is it right for the DEMS to use Dream Act for political gain? Yes it is. Fuck the GOP? Yea, fuck the Tea Party and Fox News for making the right too extremist.