DHS Secretary Napolitano comes out in support of DREAM

UndergroundMatias · 05-06-2009, 12:48 PM

Story on DreamActivist:

http://dreamactivist.org/2009/05/06/...the-dream-act/

ehfornue · 05-06-2009, 01:41 PM

. . . . . . . .

VaeVictis · 05-06-2009, 01:41 PM

Great, but will this have a practical effect on DREAM's chances?

Ianus · 05-06-2009, 02:50 PM

Nice,It is also interesting that she didn't take a stand on general legalization,which should say a LOT !

Quote:

At the Senate Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano carefully skirted repeated questions about her views of whether longtime undocumented immigrants living in the United States ought to get a chance at legalization.

Although Napolitano did say she supports the DREAM Act — which would provide some children of undocumented immigrants raised in the United States a path to legalization if they complete two years of college or military service — Napolitano carefully avoided questions about whether a comprehensive immigration reform bill should include broader opportunities for legalization of the 11 million or so undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Her refusal to offer an opinion on that highlights just how controversial and politically dicey that issue will be as a new proposal for comprehensive immigration reform gets hammered out over the next few months.

Napolitano’s refusal to sanction legalization seemed to please Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala), the new ranking Republican on the committee, who pressed the issue by saying that while “we need to fix our immigration system,” in his view, “the American people correctly are dubious of a plan that gives lawfulness now to people who came in illegally without confidence that the legal system is going to work in the future.” That “amnesty” would become “a magnet or a message abroad,” he said. “When the American people realize that the broken pipe is being fixed … we can have a far better discussion about how to deal fairly and humanely with people who have been here a long time.” That echoes a common argument from restrictionist quarters that strict border enforcement must precede any considerations of legalization.

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), the Judiciary Committee chairman, presented a more sympathetic case for legalizing undocumented immigrants now “living in the shadows” and tried to elicit Napolitano’s support. She wasn’t biting. The secretary refused to say she supports legalization, saying only, in response to Leahy’s question about whether it makes sense to try to deport 11 million people, that “the sheer logistics of doing that are overwhelming.”

I think we all know where this going,CIR is going is to be a very hard sell as the year advances !

Alex · 05-06-2009, 02:55 PM

this is why we need the Dream Act as a standalone first... some people here still don't understand that there is a huge difference between CIR and Dream Act.

elmichoacano · 05-06-2009, 03:56 PM

interesting....considering there is talk of getting her removed.

Alex · 05-06-2009, 04:14 PM

getting her removed??

angeleno · 05-06-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmichoacano

interesting....considering there is talk of getting her removed.

Yeah, from people who wear tea bags in their hats to protest taxes, even though their taxes have actually gone DOWN.

MariaG1987 · 05-06-2009, 04:43 PM

This is great great great news! And please, let's stop with the "stand-alone or with CIR" debate because it's getting us nowhere.

Anyway, the DREAM Act is gaining momentum and everyone should be doing everything they can to help pass it.

UndergroundMatias · 05-06-2009, 04:58 PM

The actual exchange:

<DURBIN>: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Secretary, thanks for being here. As a former governor of a border state, the story I'm about to tell you may sound familiar. Two weeks ago, I had a meeting in Chicago with student from one of our leading high schools. I met a young woman who was valedictorian of her class and was on a winning team in a science competition who had been accepted at an Ivy League university and was looking forward to pursuing a degree in biology which may lead to medical research or becoming a medical doctor.

But she had a problem. She same to the United States when she was two years old. She was brought by her parents from Mexico. Her parents sold corn on the street corners. And she grew up here. She speaks perfect English. She's never known another country in her entire life. And she's undocumented. I've introduced a bill for eight years now called the Dream Act. My co-sponsors this year include Senators Lugar and Menendez. And it says, for young Americans -- or young people living in America in her circumstance, that they be given a chance through either two years of service in the military or the completion of two years of college, to move toward legal status. I'm hoping, praying, for so many young people who are counting on this that we will have a chance to consider and pass that this year.

Could you tell me your opinion of the Dream Act?

NAPOLITANO: Yes, Senator.

As a governor of a border state, this is one of -- this is one of those areas where everyone wants the immigration law enforced. We must enforce it. It's part of our national sovereignty, among other things. On the other hand, we have to have the ability to deal with some of the human issues that arise here. And the one that you have identified is one of the most acute.

I supported the Dream Act when I was governor. I support it now. One of the
most moving things I've been privileged to do as secretary is to administer the oath of citizenship to men and women in our military who have been serving in Iraq, who were not citizens, who have elected to become citizen. In a way, it kind of mirrors what you're talking about in the Dream Act.

But it seems to me that the Dream Act is a good piece of legislation and a
good idea.

The link is here: http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings...ng.cfm?id=3803

I also second Maria's comment, the CIR v. DREAM debate is dead. Let's get to work.

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DHS Secretary Napolitano comes out in support of DREAM