Newt Gingrich endorses modified DREAM Act bill

I know this is more of the same we discussed yesterday but I decided to post it.

http://www.boston.com/Boston/politic...jJM/index.html



MIAMI - Newt Gingrich today called on Congress to immediately pass a part of the DREAM Act that would put the children of illegal immigrants on a special path to becoming US citizens if they serve in the nation’s armed forces.

“I think there is no opposition to that part of the DREAM Act. I think it should go through immediately,” the former House speaker said at the outset of a speech to the Latin Builders Association.

The Florida-based trade association is heavily populated by Cuban-Americans, who are being courted by all of the Republican presidential candidates ahead of Tuesday’s Florida primary.

The DREAM Act modification was announced today by US Representative David Rivera, a Miami Republican who introduced Gingrich to the builders.

Another portion of the act, which would provide citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants who graduate from college, is more controversial and is opposed by both Gingrich and his leading rival, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

While Cubans would be less affected by either DREAM Act change because they get special residency status if they flee the island and reach US shores, Gingrich’s speech was replete with other items of Hispanic outreach.

He called, for example, for moving US military oversight of Mexico from Nebraska to the US Southern Command headquarters outside Miami, as well as additional funding for the facility.

“If you look at how thin we are in terms of the number of people we commit to Latin America, and you compare it to Bahrain or UAE or Kuwait or Afghanistan or Germany or Japan, you really totally neglect Latin America,” he said.

Gingrich urged Washington to look south as much as it does to the Middle East.

In addition, the former speaker called for an overhaul of the US Army Corps of Engineers so the country could speed port modifications to accommodate ships that will be able to travel through a widened Panama Canal.

He noted that in Charleston, S.C., where a primary was held last weekend, the Corps estimates it will take eight years to study the idea.

“This is utterly, total irrational,” said Gingrich.

The speech came just hours before Gingrich and Romney delivered back-to-back speeches to the Hispanic Leadership Network.

The two clashed during a debate last night, and Gingrich hinted afterward that he had a surprise to announce this morning.

The Hispanic Leadership Network meeting, organized, in part, by both US Senator Marco Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, offered an audience that could make a direct comparison between both candidates.

That's great, thanks for sharing.

I agree that anyone willing to serve in the armed forces should definitely be granted a path to citizenship. This is at least a piece of legislation that can benefit many Dreamers, willing to put their lives on the line.

Unfortunately for me, there's no part of me that could ever join. That's mad scary! lol...I'm all about peace, not war...but respect those who are brave enough to defend a good cause. Hopefully, Democrats will be able to attach and compromise on an educational component that could benefit the rest of us.

Good luck to all those badass dreamers! lol...and those who think they're badass..

Thank you for the post buddy. I just saw the article and was about to post it myself. VERY GOOD NEWS.

You know what is really nice? Gingrich is not engaging in the secure-the-border-first argument, which would leave us in limbo. He wants congress to act on it now!!!

DREAMERS, this path is indeed dangerous, but, if this passes, I encourage all of you to take advantage of it. Be strategic; consider joining branches that would not expose you to that much danger.

The should at least add STEM field graduates.

See...the only question I have with this is: Can America afford it? Soldiers cost money! With the current financial problems that the government have right now....can they afford dreamers being in the army? It's easy to challenge us, but can they back it up?

Wouldn't it be a smarter and better choice for them to allow us to PAY for college and even fined us for being undocumented? This would bring in extra revenue right now...and in the future! Wouldn't US benefit more from highly educated people right now, rather than spending more money on war/security?

Good questions. But, I have a question for you. How power-driven are Americans in international relations? I think it is safe to say that Americans are willing to invest all they can in their military, so the US maintains its influential role in the international system and protects itself from non-Democratic regimes (e.g. Iran, China, and . . . don't forget about Russia).

You made a great point here. I find it very ironic how "power-driven" Americans are in international relation, but how ignorant they are in it. If you ask the average Americans, they probably don't know what international relation is. But if you ask them whether America should maintain its "top-dog status," they probably blindly say yes.

This is good for those brave dreamers that have a passion for the military. I don't get why they don't support the education path. Perhaps they want us citizens to attend college first. Since colleges are getting crowded

Man, those Cubans...the fact that they're being courted by Republicans is appalling. What's even more appalling, is they allowed themselves to support the GOP.