An immigration reform activist says he isn't surprised President Barack Obama has once again called on Congress to pass the unpopular DREAM Act ("The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act").
At a recent White House party celebrating Mexico's Cinco de Mayo, Obama promised that if he is re-elected, he would push for a comprehensive overhaul of America's immigration policies. He said, "It's long past the time that we unleash the promise of all our young people and make the DREAM Act a reality."
The legislation would pave the way for citizenship to millions of illegal aliens.
Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), says there is really nothing new here.
"He is just reiterating what he has said all along, and I think what's giving him ammunition is that the Republicans seem to be walking right into a trap that the Democrats have set," Mehlman offers. "They seem to believe that winning the Hispanic vote is going to depend on passage of the DREAM Act or some other amnesty, even though there's no evidence that is the case."
Mehlman says Senator Marco Rubio's (R-Florida) plan, which gives certain illegal immigrant children who go to college or serve in the military the right to remain in U.S., does not permanently ban those individuals from applying for citizenship.
"He said that his bill would not include a pathway to citizenship, but he wouldn't rule out some option in the future," the FAIR spokesman notes. "It is at best a two-step process of gaining amnesty and getting on a path to citizenship. First, you go through this interim stage, and then later, they come back with some kind of legislative proposal that includes citizenship."
But he concludes that Rubio's half loaf will not be enough for those who really want amnesty.
