Dream Act Amnesty Stopped — for Now

Congratulations AIC members, your calls and faxes to Washington helped to stop — at least for the time being — the Dream Act, an amnesty and a path to citizenship for as many as one million illegal aliens. Eligible would have been illegals who sign a statement that they came here before age 16, have a high school degree, and enroll in higher education.

Reporters noted the effect of constituent pressure to stop the act. Said the Washington Bureau of the Houston Chronicle, "With [conservative senators] being barraged with calls, faxes and e-mails from anti-illegal immigration groups . . . some Republicans who supported the measure in the past have been reluctant to do so now."

The strategy of the Dream Act's supporters was to attach it to the Department of Defense Authorization bill which is likely to pass. AIC learned that pressure on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was a key to stopping this strategy. The Kentucky senator later moved to keep the act off the authorization bill.

Chief sponsor of the amnesty, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said he was not giving up, but that this defeat would make passage in the Senate more difficult. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) vowed a renewed effort to push it through before Congress adjourns in November. Said Reid, "We will move to proceed to this matter before we leave here. I'm going to do my utmost to do it by November 16."

Amnesty supporters also want to pass a legalization of illegal aliens in agriculture before the end of the session. AIC will keep you posed as events unfold.

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