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US Senate to Vote on DREAM Act

   VOA News 09 December 2010
   Senate   Majority  Whip  Richard  Durbin  of  Ill.,  left,  Rep.  Luis
   Gutierrez,  D-Ill.,  look  on  during  a news conference regarding the
   Dream Act legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec 8, 2010

Photo: AP

   Senate   Majority  Whip  Richard  Durbin  of  Ill.,  left,  Rep.  Luis
   Gutierrez,  D-Ill.,  look  on during a news conference about Dream Act
   legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, 8 Dec, 2010

   The  U.S.  Senate  is expected to vote Thursday on whether to consider
   legislation  that  would  give young immigrants brought to the country
   illegally the chance to become citizens.
   The  House  of  Representatives  approved  the  bill  -  known  as the
   Development,  Relief and Education of Alien Minors, or the DREAM act -
   on  Wednesday.  The  bill  passed  the  House by a vote of 216 to 198.
   Observers, though, say it has little chance of passing in the Senate.
   The  bill  would  grant  illegal  immigrants brought to the U.S. while
   under  the  age  of  16  the opportunity to gain legal residency - and
   ultimately  citizenship  -  by going to college or serving in the U.S.
   military for two years.
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama  issued  a statement praising the House
   action,  calling  it  "the  right thing to do" for America. He said it
   would  correct a flaw in the nation's immigration system that punishes
   young  people  who  have  grown  up  in the U.S. and have already made
   contributions to their communities.
   The  measure  has faced stiff opposition from Republicans, who say the
   measure would encourage and reward illegal immigration.
   Opponents  say it gives illegal immigrants a fast-track to citizenship
   through college or the military, while immigrants who came to the U.S.
   legally do not have the same opportunity.

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