“Governor Romney has set an unfortunate deadline for hundreds of thousands of DREAMers: get approval under President Obama’s deferred action before inauguration, or risk being deported if Romney is sworn in. It’s hard to understand why he thinks that deporting hundreds of thousands of hard-working young people, who were brought as children to this country through no fault of their own, is good for the only nation they know and love. It is clear that Kris Kobach, the architect of Arizona’s unconstitutional and anti-immigrant law, is firmly dictating Romney’s extreme immigration policy, even when most Americans feel it’s the wrong approach.

“President Obama’s decision to lift the shadow of deportation for these young people is not only common-sense policy, but it also reflects our values as a nation of immigrants that cherishes hard work and love of country. Once again, Governor Romney has proven to be out of touch with the nation in which he lives.”

“I applaud President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for keeping their promise to implement a deferred action process that prioritizes the use of our law enforcement resources to focus on public safety threats, not innocent young people looking to contribute to our society. Starting today, this process will allow law enforcement to dedicate their efforts to going after violent criminals and those who pose risks to our national security, while preserving opportunity for thousands of young people who have grown up here and want to do more for the only country they have ever known. This is smart policy that will enhance our nation’s security while removing the specter of deportation that haunts DREAMers.

“I hope Republicans, especially those who expressed willingness to help these young people, will support the Administration’s efforts to provide them with a reprieve while Congress works out a path forward. The President can only do so much administratively. The onus is on Congress to permanently fix our broken immigration system. I call on my Republican colleagues to help us pass the DREAM Act along with comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, fair and practical.”

Background: Today’s announcement by DHS provides further clarity on how the application process for deferred action will work. According to DHS, deferred action will only be granted to eligible individuals on a case-by-case basis – as long as individuals can demonstrate through verifiable documentation that they meet the specified guidelines. Each applicant must cover the cost of their application, which is $465. For more information please go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at: http://1.usa.gov/LhQrYl

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding comprehensive immigration reform. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Monday’s United State Supreme Court decision to strike most of the unconstitutional Arizona immigration law reaffirmed something most of us already knew: the onus is on Congress to repair a broken system.

No one denies the system is broken.

But in the 48 hours since the Supreme Court’s ruling, Republicans have engaged in revisionist history to explain why it’s taken so long to fix it.

Here are the facts:

When Democrats brought a comprehensive immigration reform bill to the floor in 2007, Republicans filibustered the legislation – even though Republican President Bush supported it.

And they twice filibustered the DREAM Act – which would allow children brought to the country by their parents to go to college, serve in the military and work toward citizenship.

Democrats have been ready to pass comprehensive immigration reform for years.

It’s Republicans who are divided on this issue.

And every time Democrats offer to work together on comprehensive immigration reform – even bringing to the floor bipartisan ideas originally proposed by Republicans – the other side finds an excuse not to support change.

Yet Republicans blame Democrats for inaction.

Well, they can’t have it both ways – they can’t blame Democrats for not passing a bipartisan immigration bill when they were the ones who blocked the bill.

Moving forward, Congress has two things in its favor.

Thanks to President Obama’s decisive action, the specter of deportation no longer hangs over the heads of 800,000 young people brought to the country as children.

And the Supreme Court offered yet another affirmation that a long-term fix for our broken immigration system must come from Congress and not from the states.

Now is not the time to retreat to our corners. It’s the time to work together on a reasonable solution, one that:

• Continues to secure the borders,
• Punishes unscrupulous employers who exploit immigrants and undercut American wages,
• Improves our dysfunctional legal immigration system,
• And requires the 11 million people who are undocumented to register with the government, pay fines and taxes, learn English and get in the back of the line to obtain legal status.

If my Republican colleagues truly care about changing the status quo, they should step forward now and work with Democrats, not criticize from the sidelines.

Unfortunately, Republicans who once favored a permanent resolution for America’s broken immigration system are deserting efforts to find common ground.

And the only decisive Republican voice on this issue today seems to be Mitt Romney – who has called the unconstitutional Arizona law the “model” for reform.

Mitt Romney has also promised to veto the DREAM Act.

Democrats believe the kind of institutionalized racism in the Arizona law is hardly the “model” for reform in a country that stands for liberty and justice for all.

And we believe upstanding young people who have never known any home but the United States of America should go to college, fight for their country and contribute to society – not face deportation.

But at least we know where Mitt Romney stands on these issues, even if we disagree with him.

As long as Republicans remain unwilling to vote for comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform, we remain at an impasse.

But I want my Republican colleagues to know this: as soon as they are willing to join us to craft a common-sense, legislative solution that is tough, fair and practical, we are ready to join them.

Sen. McConnell: Waiting for Romney on Immigration

“Senate Republican leaders said Tuesday to stay tuned regarding their reaction to President Barack Obama’s Friday announcement on immigration, underscoring the political conundrum Republicans are faced with on the sensitive issue.”

McConnell: Romney should take GOP lead on immigration policy

“Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that GOP lawmakers will wait for Mitt Romney to take the lead on immigration policy.”

 Mitch McConnell Dodges On Immigration

“Your move, Mitt Romney.  That’s the tack Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is taking in response to the Obama administration’s recent policy move to allow as many as 800,000 young illegal immigrants to avoid deportation.”

McConnell declines to take position on Obama’s immigration decision, until Romney does

“McConnell said he would wait — until presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney had taken a position first.”

Mitch McConnell Waiting on Mitt Romney on DREAM Act

 “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said today he’s waiting for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to announce a position on whether he supports deporting young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children.”

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican hypocrisy on immigration reform and the DREAM Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Republicans in Congress are fond of complaining that this country’s immigration system is broken. They’re less interested in working with Democrats to fix it.

No one disagrees that America’s immigration system needs repair.

But every time Democrats offer to work together on comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans find an excuse to fight sensible change.

And every time Democrats propose bipartisan legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for children brought here illegally through no fault of their own, Republicans find an excuse to oppose our practical reforms.

There is no better illustration of Republicans’ hypocrisy than their phony outrage over the weekend.

On Friday, President Obama announced the Administration would suspend deportation of upstanding young people brought here illegally as children – provided they attend college or serve in the military.

More than 800,000 young people who have done well in school and stayed out of trouble will benefit from this policy – and hopefully go on to be productive members of society.

In the past, Republicans have expressed broad support for the principles of President Obama’s directive.

And Senator Marco Rubio, the Junior Senator from Florida, has even talked up a similar idea to the press for months, although he never actually produced a proposal.

Yet Republicans’ glowing expressions of support for the President’s decision were not forthcoming. Instead, Republicans have cried about the way the directive was issued.

• They prefer a long-term solution.
• They don’t like the timing.
• They should have been consulted, and an issue this important should have been left to Congress.

The complaints are varied, but they have one thing in common: none of them actually take issue with the substance of President Obama’s directive.

Leading Republican voices on immigration have yet to actually disagree with the decision.

They just don’t like the way President Obama made the decision – or that he will get the credit for bringing out of the shadows 800,000 trustworthy young men and women who know no other home but the United States.

But Republicans are right about one thing. President Obama’s directive is not a permanent solution – it’s a temporary fix.

So I remind my colleagues in both Houses of Congress – the next move is ours.

This reprieve for DREAMers shouldn’t be seen as a free pass for Congress.

Instead we should see it as a chance for Democrats and Republicans to work together on a lasting answer to the serious shortfalls of our broken immigration system.

And as we work, we’ll have the benefit of knowing the specter of deportation no longer hangs over the heads of hundreds of thousands of young people.

So now is hardly the time to walk away from the DREAM Act, which would have created a pathway to citizenship for young people brought to the country through no fault of their own.

And it’s certainly no time to abandon calls for comprehensive immigration reform that’s tough, fair and practical.

But that’s exactly what Republicans are doing – they’re taking their marbles and going home.

Since Friday, leading Republican voices on immigration reform have all but ceded the debate until after the election.

Republicans who once favored a permanent solution for America’s broken immigration system are now abandoning efforts to find common ground.

And the same Republicans who complained they weren’t involved enough in the President’s decision are now giving up any involvement in the broader immigration conversation.

It makes you wonder whether they were ever really committed to passing the DREAM Act or tackling comprehensive immigration reform.

After all, Senate Republicans have twice had their chance to vote for the DREAM Act. Both times they filibustered the measure.

So perhaps it should come as no surprise that my Republican colleagues are more interested in complaining about a system that’s broken, than in working with Democrats to fix it.

Astrid Silva is an average 24-year-old.

The Las Vegas resident is fascinated with Nevada history – from the mysteries of Area 51 to the days when the mob ran casinos.

Astrid is active in her community and in local politics.

And one day she would like to come to Washington, D.C., to see the Declaration of Independence.

Astrid recently completed her Associates degree at the College of Southern Nevada. And she dreams of completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

But there’s one thing standing in Astrid’s way: she’s not an American citizen.

Twenty years ago this week – when Astrid was just four years old – her parents brought her to the United States.

She doesn’t even remember Mexico, the country where she was born. She speaks perfect English. She was an honor student in high school.

And she’s never called anyplace but Nevada her home.

So of course I thought of this brave young woman when President Obama announced Friday that he would suspend deportation of young people, like Astrid, who were brought to this country illegally when they were only children.

Astrid has been looking over her shoulder – afraid of deportation – ever since she stepped out of the shadows to push Congress to pass the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act would create a pathway to citizenship for upstanding young people who were brought to the country through no fault of their own, and want to attend college or serve this nation in the Armed Forces.

The DREAM Act isn’t amnesty. Rather, it rewards responsibility with opportunity.

Astrid’s handwritten letters convinced me years ago of the importance of this issue. Unfortunately, Republican opposition has stalled this legislation.

But thanks to President Obama, Astrid and 800,000 other young people who are American in all but paperwork no longer need to live in fear of deportation.

President Obama’s directive to suspend deportation of the DREAMers comes after a yearlong review.

It will be applied on a case-by-case basis.

It frees up law enforcement resources to focus on people who actually threaten public safety and national security.

And it removes the specter of deportation that has hovered over deserving young men and women.

I congratulate President Obama for this courageous decision – a decision that benefits both the DREAMers and our nation as a whole.

Like Astrid, these young people share our language. They share our culture. And they share our love for America – the only country they know.

They are talented, patriotic men and women who want to defend our nation in the military, get a college education, work hard and contribute to their communities and this country.

And when they pledge allegiance, it’s to the United States of America.

Unfortunately, President Obama’s directive is temporary. The onus is now on Congress to protect the DREAMers and fix our broken immigration system once and for all.

Comprehensive immigration reform should be tough, fair and practical. It should:

• Continue efforts to secure our borders;
• Hold unscrupulous employers accountable;
• Reform our nation’s legal immigration system;
• And require 11 million undocumented people to register with the government, pay taxes and fines, learn English and get in the back of the line.

Some Republicans have suggested a solution to the DREAMer’s terrible dilemma should have come from Congress, not the President.

But it’s Republican opposition that has prevented Congress from acting.

In fact, Senate Republicans blocked the DREAM Act twice.

And many Republicans who once said they favor a long-term fix for America’s broken immigration system are now abandoning efforts to find common ground.

The President has taken decisive action in offering this directive. But he can only do so much by himself.

For Astrid’s sake – and for the sake of every American – it is time Congress became part of the solution.

I hope my Republican colleagues will finally join Democrats to find a bipartisan way to mend this nation’s flawed immigration system – instead of just complaining that the system is broken.

“I congratulate President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for this thoughtful decision that benefits not just the DREAMers and the young people seeking a future in the only country they’ve ever known, but our entire nation as well. These young people were brought here through no fault of their own, and many do not even remember the countries where they were born. When they pledge allegiance, it is to the United States. They belong to this country culturally and linguistically and are American in all but paperwork. These talented individuals want to defend our nation in our military, and contribute to our country through their hard work.

“President Obama’s courageous decision removes the specter of deportation that hovered over these deserving individuals and frees up law enforcement resources to focus on people who are a threat to our public safety and national security. I hope Republicans, especially those who have voiced a willingness to help these young people, will support the Administration’s directive.

“The President can only do so much administratively and this measure is temporary and limited by current law. The onus is now on Congress to permanently fix our broken immigration system, and I call on my Republican colleagues to help us pass the DREAM Act along with comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, fair and practical. We need to secure our borders; hold unscrupulous employers accountable; reform our nation’s legal immigration system; and require the 11 million who are undocumented to register with the government, pay taxes, pay fines, learn English and then go back to the end of the line.”

Note: For more information please go to the Department of Homeland Security at:
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20120612-napolitano-announces-deferred-action-process-for-young-people.shtm

Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced measures to make immigration enforcement more efficient and effective by executing a case-by-case review of individuals currently in removal proceedings, and those who may be placed in proceedings in the future. This will help focus on our highest deportation priorities such as violent criminals. The Department of Homeland Security announced the changes in a response to a letter Senator Reid and 21 other Democratic senators sent to the President on April 13:

“I applaud President Obama for taking this decisive step to bring our immigration enforcement policies more in line with our national security and public safety priorities. This new DHS directive will help prioritize our limited enforcement resources to focus on serious felons, gang members and individuals who are a national security threat rather than college students and veterans who have risked their lives for our country. This commonsense approach will address an untenable situation where the deportations of foreign drug traffickers and violent criminals face long delays because our immigration courts are overwhelmed by low-priority cases of individuals with no criminal records.

“I am especially pleased about the impact these new policies will have on those who would benefit from the DREAM Act. These young people are American in all but paperwork: in language, culture, love for this land, and yearning to serve in our military, or become college graduates who fully contribute to our nation. We lose a lot by sending them back to countries they do not know.

“The President’s decision is a step in the right direction. However, the solution to our broken immigration system must come from Congress. Once more, I ask my Republican colleagues to join Democrats in enacting tough, smart, and fair comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders; strengthens existing immigration laws; and requires the approximately 11 million people in this country illegally to register with the government and get right with the law.”

Washington, D.C.— La semana pasada el Senador Dick Durbin celebró la primera audiencia sobre el DREAM Act, demostrando una vez más los beneficios que este proyecto de ley ofrece. El DREAM Act, un proyecto de ley que daría un estatus legal a jóvenes quienes llegaron antes de los 16 años, han vivido mínimo cinco años en los Estados Unidos y han llenado rigurosos requisitos como cumplir con dos años de servicio militar o estudios universitarios y no tener antecedentes criminales.

A continuación un resumen de la cobertura durante la semana pasada . La cobertura demostró el fuerte rechazo por parte de los Republicanos a esta medida con tanto sentido común. Sin embargo, los demócratas seguirán buscando convencer a sus colegas republicanos a suscribirse como patrocinadores de esta. Entre los notables críticos el Senador Cornyn de Texas (donde el 38% de populación es hispana) y el silencio del Sen. Rubio quien en el pasado se ha opuesto al DREAM Act en repetidas ocasiones.

Los Demócratas Dan Empujón a la Ley DREAM a Pesar de Oposición Republicana: CNN

El senador republicano John Cornyn de Tejas hizo un llamado para una reforma migratoria sustantiva que fortalezca la seguridad fronteriza en vez de enforcarse en solo un aspecto del asunto a través de la ley DREAM. Cornyn dijo que apoyaba las metas de la ley DREAM tanto como una reforma migratoria, una afirmación cuestionada por el líder de la mayoría del Senado, “Él ha votado contra la reforma migratoria cada vez que la hemos traído al pleno”, esto es algo que hemos visto bastante en los últimos años, dijo el senador Reid a reporteros. LINK

Los Republicanos no Muestran Interés en la Ley DREAM: USA Today

Los demócratas tenían la esperanza que la primera audiencia en el Senado enfocada en un proyecto de ley que ajustaría la situación legal de algunos hijos de indocumentados ayudaría a ganar el apoyo de los Republicanos. Según el testimonio del martes, es claro que los demócratas aún tienen mucho terreno para recorrer. LINK

Demócratas Impulsan la Ley DREAM Sin Apoyo de los Republicanos: Huffington Post

Los republicanos no mostraron ningún indicio de apoyo para la ley DREAM en una audiencia el martes con los senadores John Cornyn (Texas) y Chuck Grassley (Iowa) exigiendo más seguridad fronteriza a cambio de su apoyo al proyecto de ley que le daría estatus legal a algunos jóvenes indocumentados. La secretaria del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, Janet Napolitano, el secretario de educación, Arne Duncan, y el subsecretario de defensa, Clifford Stanley, recalcaron que el gobierno Obama respalda el proyecto de ley porque ayudaría en el reclutamiento militar, fomentaría la educación superior y los funcionarios migratorios se podrían enfocar en los indocumentados peligrosos.  LINK

Demócratas Proponen la Ley DREAM Como Cura Económica Necesaria: USA Today

Las última vez que el gobierno de Obama buscó la legalización de algunos hijos de indocumentados, varios funcionarios se enfocaron en las historias que inspiran simpatía por los estudiantes con honores quienes  se ganarían su estatus legal a través de la ley DREAM. Pero ahora que los Demócratas renovaron su promoción del proyecto de ley en una audiencia el martes, se enfocaron en los beneficios económicos de legalizar a aquellos jóvenes en épocas de recesión. El secretario de educación Arne Duncan dijo el lunes que el continuará apoyando la aprobación de la ley mientras explicaba lo que los beneficiarios del proyecto de ley podrían aportar al país.

Sera un SUEÑO imposible? Los Demócratas Impulsan la Ley DREAM de Nuevo: MSNBC

Los Demócratas llenaron la sala de audiencias para el primer testimonio de la ley DREAM. Más de 200 personas están en la sala, entre ellos varios estudiantes, quienes dicen que son indocumentados y apoyan la aprobación del proyecto de ley. La ley daría a aquellos jóvenes quienes fueron traídos a los Estados Unidos ilegalmente un camino a la ciudadanía. Aunque el proyecto tiene altas posibilidades de ser derrotado en el Senado, los Demócratas no se darán por vencidos. Fracasó en diciembre, 55-41, cuando no pudo superar la obstrucción de los republicanos y eso fue cuando los demócratas tenían una gran mayoría. Sin embargo, el senador Durbin (D-IL) ha vuelto a presentar el proyecto de ley con 34 patrocinadores. LINK

Un Segundo Intento Para Ley Migratoria: The New York Times

El Senador Richard Durbin se dirigió a un público de jóvenes con toga y birrete, animándolos a continuar el camino frente a ellos, “Cuando miro al mi alrededor, veo el futuro de los Estados Unidos.” Durbin ha defendido la medida, la cual daría un camino de seis años hacia la residencia permanente para algunos jóvenes hijos de indocumentados. Bajo esta ley, el grupo específicamente definido puede obtener la ciudadanía estadunidense si mantienen un historial limpio, reciben un grado segundario y van a la universidad o se unan a las fuerzas armadas. LINK

Palabras Fuertes, Presencia de Estudiantes Marca la Audiencia de la Ley DREAM en el Senado: Reuters

La secretaria del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional Janet Napolitano, el Secretario de Educación Arne Duncan, el alcalde de Chicago Rahm Emmanuel y expertos del Departamento de Defensa, militares y grupos externos declararon a favor del proyecto de ley migratorio en la audiencia el martes en la mañana. El senador Durbin de Illinois, quien ha apoyado el proyecto hace bastante tiempo, dirigió la audiencia del Subcomité del Senado sobre Inmigración, Refugiados y Seguridad Fronteriza. Se estimada que 2 millones de personas serian elegibles para la ciudadanía si la ley es aprobada.  LINK

Otro Empujón del Senado Para la Ley DREAM: Politico

Altos funcionarios de la Casa Blanca y varios invitados presentaron su argumento sobre la ley de inmigración, entre ellos José Antonio Vargas, un periodista que  relató en primera persona la historia de haber trabajado para periódicos de alta categoría siendo indocumentado. La legislación fue criticada por John Cornyn, quien dijo que la ley serviría solo como una curita para una herida más grande de un sistema de inmigración roto. Dijo que se sentía frustrado ”con la manera como se ha manejado este asunto como una arma política. Los EE.UU. es una nación acogedora para los inmigrantes que siguen las reglas del juego y lo hacen de la manera correcta.” Acusó al presidente Obama por “sus fracasos como líder” cuando a una reforma migratoria y señaló lo que la Ley DREAM tenía demasiados fallos, como la exigencia de sólo dos años de estudios después de la secundaria -a diferencia de un grado completo - y los posibles problemas con el fraude. Durbin le dijo a POLITICO que no culpa a la administración por la falta de una reforma migratoria, culpando a los republicanos por ser  ”extremadamente difíciles” y oponerse a todos los proyectos que han pasado por el Senado. “El Senador Cornyn tuvo su oportunidad y nunca ha apoyado ninguna versión de la ley DREAM. Espero que trabaje con nosotros esta vez.” Dijo el Sen. Durbin. LINK

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See below for Summary of Coverage in English.

GOP Shows Not Interest In DREAM Act: USA Today

Democrats hoped that the first ever Senate hearing focused on a bill that would legalize some children of illegal immigrants would help sway Republicans to embrace the legislation. Judging from Tuesday’s testimony, Democrats still have a long way to go. LINK

Dems Push For DREAM Act Without GOP Support: Huffington Post

Republicans showed no signs of supporting the DREAM Act at a hearing for the bill on Tuesday, with Sens. John Cornyn (Texas) and Chuck Grassley (Iowa) pressing for more border security in exchange for their support for a bill that would provide legal status to some undocumented young people. Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Under Secretary of Defense Clifford Stanley said the administration fully supports the bill because it would widen the pool for military recruits, encourage higher education and allow immigration enforcement officials to focus their efforts on dangerous undocumented immigrants. LINK

Democrats Pitch DREAM Act as Needed Economic Patch: USA Today

The last time the Obama administration made a hard push to legalize some of the children of illegal immigrants, officials focused on some of the inspirational and sympathetic stories of honor students who could gain legal status through the DREAM Act. As Democrats renew their push for that act in a Senate hearing Tuesday, the sales pitch will also focus on how those children can help the nation’s foundering economy. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday he will continue to support passage of the law by explaining how the hundreds of thousands of people who could benefit from the act would contribute to the economy. LINK

Impossible DREAM? Dems Push DREAM Act Again: MSNBC

Democrats have packed the hearing room for the first-ever DREAM Act testimony. More than 200 people are in the room, including many students, who say they are undocumented and pushing for the passage of the bill. The bill would grant a path to citizenship for children brought to the United States illegally. The bill has little chance of passing the Senate, but Democrats’ theory might as well be if at first (or second or third or fourth) you fail, try, try again. It failed in December 2010, 55-41, unable to garner enough support to overcome a filibuster. And that was when Democrats had a wider majority. Yet Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), an Obama ally, has reintroduced it and has 34 sponsors. Democratic leadership aides acknowledge it has little chance at passage, but today’s hearing was congressional Democrats’ and the Obama administration’s latest push to bring attention to the issue, one they believe benefits them politically. LINK

A Second Try On Immigration Act: The New York Times

Senator Richard J. Durbin spoke to a crowd of capped and gowned young people, pumping then up with encouraging words as sustenance for their journey ahead. “When I look around this room, I see America’s future,” he said. Mr. Durbin has long championed the measure, which provides a six-year path to permanent residency for some children of illegal immigrants. Under the act, the specifically defined group of people can attain full United States citizenship if they keep their criminal record clean, graduate high school and attend college or join the military. LINK

Strong Words, Student Attendance Mark Senate DREAM Hearing: Reuters

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and experts from the Department of Defense, military, and outside groups testified in support of the immigration bill at the hearing Tuesday morning. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a long-time DREAM Act supporter, chaired the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security hearing. He noted estimates that passage of the act could make some 2 million people eligible for citizenship. LINK

New Senate push for DREAM Act: Politico

Top White House officials made their case for the long-simmering immigration law, the DREAM Act, on Tuesday at a a Senate hearing packed with attendees, including Jose Antonio Vargas, a journalist who took the Internet by storm last week with a first-person account of working for major news outlets while an illegal immigrant. But Republicans criticized the legislation, with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) arguing Tuesday that the DREAM Act served only as a band-aid for a larger wound of a broken immigration system. He said he was frustrated “with the way this issue has been wielded as a political weapon.” LINK

CONTACTO: José Dante Parra/Nathaly Arriola, (202) 224-2939

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“Sen. Cornyn really earned his ‘Biggest Hypocrite on Immigration’ award today. If he spent a little less time talking out of both sides of his mouth and more time working with us, we could actually pass comprehensive immigration reform. He claims he wants solutions and expresses ‘sympathy’ for those caught in our broken immigration system, yet he consistently votes against fixing the system, and even voted against the DREAM Act twice within the past year.

“Sen. Reid has devoted unprecedented amounts of floor time to efforts to enact immigration reform. If Senator Cornyn truly wants to fix our broken immigration system, he could simply sign on to Democrats’ comprehensive reform bill, and join us to pass the DREAM Act.”

Washington D.C.– José Dante Parra vocero del Líder de la Mayoría Harry Reid, hizo las siguientes declaraciones después que durante una audiencia sobre el DREAM Act, el Senador republicano John Cornyn caracterizó erróneamente al compromiso y apoyo del Senador Reid a la reforma migratoria integral — mientras que minimizaba su propia e intransigente oposición a estas medidas. Cornyn es uno de los obstáculos principales a una reforma migratoria, votando consistentemente contra proyectos integrales desde el 2006:

“Hoy el Sen. Cornyn de verdad que se ganó su premio de “El Gran Hipócrita en Temas de Inmigración”. Si pasara menos tiempo como ventrílocuo y más tiempo trabajando con nosotros, podríamos aprobar una reforma migratoria integral. Por un lado dice que quiere una ‘solución’ y hasta expresó su ‘simpatía’ por aquellos quienes están atrapados en nuestro zozobrante sistema migratorio. Pero por otro lado consistentemente vota contra nuestros esfuerzos para arreglar el sistema y votó en contra el DREAM Act en dos ocasiones en el último año.

“El Sen. Reid le ha dedicado largas sesiones en el pleno del Senado a la reforma migratoria integral y el año pasado trajo el DREAM Act a votación dos veces. Si el Senador Cornyn de verdad quiere arreglar nuestro sistema migratorio, simplemente puede co-auspiciar el proyecto demócrata de reforma migratoria integral y se puede unir a nuestros esfuerzos para sacar adelante el DREAM ACT.

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“Aplaudo al Senador Durbin por su fijo compromiso al DREAM Act y a los beneficios que brindara a nuestro país. Esta ley generará empleos ya que desencadena el espíritu emprendedor de estos jóvenes talentosos, hoy limitados por un estatus migratorio que no les perite contribuir plenamente a muestrea economía. Mientras estos jóvenes sigan en las sombras, están expuestos a la explotación por empleadores inescrupulosos, quienes al pagar salarios exiguos quienes y mantienen condiciones laborales inseguras, reducen los sueldos de todo trabajador en este país.

“Nuestra seguridad nacional también ganaría con el DREAM Act. El Pentágono ha apoyado durante años a esta medida, ya que ayudaría a cumplir con nuestros objetivos de reclutamiento militar. Debemos permitirles a aquellos quienes están dispuestos a arriesgar sus vidas por este país y quieren la oportunidad de servir, a que presente servicio en nuestras fuerzas militares.

“Desafortunadamente, mis colegas republicanos continúa bloqueando el DREAM Act. Los demócratas en el Senado apoyamos el DREAM Act, pero necesitamos los votos republicanos para aprobar este proyecto de ley. Si tienen inquietudes verdaderas, invito a que nos ayuden a mejorar el proyecto y a hacerlo una realidad por el bien de todos los estadounidenses, incluyendo a estos jóvenes quienes son estadounidenses en todo aspecto menos en papel. Mientras tanto, seguiremos presionando por el DREAM Act. Agradezco al Senador Durbin por su tenacidad y a los estudiantes por nunca darse por vencidos.”

Washington, D.C.—El Líder de la Mayoría del Senado Harry Reid hizo hoy las siguientes declaracionesen el pleno del Senado sobre la importancia de generar empleos, los beneficios económicos de la inmigración y de no perder talento estadounidense a otros países. Reid hizo este discurso un día antes de la audiencia que presidirá del Senador Dick Durbin sobre el DREAM Act. A continuación, apartes de su discurso tal como fue preparado.

“…Sr. Presidente, el jueves pasado los demócratas se reunieron con ejecutivos de tres empresas exitosas. Sus empresas son responsables por los puestos de trabajo e ingresos de casi 100 mil trabajadores estadounidenses. Una de estas compañías fabrica medicinas que ayudan a los estadounidenses a llevar una vida más larga y saludable. Otra invierte en los empresarios quienes traen sus ideas a las líneas de producción. Otra le da empleo a científicos e ingenieros para hacer más eficientes aquellas cosas que utilizamos a diario: desde los motores de de propulsión, a los termostatos caseros.

“Estos tres ejecutivos, comprenden lo que se necesita para crear empleos, y por eso les preguntamos qué puede hacer Washington D.C. para ayudar. Esto es lo que nos dijeron a todos los senadores demócratas quienes estábamos presentes. Primero, debemos mejorar y reformar nuestro sistema educativo: Desde el kínder hasta el doceavo grado, para producir una fuerza laboral preparada para los trabajos del mañana. Además, necesitamos entrenar a más científicos, ingenieros, y matemáticos para no arriesgar la posibilidad de quedarnos atrás de la China, India y otros competidores.

“Estos tres ejecutivos creen que debemos reformar nuestro sistema migratorio para mantener nuestra habilidad de competitiva con otras naciones. Los mejores alumnos de todo el mundo vienen a los Estados Unidos para aprovechar lo que ofrecen nuestras universidades de primera categoría. Desafortunadamente, las fallas de nuestro sistema migratorio obligan a la mayoría de esos estudiantes a volver a sus países natales donde compiten con compañías estadunidenses. Deberíamos retener a los más capaces, en el país donde los hemos educado para que empleen a otros estadounidenses.

CONTACTO: José Dante Parra/Nathaly Arriola, (202) 224-2939

Washington, D.C. —El Líder de la Mayoría del Senado Harry Reid, publicó hoy el siguiente artículo en el periódico, The Hill. Reconociendo las grandes contribuciones de los inmigrantes a nuestra nación, el Senador Reid le explica al público y a sus colegas porque el DREAM Act tiene sentido. El DREAM Act, un proyecto de ley que ayudaría a ajustar el estatus migratorio de miles de jóvenes inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos, “No es un regalo. Estos jóvenes tendrían que ganarse su estatus legal al cumplir con una serie de requisitos serios”, dijo el Senador. Reid se mantiene comprometido con seguir luchando por este proyecto de ley y expresa su gran insatisfacción con sus colegas republicanos quienes no prestan su apoyo a este proyecto de ley, aun cuando representan estados con grandes cantidades “soñadores” como Texas, Florida y Nevada.

Senate’s DREAM Act is win-win for immigrants and the US

By Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) – 06/15/11 05:00 AM ET

Op-Ed by The hill : LINK

During a firefight in 2003, near Umm Qasr, Iraq, Lance Cpl. José Luis Gutierrez became one of the first American casualties of that war. Ironically, Cpl. Gutierrez was not an American citizen when he died. He was a lawful permanent resident, born in Guatemala, who came to the United States illegally a few years before.

Cpl. Gutierrez was not alone. Hundreds of thousands of non-citizens fight in our military. And hundreds of thousands more want to serve our nation, which they love as their own. But they can’t, because their parents brought them here illegally, and, unlike Cpl. Gutierrez, they aren’t fortunate to qualify for one of the very few routes to legalization that exist. Others dream of teaching children with disabilities or becoming doctors or entrepreneurs. But their immigration status won’t allow it. As a nation, we are also missing out on their vast potential to contribute.

Recently, I joined Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to reintroduce the DREAM Act, which would give these young people the opportunity to serve under our flag as Cpl. Gutierrez did. If these young people came to the country before age 16, have lived here at least five years, graduate from high school, stay out of trouble and serve at least two years in the armed forces, or complete two years of college, they would be eligible to become lawful residents. This would apply only to those already here.

This is not a gift. These young people would have to earn their legal status by meeting very tough criteria. I also believe children should not be punished for the misdeeds of their parents; most Americans would agree with me.

Some ask, why reintroduce the DREAM Act when House Republicans would never pass it? Even in the Senate, Republicans solidly oppose it. Well, giving up is not in my lexicon. There are hundreds of thousands of these young people, DREAMERS, as they rightly call themselves, who burn the midnight oil over a physics textbook, or are doing their drills at their high school’s ROTC. They are not tossing their books or their uniforms in the trash because Republicans say no. These kids aren’t giving up, and neither will I.

Many do not remember the country where they were born; many do not even speak the language of their native land. They are American in all but a passport, much like Cpl. Gutierrez, who was just a kid when he crossed the border.

We also introduced the DREAM Act because the only way to move forward is by having a proposal on the table. If my Republican colleagues have suggestions or concerns, Sen. Durbin and I have an open door. If they sympathize with the plight of these children and want to help, let’s talk, let’s improve the bill and work in a bipartisan fashion. Remember, this bill was originally co-authored by a man with solid conservative credentials, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

He saw the DREAM Act as sound policy. The Pentagon supports it because it would help meet recruitment objectives. Economically, DREAM Act students would contribute about $3.6 trillion to the U.S. economy over their working lives. There are other benefits: stable communities, role models, job creators. Economists who have looked at immigration know it is not a zero-sum game, as opponents inaccurately say, but a growth engine. Further, these young people are already here. Sending them back would actually cost us money, and we would lose talents that could be perfected to our nation’s benefit.

Republicans know all this. So I ask my colleagues who have voted for this bill in the past to show courage; to shake off their fear of the Tea Party and the extreme right. I ask courage from those Republican senators who represent states with large immigrant populations such as Nevada, Florida, Arizona and Texas. Last time we voted on this bill, 90 percent of Democrats supported it and only three brave Republicans out of 42 joined us. I don’t expect 100 percent Republican support, but how about 30 or 40 percent of their caucus?

These young people are not afraid, and they are not giving up; neither should we. That is what our nation expects of us.

Reid is majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

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