· Border Crossing Law Firm · By Shahid Haque · From the Border Crossing Law Firm media archive.
After Senate Republicans blocked the DREAM Act, Shahid thanks Montana Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus for voting to end the filibuster and urges them to support the bill when it returns. He argues that young people brought to the country as children should be able to earn status through college or military service rather than remain permanently excluded from the only home many know.
The failed 2010 vote came after years of congressional debate and directly affected clients such as University of Montana student Carlos Rivera. It preceded DACA, which later offered temporary protection to some young immigrants but did not create the permanent status contemplated by the DREAM Act.
Although their efforts were not successful, I applaud Senators Tester and Baucus for voting with Democrats to end the Republican filibuster of the DREAM Act. This is not the end of the line for the DREAM Act, and I expect that it will return for another vote. Indeed, Sen. Harry Reid voted 'no' on this bill as a procedural move so that he can reintroduce the bill in the future. When the bill comes up again, I call upon our Senators to do the right thing and support this important legislation.
The DREAM Act would only benefit immigrant youths whose parents made the decision to bring them into the United States when they were minors. I know many young men and women in Montana who would benefit from this law. Most of them have lived the majority of their lives in the United States, and this is the only country they call home. These are smart kids who want to step out of the shadows to improve their country and themselves.
The DREAM Act is not an amnesty program. It creates a long path towards citizenship for men and women who serve our country in the military or go to college. If they commit any crimes or dropout, they lose all the benefits of the program. Passing this bill makes sense for national security and the economy. The Pentagon needs to increase military recruitment, and has put passage of the DREAM Act high on its strategic mission for this year.
In addition, it makes sense to educate our young immigrant population and make them productive members of the workforce. I hope Democrats act quickly to bring this bill back up for a vote. Without this legislation, almost a million young men and women will have no choice but to put their dreams on hold, yet again.