Blockage Of Dream Act Is Blow To Workforce And Military

Article continues below...

Unfair To Children Who Grew Up Here, Says Sen. Menendez

October 24, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Today, the DREAM Act was blocked in the U.S. Senate – a motion to proceed to a full debate on the bill received 52 votes, but 60 were needed.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) released the following statement:

“The students this legislation would help love the United States, which might be the only home they’ve ever known – so they’ve followed the rules, worked hard in school and now they want to serve this country in the military or get a higher education,“ said Sen. Menendez. “They did not make the decision to enter this country in an undocumented fashion, their parents made that decision. We should not punish children for the sins of their parents. Those children that would qualify for the DREAM Act should be permitted to continue their pursuit of the American Dream.

“The opponents of this reasonable, bipartisan measure cried ‘amnesty’, as they always do. But this was not amnesty. No child would receive a free ticket to legalization. They would have had to meet a number of qualifications and jump through a series of significant hoops on their six-year path to legalization. And, along the way, they would receive the kind of education that would bolster the American workforce or they would serve the United States military, which badly needs highly-qualified, dedicated volunteers. If the United States Senate cannot even agree to move forward with legislation that is good for our children, good for our economy, and good for our military, I see no way that we will be able to move forward with immigration initiatives that benefit only the business community.

Source: Senator Robert Menendez