Breaking News: Vote On Dream Act In Senate Today
Sen. McCain originally backed the plight of students suffering oppression in the U.S., but later turned his back on the students, refusing to support the cause. Students remain optimistic Sen. McCain will stand with them as he originally promised.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring the Dream Act up for a vote in the Senate. Proponents are desperately busy seeking final support that would move the legislation helping children of undocumented workers ahead.
Senator Durbin (D-Il.) made an impassioned plea for a vote on the Dream Act. He said he got involved with the act many years ago when a Korean mother called. Her daughter was applying to the famed school of Julliard and did not know what to put in the "citizen" portion of the application.
The mother informed her daughter that she was not a US citizen. The Department of Immigration and Naturalization wanted to send the child back to Korea, where she had no ties and didn't even speak the language.
Durbin went on to say the Dream Act is a tough road for prospective immigrants. The majority don't finish high school, much less go to college. The proposal set stiff standards for immigration students. Either they could graduate from high school, a feat in itself, and then go to college and get a degree or serve in the military.
"If you were brought to America at a certain age...(and then) you did the right thing...we would give you a chance. A chance to prove yourself." Durbin said on the Senate floor.
"You can prove it in one of two ways. You could do it in a noble way, to serve this nation...you could also prove it by going to college." Durbin continued.
The bill needs support of 60 senators in order to progress. According to CBS News, the Republicans are likely to filibuster the bill in an effort to derail the legislation.
The students will have to pass tough background checks.
"And if you fall along the way," Durbin said, "we can't help you."
The vote could occur as early as 11:00 today.
Follow Technorati