Durbin vows to pursue DREAM Act
CHICAGO (AP) – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin vowed Friday to push for legislation that would allow high school graduates to continue their education or join the military as a way to become legal immigrants as long as he’s “drawing breath.”
The Illinois Democrat has sponsored the DREAM Act, or Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors, since 2001. It applies to illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16, have a high school diploma, are shown to have high moral character and have lived in the U.S. for several consecutive years.
“As long as I’m drawing breath we’re going to pass the DREAM Act and make it the law of the land,” he told students during a forum on immigration at DePaul University in Chicago.
Durbin’s comments come as Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has said he is drafting comprehensive immigration reform. Durbin said Schumer has promised him the DREAM Act will be part of that legislation.
But Durbin added immigration reform won’t come until next year because legislators are now focused on health care, which he said is a much larger issue.
The DREAM Act would help illegal immigrants qualify for college financial aid, among other benefits. But it has faced scrutiny over concerns of encouraging illegal immigration and national security.
Durbin said young should not be punished because of their parents’ actions.
“Young people have really been victimized by this situation, they were brought to this country without their vote of approval as children,” he told The Associated Press. “They’ve lived here all their lives and all they’re asking for is a chance to give back to this country that they call home.”
