The efforts to bring about rational immigration policy were dealt another blow recently when the United States Senate failed to pass a bill that would have offered a path to permanent residence for certain student immigrants. The proposed law -- the Development, Relief and Education Act for Minors Act of 2007 (“DREAM Act”) -- did not get the required 60 votes to close debate in the Senate and bring about a vote on the legislation.

Terms of the Legislation.

The bill would have amended the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to authorize the adjustment to permanent resident status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children.
The law would have applied only to immigrants who came to the United States prior to their 16th birthday and had not yet turned 30 years old. Applicants would also be required to be of good moral character.
Those eligible under the proposed law would obtain a temporary conditional residence for up to six years. During that time, applicants would receive work permission and protection from deportation. Those immigrants who finished at least two years of college or two years of the military within that six year time period would qualify for permanent residence.
The bill would offer no legalization or other legal status to the parents or other relatives of those qualifying under the Act.

Vote in the Senate.

The bill had a large contingent of bi-partisan sponsors who highlighted the model lives of certain students here illegally that would have benefited from the Act. However, the law was opposed by blocs of conservatives as “another amnesty”. Radio talk show hosts and anti-immigrant groups attacked the bill as “encouraging illegal immigration”, despite the very narrow scope of the legislation.
The law was supported by only 52 Senators, eight less than required to close the debate and approve the legislation. Most of the legislation’s opponents were Republicans, but several Southern and Western Democrats also voted against the bill.
This was almost exactly the same coalition of anti-immigrant conservatives that defeated the immigration reform legislation this summer.

Prospects for Future Legislation.

The defeat of this legislation means there is even less hope for reasonable immigration reform in the next several years. Despite the fact that the next election is over 12 months away, many border state Democrats refused to support their party leadership and voted against the bill, apparently fearful of a backlash from anti-immigrant constituents. These same Senators – including Democratic Senators from Missouri, Lousiana, West Virgina and Arkansas – also voted against the comprehensive immigration reform that was defeated in July. It appears that these politicians are heeding the small but vocal opposition to immigration reform, rather than the majority of the American people who have repeatedly indicated their support for such legislation.
For now, it appears unlikely that supporters of immigration reform can expect to overcome these strident anti-immigrant forces in the political arena. Only through better political organization and activism can the immigrant community expect to obtain victory in the highly-partisan atmosphere that is American politics today.