Shame: The Dream Act Fails

October 25, 2007 · Filed Under Immigration, Politics, Republicans

The DREAM Act was designed to reward students who have been in the United States for years, have graduated from high school and plan to go to college or join the military. The idea was that kids whose parents are illegal aliens should not be punished with deportation, because they had no choice in coming to the country at a young age. The eligible students would have received no federal funding or benefits but simply granted permanent resident status.

The DREAM Act was narrowly targeted and would benefit only high school graduates whose parents brought them to the country illegally years ago, but even this scaled-down legislation was derided as “amnesty” by opponents.

Somehow the Republican party has allowed the far-right to hijack the immigration issue and it’s tearing the party apart. President Bush received the largest number of Latino votes of any Republican President in 2004, but thanks to the hard line stance on immigration those voters have gone back to the Democrats.

There is no question that we must secure our borders and stop the flow of illegal aliens. However, the way the Republicans have handled the issue from a PR perspective is just horrible. Anything short of sending every last illegal alien back to Mexico is labeled as “amnesty” by the far right.

I believe the so called “amnesty bill” that was defeated a few months ago that gave illegals a “path to citizenship” and had the guest worker provision was the right way to go.

It wouldn’t bother me if amnesty was granted, I think it could work this time. When Reagan granted amnesty it was a failure, because he did nothing to secure the border.

If we could lock down the border completely by building a wall and securing it with National Guard, then granting amnesty would be appropriate.

The Republicans have allowed the lunatic fringe to speak for the entire party. The vast majority of Republicans are concerned with illegal immigration because of National Security issues. Unfortunately, their voices are being drowned out by the people who just don’t like Mexicans.

-Chris Jones