DREAM Act: A Really Lame Duck

Jena McNeill / November 22, 2010

It’s time for speculation in Washington. And the question on everyone’s mind is what exactly Congress will do during the Lame Duck session?

The DREAM Act has been talked about as one possibility. In September, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D–NV) attempted (and failed) to incorporate the DREAM Act into the Defense Authorization Bill. However, Reid has a big incentive to try to push forward with passage before the end of the year. He promised to bring the act up for a vote during his hotly contested Senate reelection campaign earlier this year and needs to deliver.

The DREAM Act can best be described as giving conditional lawful permanent resident status to those illegal aliens who entered the U.S. before the age of 16, have been in the country for at least five years and agree to attend college/serve in the military. An additional provision, often overlooked, would grant illegal aliens in-state tuition rates at public universities. (more…)