The D.R.E.A.M. Act is dead.

[Fandango 1,440]

Perhaps this will be a deterrent to those thinking of coming here illegally with children.

[peejay 327]

Perhaps this will be a deterrent to those thinking of coming here illegally with children.

As long as the bowl of food is set out for the cats...the cats will come to eat. Quit feeding the cats and they will go elsewhere.

[B_J 2,752]

I teach in an urban minority school. I deal with gangs, drugs, and violence every day. Many of my students are immigrants. Some are legal; others are not.

I have had a young person tell me of being woken up one morning when she was 9 years old; they were going to the U.S. Looking back, the student now knows they entered illegally; but at the time, she didn't really have any clue what was going on. She has no idea what she is supposed to do now.

I know of another young man. He is my top student. He has been here since about the age of 4. He really doesn't know any other place as home. He is an honor student and has never been in trouble a day in his life. But he's given up on life.

Neither of these students has a real future ahead of them. If they are here; they have no future. The other option is they could "go back where they came from". But realize, they don't really know the other country. They only know this place as home.

I believe in the rule of law. I know what the parents did was wrong. I believe the parents should be punished. But I also know that these young people did nothing wrong, but it's their lives that are ruined.

I don't think this is an easy issue to solve. I think the democrats just did this for political gain. I don't want to see people rewarded for breaking the law; but I also don't feel like celebrating the defeat of DREAM; because I know the people that this hurts.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Good...why should anyone be allowed in without going through the legal channels that are available. With the cost and aggravation that we all here have gone through, I would be really mad if it went through. Yes, I understand that many of these people were brought here as children...but it honestly doesn't matter to me.

You obviously don't have any children.

Perhaps this will be a deterrent to those thinking of coming here illegally with children.

Unlikely.

good point.

And who were the GOP pandering too shoving through the Bush tax cuts?

Here is the Senate vote.

Democrats: 51-yea 5-nay 1-not noting

Republicans: 3-yea 36-nay 3-not voting

Independent: 1-yea

Here is the House vote.

Democrats: 208-yea 38-nay 9-not voting

Republicans: 8-yea 160-nay 11-not voting

These are not landslide votes and far from being populist. Most of the American public is against mass illegal alien amnesty regardless what the political class voting record reflects.

No they aren't landslide votes. They are partisan votes.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I teach in an urban minority school. I deal with gangs, drugs, and violence every day. Many of my students are immigrants. Some are legal; others are not.

I have had a young person tell me of being woken up one morning when she was 9 years old; they were going to the U.S. Looking back, the student now knows they entered illegally; but at the time, she didn't really have any clue what was going on. She has no idea what she is supposed to do now.

I know of another young man. He is my top student. He has been here since about the age of 4. He really doesn't know any other place as home. He is an honor student and has never been in trouble a day in his life. But he's given up on life.

Neither of these students has a real future ahead of them. If they are here; they have no future. The other option is they could "go back where they came from". But realize, they don't really know the other country. They only know this place as home.

I believe in the rule of law. I know what the parents did was wrong. I believe the parents should be punished. But I also know that these young people did nothing wrong, but it's their lives that are ruined.

I don't think this is an easy issue to solve. I think the democrats just did this for political gain. I don't want to see people rewarded for breaking the law; but I also don't feel like celebrating the defeat of DREAM; because I know the people that this hurts.

It is a real tragedy that these kids parents are criminals and they now have to suffer. I also feel a certain amount of sympathy but all I can say is, "Tough." If either of my parents made me a partner in crime then I would also be punished and the authorities would have no sympathy for me and charge me and try to put me away. It is tough to have parents that are criminals and have no regards for laws. It teaches the kids to have no regards for laws also. I do notice that criminals are always seeking sympathy though and play the "poor me' card as often as possible. If we allow this then in the future many illegals will try to bring their kids here illegally knowing they will become citizens and then after to sponsor me. This will make them think twice I hope. I would suggest if the kids want a future they start boning up on the language and customs of their soon to be new nation and go and live and apply LEGALLY like we all have had to do here. This will show us all that they deserve to be possible citizens as they are now going to follow the LAWS and they are trying to get out from behind their parents shadow of being criminals.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I teach in an urban minority school. I deal with gangs, drugs, and violence every day. Many of my students are immigrants. Some are legal; others are not.

I have had a young person tell me of being woken up one morning when she was 9 years old; they were going to the U.S. Looking back, the student now knows they entered illegally; but at the time, she didn't really have any clue what was going on. She has no idea what she is supposed to do now.

I know of another young man. He is my top student. He has been here since about the age of 4. He really doesn't know any other place as home. He is an honor student and has never been in trouble a day in his life. But he's given up on life.

Neither of these students has a real future ahead of them. If they are here; they have no future. The other option is they could "go back where they came from". But realize, they don't really know the other country. They only know this place as home.

I believe in the rule of law. I know what the parents did was wrong. I believe the parents should be punished. But I also know that these young people did nothing wrong, but it's their lives that are ruined.

I don't think this is an easy issue to solve. I think the democrats just did this for political gain. I don't want to see people rewarded for breaking the law; but I also don't feel like celebrating the defeat of DREAM; because I know the people that this hurts.

The law does not view deportation as a punishment. It does, however, view legal immigrant status as a privilege that is granted at the discretion of the US government. In a sense, it is a reward.

These people are not being "hurt" by the US government. They were hurt by their own parents. The US government is not to blame for this, and the US government is not obligated to make amends for the sins of the parents. Granting them lawful status, and a path to US citizenship would actually reward the parents. Within a few years, the parents would have immediate relatives who are US citizens. The parents could return to their home country and either wait out their unlawful presence ban, or their kids could try for a hardship waiver to overcome the ban. Whether intentionally or not, the DREAM Act would provide a path for legal immigration to the parents as well as the kids. It would also make the kids eligible to petition for family members still outside the US.

I could never agree with the DREAM Act unless it contained a provision that forbids the recipient from ever filing an I-130. I would also require that if the parents are still in the US then they should be required to leave in order for the children to be eligible for lawful status.

[rsn 135]

moving from off-topic to politics

[rsn 135]

Not really sure what the downside is to this bill. Anyone care to enlighten me?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It is a real tragedy that these kids parents are criminals and they now have to suffer. I also feel a certain amount of sympathy but all I can say is, "Tough." If either of my parents made me a partner in crime then I would also be punished and the authorities would have no sympathy for me and charge me and try to put me away. It is tough to have parents that are criminals and have no regards for laws. It teaches the kids to have no regards for laws also. I do notice that criminals are always seeking sympathy though and play the "poor me' card as often as possible. If we allow this then in the future many illegals will try to bring their kids here illegally knowing they will become citizens and then after to sponsor me. This will make them think twice I hope. I would suggest if the kids want a future they start boning up on the language and customs of their soon to be new nation and go and live and apply LEGALLY like we all have had to do here. This will show us all that they deserve to be possible citizens as they are now going to follow the LAWS and they are trying to get out from behind their parents shadow of being criminals.

LOL That highlighted part is pure BS. So if you were 4 and your parents had you help them rob a bank you think you would be prosecuted? Hardly, you would be put in protective custody and be kept away from your horrible parents.

On one hand this shows that it is important for the US to intercept illegal families early so that the children are not put in this situation. On the other hand it is important to have a safety net for these children as they are victims in the end. Same goes for victims of human trafficking. They too should have a safety net.

Edited December 19, 2010 by Sousuke

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The law does not view deportation as a punishment. It does, however, view legal immigrant status as a privilege that is granted at the discretion of the US government. In a sense, it is a reward.

These people are not being "hurt" by the US government. They were hurt by their own parents. The US government is not to blame for this, and the US government is not obligated to make amends for the sins of the parents. Granting them lawful status, and a path to US citizenship would actually reward the parents. Within a few years, the parents would have immediate relatives who are US citizens. The parents could return to their home country and either wait out their unlawful presence ban, or their kids could try for a hardship waiver to overcome the ban. Whether intentionally or not, the DREAM Act would provide a path for legal immigration to the parents as well as the kids. It would also make the kids eligible to petition for family members still outside the US.

I could never agree with the DREAM Act unless it contained a provision that forbids the recipient from ever filing an I-130. I would also require that if the parents are still in the US then they should be required to leave in order for the children to be eligible for lawful status.

I definately agree with the bold part and the US government is not to be blamed for this, however I do feel we have a certain responsibility for the welfare of those within our borders. If you deport the parents, sure they'll get by. The children may not, especially if they are fully Americanized.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I'll also add that the age of 16 is too high IMO. I would support a bill that limited it to "pre-adulthood" ie. 11 or 12 with Jim's provisions.

[B_J 2,752]

I'm as against illegal immigration as the next guy. But, in this case, I'm just saying it's a little different when you know a 16 or 17 year old who has no future.

You can say the law does not view deportation as a punishment, but I bet the person being deported may have a different opinion.

What crime did the kid commit? Are you really going to hold him responsible for what happened when he was four?? Seriously? And then I try to put myself in his shoes. Imagine myself as an 18 year old. And I'm told I need to leave my country (USA) and move to a foreign country. Honestly, there's no way I could handle that. And I know the answer is something about the parents should have thought of that. But are we really going to hold the child responsible for what the parents did?

But here is the thing that makes me more angry than anything. This is one of the very very rare issues in illegal immigration where most could find a compromise. Maybe make a 4 year degree required. Make it mandatory military service. I don't know.. but many could find something that would make them accept good kids into this country who've lived here most of their lives.

But compromise didn't happen because this bill has sat there, in some form or another, and never came up until now. And it only came up now so that Democrats could use this bill and these kids for their own political gain. And that is just wrong.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Enter the United States of America illegally and you and your family (including any offspring) face deportation. Nothing wrong with that law.

[luckytxn 2,265]

LOL That highlighted part is pure BS. So if you were 4 and your parents had you help them rob a bank you think you would be prosecuted? Hardly, you would be put in protective custody and be kept away from your horrible parents.

On one hand this shows that it is important for the US to intercept illegal families early so that the children are not put in this situation. On the other hand it is important to have a safety net for these children as they are victims in the end. Same goes for victims of human trafficking. They too should have a safety net.

There are other crimes that are not bank robbery and there are criminal families that have their children brought up in a criminal activity. If these kids were caught early then we could have sent them back along with their criminal parents. Now that they are older and they know they are criminal because they are illegal then boo hoo for them. They need to start learning everything about their soon to be country because since they are here now and are about to be adults they are now being a true criminal on their own that they have had instilled in them by their criminal parents.

I can see if they return to their former countries and their criminal parents also return that they can apply like everyone else that has done it legally that we MAY be amenable to overlook their former criminal behavior. It shows they are trying to be good citizens and obey laws now that they can make their own decisions finally and they have decided to be law abiding. We can then go over their applications and see if they have been in any trouble. We can also see if they have been good students and any number of points that we can look at to determine if they are a positive for our country to allow back in as all legal immigrants. If we have found that they have had some problems then why allow them to come here and burden us?

What is funny the most is that these very same criminals now cry and moan about being singled out. They singled themselves out by being here criminally. They have had a better education then most have had from their former countries so they will have a leg up and many companies there would love to have employees that are bilingual and well educated. They have been given a free ride so to speak to be far better able than their soon to be countrymen to be employed and knowledgeable enough to cope with many things. So cry me a river for them.

[luckytxn 2,265]

I'm as against illegal immigration as the next guy. But, in this case, I'm just saying it's a little different when you know a 16 or 17 year old who has no future.

You can say the law does not view deportation as a punishment, but I bet the person being deported may have a different opinion.

What crime did the kid commit? Are you really going to hold him responsible for what happened when he was four?? Seriously? And then I try to put myself in his shoes. Imagine myself as an 18 year old. And I'm told I need to leave my country (USA) and move to a foreign country. Honestly, there's no way I could handle that. And I know the answer is something about the parents should have thought of that. But are we really going to hold the child responsible for what the parents did?

But here is the thing that makes me more angry than anything. This is one of the very very rare issues in illegal immigration where most could find a compromise. Maybe make a 4 year degree required. Make it mandatory military service. I don't know.. but many could find something that would make them accept good kids into this country who've lived here most of their lives.

But compromise didn't happen because this bill has sat there, in some form or another, and never came up until now. And it only came up now so that Democrats could use this bill and these kids for their own political gain. And that is just wrong.

Or return to their former countries and decide to try to come here legally. Why reward their criminal parents? Why reward criminals at all?