Yesterday U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and 159 of his Republican colleagues voted against H.R. 5281 -- the so-called DREAM Act. The bill would grant amnesty to people who illegally entered this country before the age of 16 and have lived in the U.S. for five years. The bill, which is strongly supported by President Barack Obama and the Democrat Majority that controls Congress, passed by a vote of 216 to 198. It now goes to the Senate for further action.
In addition to immediately placing an estimated 1--2 million illegal aliens on a path to citizenship (a number expected to grow since the bill has neither a cap nor a sunset), the DREAM Act will give them access to federal student loans and federal work-study programs. The bill allows illegal aliens to get legal status indefinitely without attending college or joining the military. Additionally, it allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive ineligibility for serious criminals and those who pose a threat to our national security. Aliens granted amnesty by the DREAM Act will have the legal right to petition for entry of their family members, including their adult brothers and sisters and the parents who illegally brought or sent them to the United States, once they become naturalized U.S. citizens. In less than a decade, this act could easily triple the number of green cards that will be immediately distributed as a result of the DREAM Act, rewarding millions who unlawfully entered the United States.
"We must get control of our borders," said Jones. "We simply cannot allow people to continue to enter this country illegally and reward them for breaking the law. This bill alone will add at least $5 billion to the national deficit. We cannot afford this legislation. Our focus should be helping the American worker, not rewarding illegal aliens."
"Enough is enough," said Jones. "The American people have spoken and we must secure our borders and focus on getting America back on their feet."