Rep. Engel Supports House-Passage of DREAM Act

Statement

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) voted today in favor of the DREAM Act, which passed the House by a vote of 216-198, and now moves to the Senate. A vote is expected there before they adjourn for the year. The legislation has bipartisan support and is supported by the Pentagon. The DREAM Act would give students who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our country by serving in the Armed Forces or pursing a higher education. It also provides a very specific and lengthy path to permanent resident status for those young people participating.

"This is an outstanding first step towards solving not only our nation's immigration problem, but also helps our national security and provides a new generation with a golden opportunity to better their own lives at the same time. This bill is not, as critics have said, either an incentive for illegal immigration or amnesty. The DREAM Act provisions are for young people currently in the country, and the process to permanent residency will take years to accomplish. This bill is simply the right thing to do and I am hopeful it will pass the Senate and spur a movement towards comprehensive immigration reform in the next Congress," said Rep. Engel, a longtime supporter of the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act is a limited, targeted bill which will allow only young people willing and able to join the Armed Forces or attend college to earn their legal status in the future. They must have lived in the United States for at least five years before the date of enactment and were brought to the U.S. by their parents as minors, through no fault of their own.

Rep. Engel added, "The DREAM Act will benefit our country both economically and morally. The young people affected by the bill have known virtually no other home than the America we all know and adore. They deserve a chance to earn their own slice of the American Dream and not be penalized for the actions taken by their parents."

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