Dems want vote on DREAM Act next week

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

After September’s failed attempt at a vote in the Senate, the DREAM Act could see another chance as soon as next week, according to Politico:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to push for a vote during the lame-duck session on a bill that would legalize young, undocumented immigrants if they attend college or serve in the military, according to Democratic sources familiar with a leadership conference call Wednesday.

With this, Democrats seem to be willing to give thanks and recognize the Latino vote that kept them from suffering a more disastrous debacle in the midterm elections.

Days before the election, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told Spanish network Univision that the DREAM Act was a top priority in the lame-duck session of the Senate, and that he only needed support from Republicans who had previously said they favored it.

To make sure legislators from both parties keep their promises, activists are already planning rallies to bring awareness to the possibility of finally having the DREAM Act voted on next week.

“Elections are over so senators may feel more comfortable voting for the bill. We are looking at a stand-alone DREAM Act or as part of the defense bill again (as it was the case back in September),” said María Marroquin with DREAMActivist.

She said they’re planning a rally at the Bell Tower at Temple University this afternoon. They’re also planning a panel discussion from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Barton Hall Classrooms Room 109 at Temple University.

Opponents have already started a campaign to try and stop Congress from moving forward with any measures at all, citing the elections as evidence that Americans don’t want this government to do anything else.

Nonetheless, sympathizers argue that DREAM Act is crucial for this country to move forward.

It was back on Sept. 21 that a Republican-led blockade in the Senate kept the Military and National Defense Authorization Act from being voted on. The proposal included the DREAM Act and the repeal of the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy in the military.

America’s Voice is already circulating an online petition to gather signatures and show support for the DREAM Act.

We’ll update you next week about any movement on the bill.