DREAM Act: Are Republicans afraid to follow their hearts?
Demonstrations are targeting members of Congress, like the Yakima Valley's Doc Hastings, who haven't committed to helping young undocumented students prepare for a future here. A Republican activist says Hastings would like to do the right thing but hesitates because of opposition from those who write to his office.
U.S. Congress/Wikimedia Commons
Sue Fenich
Elena, a senior at Yakima's Davis High School, walked into U.S. Representative Doc Hastings' office there Tuesday, asking for him to support a bipartisan bill that would create a path to college, work, and citizenship for undocumented students like her. She walked out without any answer from his staff.
Elena, which isn't her real name, wants the Republican congressman to vote this month in favor of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would enable undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. before they turned 16 to become conditional permanent residents and then citizens if they graduate from high school, successfully complete military service or college, and stay out of trouble. The bill, Elena says, would help her in her quest to attend a state university, qualify for financial aid, and later get good job and live her life without fear of being deported.
She was one of about 40 people who picketed and chanted in support of the DREAM Act in front of Hastings' office building, then delivered a letter urging him to back the bill, which President Obama and congressional Democratic leaders say they want to pass during this month's lame-duck session of Congress. Such rallies are taking place across the country this week at the offices of members of Congress who haven't declared their support for the legislation, which had dozens of Republican co-sponsors in previous years.
This month GOP congressional leaders have promised to block the bill. Opponents say it rewards illegal behavior and would allow legalized young people to bring their undocumented relatives into the U.S.
Many agricultural growers support the bill, as well as broader legislation that would legalize their undocumented workers. Mike Gempler, executive director of the Yakima-based Washington Growers League, which represents 400 farms, said some growers fear that passing the DREAM Act by itself would weaken the movement to pass comprehensive reform. "But if we can get a little bit now in the form of the DREAM Act," Gempler said, "the support will be there to take the next steps."
While most of the pro-DREAM Act demonstrators in Yakima were Hispanic and Democrat, one was a Republican activist and long-time Hastings supporter. Sue Fenich has come to know and sympathize with the plight of undocumented families in Yakima, where nearly half the population is Hispanic and a significant percentage of public school students are illegal immigrants.
The mother of two adopted Hispanic children, Fenich says she's grown frustrated asking Hastings personally and repeatedly to support the DREAM Act and a path to legalization for undocumented residents — only to be told he’d like to support it but his mail runs 10-1 against it. While campaigning for Dino Rossi in September, she walked an entire parade route pleading with the Republican Senate candidate to back the legislation. All she got was a strained silence.
Now Fenich, apparently giving up on Hastings, has sent a letter to conservative goddess Sarah Palin urging her to endorse the DREAM Act, noting that the bill would help young people who came to the U.S. through no choice of their own, worked hard, and played by the rules. "These kids are Americans," she wrote to Palin. "We have spent millions on their education and then we set them up for failure. It's like we planted a crop, watered and fertilized it, and then left some of the best fruit hanging on the trees to rot. Wouldn't it be better to embrace them and open the door to a financially secure and honorable future… rather than punish them for a situation in which they had no say?”
In her letter, Fenich reminds fellow-Republican Palin – who has cheered the Arizona law to detain and deport illegal immigrants but hasn't backed any path to legalization or citizenship – that Americans have invited Mexicans to come over to harvest our crops, build our houses, wait our tables, and clean our hotel rooms, which seems better than earning $8 a day back home. "Those Mexican mama grizzlies want to feed and protect their young as much as you and I!" she writes, feeding Palin back her own rhetoric.
Besides helping deserving young people, Fenich argues, supporting the DREAM Act will boost Republicans in areas with burgeoning Hispanic populations like Central and Eastern Washington. Noting that Hispanics often are conservative on social issues, she warns Palin that "we Republicans need these conservative people in our camp… If we don't, we run the risk of losing this half of our state to the Democrats."
Does Hastings worry about that prospect? He did not respond to my request for comment made to his staff. His spokesman told the Tri-City Herald that Hastings has not taken a position on the DREAM Act because he doesn't know what language may come out of the Senate. Earlier this year, he said he supported broader legislation to strengthen border control, end illegal immigration, and improve the guest-worker program for agricultural growers. Last year, he floated the possibility of folding DREAM Act-type provisions into a broader bill.
But the Growers League's Gempler sees no immediate hope of Hastings supporting the DREAM Act. Gempler predicts that if it doesn't pass during this month's lame-duck session, it has little or no prospect for passage in the new GOP-controlled House for the next two years, and that growers instead will face tough new scrutiny of their labor force. "With immigration hardliners now coming into the House leadership, I foresee more pressure on the Obama administration to increase enforcement against employers," he said.
George Fearing, a Kennewick attorney who chairs the Yakima Valley's Democratic Party and who participated in Tuesday's demonstration, agrees with Fenich's political assessment of the negative political impact of the GOP's immigration stance. But he also doesn't believe Hastings or other conservatives will come around and vote for the DREAM Act any time soon. "It's going to happen over the next 10 years as more Hispanics vote," he predicts. "Republicans will eventually support Hispanic issues like immigration reform, or else this area will go solidly Democratic. Though from a Democratic perspective, it will be better for us if they don't."
There's more than partisan politics at stake, though, in the battle over the DREAM Act, which was first introduced in 2001.
Elena says she has undocumented friends at Davis High who are even better students than she is and who want to go to college. "But they say, 'Why go to college if I can't legally get a job after I graduate?’ They don’t know what they’re going to do with their lives."
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Comments:
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 6:47 a.m. Inappropriate
Goddess? Really? When was the last time you described a female Democrat politician as a "Goddess"? How about a Progressive Priestess?
The support for the Dream Act is no suprise, everyone who breaks the law wants to be rewarded instead of being held accountable. Of course had the Federal, State, County and City governments actually done their job and protected the integrity of the immigration system by not issuing Drivers licenses or any other official form of identification to illegal aliens, refused non-emergency services, social support, education benefits.
We have an immigration system, we have an ability to expedite citizenship via military service currently. We have an ability to verify citizenship for employment and yet our own State doesn't require it of their contractors and sub-contractors.
Given the level of crime and the number of illegal aliens in Yakima and the surrounding area, I would suggest the "Secure Communities" program from ICE rather than rewarding illegal behavior with the "Dream Act".
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 8:25 a.m. Inappropriate
It would be one thing if the "Dream Act" allowed someone a "pathway to citizenship" if the cutoff age were before one started 1st grade. A pre-schooler shouldn't suffer because of the sins of usually young, probably desperate parents (or "parent").
Coming here at that age, a child will be fully acculturated to the US by the time s/he is 20 years old, roughly the age at which someone could benefit from the law.
But the DREAM act allows someone who came here 1 day short of turning 16 to become legal at age 20, his/her parents having been legally responsible and tax paying for as little as just over 2-years.
Allowing this latitude is not about not punishing a pre-schooler for the mistakes of youthful parents. The DREAM act allows parents well into their 30's who are easily old enough to know that if they illegally enter the US with their teenager, they might have some short-term economic gain for themselves, their child will face an even more difficult task of entering young adulthood as neither American, nor fully a part of the country from which they came.
There already are provisions in immigration law allowing fast tracking citizenship for foreigners who serve in the military. All we need to do is create a visa, obtainable at a US consulate, that allows someone to enter the US and go straight to boot camp.
There's no reason why completing 2 years of community college should qualify one for citizenship. In the future economy, one is just as likely as not to become a net consumer of public resources with that level of education as a net provider.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 9 a.m. Inappropriate
Reconquista Act: Are Democrats Afraid to Follow the Law?
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 9:14 a.m. Inappropriate
"fast tracking citizenship for foreigners who serve in the military. All we need to do is create a visa, obtainable at a US consulate, that allows someone to enter the US and go straight to boot camp."
Yep the empire needs soldiers, and god forbid that any middle class or rich kids serve and get maimed or killed.
Why not cash in on the illegal immigration trade and sell work permits. Seems like folks are willing to pay thousands of dollars to coyotes to get them in, and buy fake paperwork. Why should we let only criminal profit from this scheme. Set the legal work permit cost at just under the coyote rates and watch the deficit drop!
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 9:24 a.m. Inappropriate
Auction off citizenship. Make the deficit drop some more.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 9:39 a.m. Inappropriate
I don't know how my post name got put on this garbage letter, but I do not in any shape, form, or fashion support the Dream Act.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 12:02 p.m. Inappropriate
Federal judges who immediately make up unconstitutionality for California Prop. 187 and Arizona S.B. 1070 and piece-meal amnesty such as the D.R.E.A.M Act are all part of the 'open to no borders' mentality of flooding the USA with untold tens of millions of new dem voters. A proper amendment to DREAM and/or separate stand alone bill and eventual law would be to say that if one EVER for one second/minute/hour/day was illegally in the US, that person could NEVER attain citizenship. Add to the law a 50% tax on the value of all benefits and money accumulated during illegality.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 1:25 p.m. Inappropriate
Anyone interested in another article on the DREAM act, the Economist did a piece on it here:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/11/humane_stop-gap
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 1:39 p.m. Inappropriate
Goforaride says:
"But the DREAM act allows someone who came here 1 day short of turning 16 to become legal at age 20, his/her parents having been legally responsible and tax paying for as little as just over 2-years."
The article on the economist debunks this as totally wrong.
Lets say the kid came here 5& 1/2 years ago, at age 15 & 364 days. They are now 21 less 1 day. They apply somehow instantly become accepted, and as a citizen apply for their parents to become legal citizens. But if your parents have been here all along working illegally, then they are unable to apply for a green card, so nope. This allegation is totally false.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 7:35 p.m. Inappropriate
I applaud Ms.Fenich for trying to convert her fellow GOPs to this cause, but she's wasting her time. Our Republican friends, in order to make short-term gains with their fading base, have pretty much written off trying to appeal to Hispanics. It isn't that GOPs are talking a lot about illegals...it's because that is ALL they talk about when it comes to Hispanic issues. Ten cents' worth of palaver about the supposed connection between GOPs and some Hispanics with "social issues" won't make up for the undercurrent of hostility many GOPs seem to have for Hispanics, both illegal and legal.
Posted Thu, Dec 2, 7:46 p.m. Inappropriate
He is a R E P U B L I C A N.
There is no heart to follow.
Example: Republicans voted to deny Unemployment Benefits for over two million Americans just before their "christian" holiday of Christmas.
Posted Fri, Dec 3, 7:18 a.m. Inappropriate
It's truely amazing the number of comments in support of rewarding illegal behavior. No, please don't worry about the increased costs to the social services support network. The impact on those who are trying to immigrate by following the rules and who may not have a contiguous border to walk across. Why worry about qualifications, criminal records, cronic or contagious health conditions.
I am still waiting to see the flood of supporters of this ACT to contact their representatives offering their homes and bank accounts as collateral to pay for this disaster.
Posted Fri, Dec 3, 12:48 p.m. Inappropriate
The Republicans make a good point in that the existing immigration rules would then permit students naturalized under the DREAM Act to then bring other family members into the country legally. Lawrence O'Donnell pressured Representative Steven King (R-Iowa) last night on his show "The Last Word" on his opposition to the DREAM Act. O'Donnell was not able to provide a satisfactory response to King's observation.
This actually is a rational reason for opposition which is surprising based upon the Republicans "just say no" view of legislation. As such, I would support encompassing aspects of the DREAM Act into more comprehensive immigration reform.
Posted Fri, Dec 3, 3:34 p.m. Inappropriate
Beware the politician who 'has a roadmap' and is 'on a pathway' and is 'seeking common ground' on the always sought after 'level playing field' because 'at the end of the day' and at every question's end has the uncertain answer of "ABSOLUTELY" as in 'absolutely yes' and/or 'absolutely no' and most definitely seeks 'non-partisan bi-partisanship' with 'my good friend' on 'the other side of the aisle'. DREAM ON. Eat lots of lame duck this Christmas season!!
Posted Sat, Dec 4, 4:08 p.m. Inappropriate
I get that most of you people do NOT support the Dream Act, but let me tell you something. The requirements for those illegals to be eligible for that are not easy. I am a local senior in high school in Yakima and I am here to tell you that many people I know are illegal. It is truly sad to me to know that so many people in our country are so un-accepting of other cultures and it all goes to the fact that you do not know how to reach out to them. Not only would they help our country by making it become more diverse, but allowing those who came here when they were so young would save us a lot of money anyways. What I am trying to say is who else will work in the warehouses or fields, because honestly there is no white person who can do an honest job out there in those conditions anyways? Also, the only people I see standing on the street corners begging for money are Caucasians. Are you going to go and do that yourself? I don't think so. You have to give to get something back so in reality, something has to change because you can't just deport all those illegals back to Mexico. Most came here when they were seven years old. For the record, 7 year-olds have no criminal record! So I say, yea if you are a selfish person who is naive to the surroundings they live in, than you will not support the Dream Act. For those of us without cold hearts and who personally know an illegal alien, we know what is good for our country and that is to let them have the American Dream, too!
-LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
Posted Sat, Dec 4, 6:39 p.m. Inappropriate
Hastings signed a pledge authored by Rep. King to repeal of the 14th amendment clause about birthright citizenship. Instead of barking up the wrong tree, Hispanic voters might form some new coalitions and get a new tree.
Posted Mon, Dec 6, 10:02 a.m. Inappropriate
".......Many agricultural growers support the bill, as well as broader legislation that would legalize their undocumented workers......"
And as soon as they become legal, they leave, and the agricultural growers are back to square one. Bring in more illegals, and it never stops.
Posted Tue, Dec 7, 3:56 p.m. Inappropriate
Who wrote the headline for this piece? Other than Sue Fenich, not one Republican expressed any concern about the DREAM kids. Less mindreading, more reporting, please.
Posted Wed, Dec 8, 12:19 a.m. Inappropriate
the "DREAM Act" is very Orwellian-named. Kudos to the writers for preying on the basic ignorance of the American voter.
Posted Thu, Dec 9, 2:17 a.m. Inappropriate
I think the presupposition of this bill is that, each and every citizen of the state has the right so as the obligation to the state itself! I wonder what has to say of Hillary Clinto about this. Anyways, for based on CBS News, those holding out for the first female United States president - Sarah Palin followers included - might have to wait a while longer now. Secretary Clinton said she's seen how the position of president turns the hair white, so 2012 isn't an option. But what is perhaps shocking is that she told the press that her current placement as secretary of state could be “my last public position”.
Posted Wed, Nov 21, 6:05 a.m. Inappropriate
The Dream Act is an irresponsible reply to those who have shown they have no respect for the laws of this country. Reward the parasites and they will crawl in here by the millions more.
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