from Washington Post

Military chief favors legalizing young immigrants

 

  The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 7, 2010; 2:09 PM

 

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon's manpower chief made the Obama administration's latest long-shot pitch Tuesday to revive faltering legislation to legalize young immigrants who came to the country illegally.

Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, called the measure, known as the Dream Act, a "commonsense" and "obvious" way to attract more high-quality recruits to the armed forces. It faces long odds in Congress, where most Republicans and a handful of Democrats are likely to band together to block it from advancing in a test-vote expected Wednesday.

Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, said he expected to bring the measure to the House floor this week, but it's unclear whether it would have the votes to prevail.

 

House passes immigration Dream Act

The bill gives young illegal immigrants a path to citizenship if they enroll in college or enlist in the military. Supporters call its passage historic — but Democrats probably don't have enough votes to get it through the Senate.

 

Eight Republicans... joined in approving the bill, 216 to 198. Thirty-eight Democrats voted no. The measure offers a path to citizenship for young people who were brought to this country illegally before age 16 and who have enrolled in college or entered the military.