The Senate blocked a measure Wednesday that would have provided a path to citizenship for children who entered the country illegally.
The bill’s defeat effectively slammed the door on efforts by Congress to pass any immigration-related measures this year, and it underscored the gap between Republicans and Democrats on how to devise comprehensive immigration reform.
The Senate fell eight votes short of the 60 needed for the bill, known as the DREAM Act, to clear a procedural hurdle.
The bill would have allowed illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States at age 15 or younger to receive green cards and eventually be granted permanent residency if they attended college or joined the military for at least two years and maintained “good moral character.”
The bill was backed mostly by Democrats who said it would provide opportunities for children who have lived in the United States for years but are denied educational opportunities because their parents came here illegally.
“The DREAM act recognizes that children should not be penalized for the actions of their parents,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. “What good does it do anybody to prevent any of these children from having a good future?”
But opponents, mostly Republicans, believed the bill would have caused more harm than good and labeled the legislation “an amnesty bill.”
“This bill would be to signal that once again we are focused on rewarding illegality rather than taking the steps that are necessary to create a lawful system,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.
The House and Senate are divided over whether to write immigration reform legislation that would provide some form of amnesty for illegal workers. Many Republicans favor legislation that instead focuses on border security and stopping the flow of illegal immigrants.
Anti-amnesty grassroots groups have encouraged people to call their senators and voice opposition to such legislation. The calls have tied up the Senate switchboard.
Unable to proceed, proponents acknowledged the fight for the DREAM act, and for immigration reform in general, is over for a while.
“At this point I don’t know where it goes,” the bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said. “A campaign year is approaching which is going to make it even more difficult. The Senate switchboard lights up and the hatred starts spewing.”
