LA Mayor Supports Dream Act

[DBS.US]

Mayor Villaraigosa held a news conference Monday to urge the US Senate to pass the Dream Act, which would provide illegal immigrant students with the opportunity to become citizens.

Under the bill, students 12-35 at the time of the enactment of the law who came to the United States before they were 16 and were raised in the United States continuously for at least five years, graduated from an American high school or obtained a GED and are of "good moral character" could gain permanent legal status.

An estimated 800,000 to 1 million illegal immigrants who complete high school or military service could get citizenship.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is offering the DREAM Act as an amendment to the fiscal year 2011 Department of Defense Authorization bill.

The Senate is expected to vote on a motion on Tuesday. Should the vote be successful, the Senate would then vote on a series of cloture motions before the DREAM Act could be voted on.