The House voted to approve the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM Act in a vote of 216-198 Wednesday night.
Under the DREAM Act, children of immigrants who were brought illegally by their illegal alien parents to the U.S. would be granted legal status if they attend college or serve in the U.S. military.
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said polls show the majority of Americans support the act.
“These are not illegals, these are undocumented kids and they didn’t commit a criminal act; they thought they were born here to begin with,” Conyers said. “This will not take jobs from Americans.”
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said American workers should not have to compete with illegal workers for scarce jobs. Smith said the bill would mean amnesty for more than two million illegal immigrants.
“This bill proves there’s a total disconnect between the Democratic party and the American people,” Smith said. “This is a bill that gives amnesty and encourages fraud and more illegal immigration.”
The Senate adjourned Wednesday evening, opting not to wait for the House to vote. The earliest the Senate will take up the legislation is today.
The Senate ended its session without taking up a defense spending authorization bill, which has language that would repeal the 17-year-old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy attached.
That policy bars gay service men and women from disclosing their sexuality while on duty.
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