Shamnesty returns: The DREAM Act won’t die

By Michelle Malkin  •  September 17, 2007 06:00 AM

zombieamnesty2.jpg
Tell your senator: Vote NO on Senate Amendment 2237

Exactly one week ago, I warned about the return of the DREAM Act, which would confer special tuition benefits on illegal alien students despite federal prohibitions on such special treatment.

It was September 11 and no one was paying attention, I guess.

Well, now bipartisan open-borders lawmakers in Congress are poised to slip the DREAM Act (Senate Amendment 2237 text here) in during consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585) this week.

Numbers USA has the lowdown. The sponsor is Dick Durbin. Open-borders Orrin Hatch has sponsored previous DREAM Act legislation.

Refresher: Re-read Kris Kobach, “Why the DREAM Act Is a Nightmare.” Kobach recounts how 10 states ignored a federal law passed in 1996 to bar in-state tuition preferences for illegal aliens:

In addition to being a dream for those who have broken the law, the DREAM Act raises an even larger issue regarding the relationship between states and the federal government. The 10 states have created a 21st century version of the nullifica­tion movement—defying federal law simply because they do not like it. In so doing, they have challenged the basic structure of the republic. The DREAM Act would pardon this offense and, in so doing, encourage states to defy other federal law in the future.

One thing that has been learned in the struggle to enforce federal immigration laws is that states cannot be allowed to undermine the federal efforts to enforce them. Rule of law can be fully restored only if all levels of government are working to uphold it.

I’ve said many times before that when shamnesty doesn’t pass wholesale, the open borders crowd will take it piecemeal. This is just the first piece.

So, which will it be: Sanctuary Nation or Sovereign Nation?

Via Numbers USA, you can send a fax to your Senators now:

Please do not attach any amnesty amendments to the Department of Defense authorization bill.

I am especially concerned about Amendment 2237, which would attach the DREAM Act to the bill. The DREAM Act is a loophole-ridden amnesty that would grant legal status to almost any illegal alien who applied for it.

On its surface, the DREAM Act would provide amnesty to illegal aliens who entered the United States before the age of 16 and grant them in-state tuition. At the very least, these provisions give preferential treatment to students who shouldn’t even be in the country over our own young people – many of whom will struggle to afford higher education.

But that is not all that is wrong with the DREAM Act. The bill was written in such a way that there is no upper age limit and very little burden of proof placed on the applicant. A 45-year-old illegal alien who had entered the country less than a year ago could game the system by simply walking into a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office and providing a sworn statement that he had been in the country since before he was 16. Thus, this is an invitation for just about every illegal alien to fraudulently claim the amnesty.

This is a perfect example of the slippery slope of amnesty. Once you start rewarding some law-breakers, you end up rewarding them all.

Here are Durbin’s co-sponsors…and their phone numbers:

Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE]
202-224-4224

Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN]
202-224-4814

Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT]
202-224-4242

Sen Obama, Barack [IL]
202-224-2854

Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT]
202-224-4041

Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA]
202-224-3841

Sen Kerry, John F. [MA]
202-224-2742

Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI]
202-224-5323

Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY]
202-224-4451

Sen Bayh, Evan [IN]
202-224-5623

Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ]
202-224-4744

Sen Murray, Patty [WA]
202-224-2621

Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA]
202-224-3553

Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA]
202-224-3441

Sen Salazar, Ken [CO]
202-224-5852

Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT]
202-224-2823

Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121

***

Like Sen. Jeff Sessions says, “We may be heading for another immigration battle.”

We’re there.

***

You also might want to contact the leading GOP presidential campaigns and get a yes or no answer:

Do they oppose the DREAM Act or not?

John McCain?

Rudy Giuliani?

Fred Thompson?

Mitt Romney?

I’m all ears.

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

  1. Shamesty returns | BitsBlog
  2. Right Voices » Blog Archive » Change Amnesty To The Dream Act And It’s Still B.S.
  3. And Rightly So! » No Dream Act
  4. CALL YOUR SENATORS! » An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
  5. Say No to 2237 - The DREAM Act Returns… : The American Pundit | News and Opinion With A Conservative View
  6. Turning 25
  7. Old War Dogs
  8. Inventive component of DREAM Act is a nightmare « Seeing Red AZ
  9. NoisyRoom.net » Blog Archive » Noisy News Around the Web - 09/17/2007…
  10. Tuesday Link Love 09-18-07
  11. Lump on a Blog » Blog Archive » The Dream Act is Back - Long Live the Dream Act
  12. Michelle Malkin » Shamnesty Watch: Keep the heat on the DREAM Act…Only 18 Senators have committed to voting no
  13. The DREAM Act: Nightmare, Recurring at Traction Control
  14. incredipete.com - Proud Member of the VRWC » Archive » ALERT: Call Your Senators!
  15. The John and Ken Show » DEFEAT THE DREAM ACT!
  16. Only Politics by Anna » Shamnesty returns: The DREAM Act won’t die

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Comments


  1. #129991
    On September 17th, 2007 at 6:28 am, ajmontana said:

    Michelle said,
    I’m all ears.

    The trouble is my two Senators arent all ears,they are deaf ears. I’ve sent Both Boxer and Feistein letters regarding the dream act and received a standard form letter back not even touching on the issue presented to them. Mary Bono’s office actually called back and I received a favorable message in return. I just sent them two more e-mails and will try calling later. Sheesh, havn’t even had a cup a java yet.

  2. #129992
    On September 17th, 2007 at 6:31 am, ajmontana said:

    What a sorry sad set we have on the hill now, trying to pull this “bullcrap’ is pathetic.

  3. #129993
    On September 17th, 2007 at 6:33 am, zorro said:

    Specter and Casey here in PA are pretty much hopeless open borders proponents. I will call them in a few hours anyway.

  4. #130000
    On September 17th, 2007 at 7:22 am, ajmontana said:

    It was September 11 and no one was paying attention, I guess.

    This hurt my feelings. :(

  5. #130005
    On September 17th, 2007 at 7:57 am, CommentGuy said:

    I still remember Harry Reid’s dripping praise of this portion of the bill the last time through the wringer.

    So now we are going to have to counter all the bad parts piece by piece and the other side playing their cards.

    Sort of really shows just how wrong the whole “comprehensive” bill everyone was trying to put forth was really a smoke screen that was seen through pretty well.

  6. #130009
    On September 17th, 2007 at 8:14 am, John said:

    I’d call my senators about this, but they are, you know, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. So that would be pretty useless.

    Separate but related…

    Things I love about Illinois:

    - The FIRST PLACE Chicago Cubs!
    - The wonderful company I work for.

    Things I hate about Illinois:

    -Everything else.

  7. #130015
    On September 17th, 2007 at 8:29 am, Ombre Rose said:

    I’m getting tired of our Legislators and Judges forcing us to stay in a fevered pitch moment to moment, when our will on these issues is clear!

    WHAT WILL IT TAKE to make them understand?

    CLEARLY IT IS NOT IN THEIR HEART TO GIVE A RAT’S PATOOTIE!

    So it will take something else – as usual, only their own fannies on the line will make them sit up and take notice of the VOTERS.
    We need to build a bigger fire under their fannies than they are building under our Constitution!

    Folks, I know you are fed up and tired, but as someone living close to the border of Mexico, I am telling you – pay attention to the signs of NEUROPATHY AND GANGRENE on your extremities!

    WAKE UP and get your CIRCULATION GOING and let the tingling and stinging return to WARN YOU – SAVE YOUR OUTER MEMBERS of your body if you wanna have a good healthy life!!!

    Shake it off and jump out of the boiling pot, and do something about these fools who keep turning the heat up on us hotter and hotter!

    AND PRAY!

    2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

    PRINT THIS SCRIPTURE OUT AND PUT IT ON YOUR FRIDGE AND BATHROOM MIRROR, etc!
    AND PRAY!
    Ephesians 6:10-18, also! DO ALL AND THEN STAND!

    God, help America! Please!

  8. #130017
    On September 17th, 2007 at 8:30 am, ajmontana said:

    All the news channels are stuck on stupid Celeb (oj) stories and the flippin emmy’s. Meanwhile more than half the population doesnt have a clue about whats going on in Washington. You’re right no-one is paying attention.

  9. #130033
    On September 17th, 2007 at 8:57 am, iamsaved said:

    And here I thought the dems were against all forms of torture to include water-boarding and Chinese water torture. They’re sending us the immigration bill one drip at a time.

    How in the world can a member of Congress rationalize granting illegal aliens any kind of right. What part of illegal don’t they understand?

    Vote Democrat! We invest in defeat to maximize political returns!

  10. #130041
    On September 17th, 2007 at 9:13 am, katieanne said:

    Just love waking up to this on a Monday morning. We have one good Senator and on liberal loon in our state. Both will hear from me on this issue.

    It’s a fight worth fighting. I am so glad Michelle keeps this issue out in the news because we’d never hear about this from MSM.

  11. #130044
    On September 17th, 2007 at 9:19 am, pressto said:

    What is sad is President Bush would probably sign this.

  12. #130052
    On September 17th, 2007 at 9:35 am, Lindsay said:

    Have faxed both Florida Senators and my Congressman already and will start making calls.

    NumbersUSA is the best way of fighting this shamnesty.

  13. #130054
    On September 17th, 2007 at 9:40 am, The Raging Republican said:

    Tell your senator: Vote NO on Senate Amendment 2237

    Done!

  14. #130061
    On September 17th, 2007 at 10:04 am, gippergirl said:

    I called both my Senators this morning. I told them that should this pass then I expect a full refund on any tuition I paid for my college…after all, fair is fair. The individuals I spoke with said they’d be sure to share my comments w/the respective Senators.

  15. #130070
    On September 17th, 2007 at 10:26 am, angryoldfatman said:

    Ombre Rose said:

    WHAT WILL IT TAKE to make them understand?

    That’s the problem, they understand quite well what they’re doing. If they didn’t, then they would have learned from the last time we slapped their little wrists not to bring it up again.

    If you keep sticking your hand in a fire after it’s burned you twice before, then there’s obviously something in the fire you want very badly.

  16. #130097
    On September 17th, 2007 at 11:07 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Sent my faxes – Thanks, Michelle.

    Don’t let them do this to us, people – fax, call, e-mail – the same as we did the first time Shamnesty came through..

  17. #130099
    On September 17th, 2007 at 11:13 am, Alphonse said:

    On September 17th, 2007 at 8:14 am, John said: I’d call my senators about this, but they are, you know, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. So that would be pretty useless.

    Dick Durbin…Ummmm.

    Mexinois is already part of Mexico, so I can understand Durbin–Mexinois has the promise of becoming permanently Democratic like Chicago. Chuck Hagel, on the other hand, always seemed like a level-headed, patriotic guy to me. Anybody know why he has chosen the path of corruption on illegal infiltration?

  18. #130104
    On September 17th, 2007 at 11:17 am, flenser said:

    The Giuliani contact number is 212-835-9449.

    I called, the staffer did not know where Rudy stood on the DREAM act. I suggest that a lot of you call and try to put some pressure on them to come up with an answer.

  19. #130141
    On September 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

    Michelle,

    No one needs to say this, but if Mr O doesn’t start making very loud noise about this, we’ll be crossing our fingers that you do at the next opportunity. The only thing that ever stops this is very loud noise from the citizens, and the only way that will happen is when our own Paulette Revere rides on the cablelines crying, “The illegal aliens is coming!” (don’t take that wrongly, we all love you for it)

    In the meantime, everyone should use those numbers you posted.

    Next order of business: someone needs to put forth and get passed regislation that will ban anything put into a bill which is, for the want of a better term, “off topic”.

  20. #130340
    On September 17th, 2007 at 4:57 pm, rightisright said:

    Send the faxes, make the calls over and over and over again…and not just to your senators all of ‘em. Our senators need support and our opponents need to know how the vast majority of America feels about illegal aliens and the war on terror(can you still say that?)

  21. #130344
    On September 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm, truthmattersfa said:

    Just got off the phone with Senator Mel Martinez’s office in DC. The person told me that he is voting against ALL immigration amendments to the DOD bills.

    HOO-RAY..

    He may have finally seen the light.

  22. #130410
    On September 17th, 2007 at 7:22 pm, BOB said:

    On September 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm, truthmattersfa said:
    Just got off the phone with Senator Mel Martinez’s office in DC. The person told me that he is voting against ALL immigration amendments to the DOD bills.

    I think he is one of the sponsors of the bill, and it seems verry unlikely he would ever vote against it.

    Think they told you the truth?

  23. #130413
    On September 17th, 2007 at 7:25 pm, BOB said:

    Sorry, I got Menendez mixed up with Martinez.

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