Replies

The response I received from Senator Webb of Virginia:

Dear Mrs. ********:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (S. 729), commonly known as the DREAM Act. Senators Dick Durbin and Richard Lugar introduced this bipartisan bill, which has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Since Virginians elected me to the U.S. Senate, I have tried to be a voice of reason on immigration reform issues. For example, I voted for $3 billion in emergency border security funding, which will help improve our national security. Additionally, I have supported increased employer sanctions for companies that hire undocumented workers. In 2007, I voted against a comprehensive immigration bill that would have given legal status to 12 to 20 million undocumented persons in the United States. These policy positions are guided by my belief that fundamental fairness should be applied to U.S. immigration policy.

As you may be aware, the DREAM Act would provide a path to legalization (opportunity to apply for a “green card”) for some undocumented persons who were brought to the United States as children. Under this bill’s provisions, these persons would be allowed to legalize their status only if they graduate from high school, serve in the military or attend college, maintain good moral character, and do not commit crimes. The DREAM Act would allow legalization only for persons who were brought into the United States as children and would not cover children who enter the United States in the future.

In 2006, the full Senate - including both of Virginia’s senators - unanimously approved the DREAM Act by a voice vote. After careful analysis, I voted to move toward final passage of this bill in 2007. I voted this way mainly because the DREAM Act gives a narrow one-time window for a limited number of young people to apply for their green cards. I note that many Senators from both sides of the aisle supported moving forward on the DREAM Act in hopes of making further improvements to the bill. I agreed with that spirit of bipartisan compromise. While the 2007 version of the bill garnered both Democratic and Republican bi-partisan majority support in the Senate, it ultimately failed to reach the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, and was not passed.

Please be assured that your views on the DREAM Act are helpful to me and my staff. Additionally, please know that as the Senate continues to consider general immigration reform proposals, I will advocate for fair and effective immigration policies.

Thank you once again for contacting my office. I hope that you will continue to share your views with me and my staff in the years ahead. I would also invite you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov for regular updates about my activities and positions on matters that are important to Virginia and our nation.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb
United States Senator