AJC, ADL, NCJW disappointed over DREAM Act failure in Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Releases)–Three Jewish advocacy groups expressed regrets on Monday following the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the DREAM act to extend cititzenship to children raised in the United States who complete college or serve in the military.   The organizations and their statements were:

American Jewish Committee:  “AJC is profoundly disappointed that the U.S. Senate has rejected the DREAM Act.

“Our Senators have left so many young people unnecessarily in continuing limbo,” said Ann Schaffer, director of AJC’s Belfer Center for American Pluralism. “Instead of creating a clear path for the many undocumented young people who have graduated American high schools and are eager to go on to college and contribute to our economy and society, the Senate has delivered a stunning and painful message that they are not welcome.”
 
The DREAM Act failed by a vote of 55-41, with a minimum of 60 votes needed to advance the bill. The House, 216 to 198, passed the DREAM Act earlier this month.
DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) would provide individuals who came to the United States at an early age opportunities, regardless of their current immigration status, to pursue higher education and contribute to American society.
Anti-Defamation League: “Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:”We are deeply disappointed that the Senate could not see its way clear to give the most deserving and narrowest group of immigrants — children who are undocumented through no fault of their own — a chance to prove their commitment and fulfill their will to contribute to our country.

“The minority of 41 Senators who blocked progress by voting “no” failed more than just students seeking fair treatment or the military, civil rights, and business who believe our country will be stronger with their contribution to it.  They failed all of our children by refusing to embrace a future for them that welcomes diversity and equal access to the American dream.

“We cannot ignore the role that anti-immigrant rhetoric has played in letting fear trump sound policy solutions.  The climate of bias and hostility toward immigrants that pervades the immigration debate hurts our country and stands in the way of achieving the reform Americans desperately seek to the broken immigration system we now have. 

“After this bitter loss, we rededicate ourselves to the quest for comprehensive immigration reform and we call on all leaders to reject dehumanizing rhetoric and to set an example of how immigration policy can be debated respectfully.”

National Council of Jewish Women: “NCJW President Nancy Ratzan issued the following statement:

“The Senate’s failure to garner the 60 votes needed to allow a vote on the DREAM Act is a disappointment to NCJW and other civil rights advocates. But for the tens of thousands of young people who would have benefited from this law each year, it is a crushing blow to the dream of one day contributing to this country — for many the only home they have known.

“Approximately 65,000 youth annually who have lived here for at least five years and have exceptional academic and personal records would benefit from the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship provided that they attend college or serve in the military.

“The DREAM Act was designed to enable these outstanding young people — who were brought to the US as minors without benefit of documentation — to live without fear of deportation in return for their contributions to our defense and to our society. The DREAM Act is a critical step toward reform of our broken and unjust immigration laws. For all these reasons, the legislation enjoys strong public support. 

“NCJW pledges to continue its efforts to pass this bill and achieve much-needed just and humane immigration reform.”

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Preceding provided by the respective organizations