New York Times Laments 'Painful Setback' to 'Dream Act' Amnesty for Illegals
New York Times reporter Julia Preston’s “news analysis” on Sunday on the Senate defeat of legislation granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, known as the Dream Act by supporters (“Immigration Vote Leaves Obama’s Policy in Disarray”) is a reversal of the emotion displayed in her previous celebratory coverage of even the puniest symbolic gatherings of pro-“Dream Act” protesters involving as few as four students.
Preston seemed anguished about what she called a “painful setback” to granting amnesty to perhaps hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant students, suggesting it was a particular setback for Obama.
The vote by the Senate on Saturday to block a bill to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant students was a painful setback to an emerging movement of immigrants and also appeared to leave the immigration policy of the Obama administration, which has supported the bill and the movement, in disarray. The bill, known as the Dream Act, gained 55 votes in favor with 41 against, a tally short of the 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor for debate. Five Democrats broke ranks to vote against the bill, while only three Republicans voted for it. The defeat in the Senate came after the House of Representatives passed the bill last week.
Preston tried to minimize the reach of the "tailored" bill.
The result, although not unexpected, was still a rebuff to President Obama by newly empowered Republicans in Congress on an issue he has called one of his priorities. Supporters believed that the bill -- tailored to benefit only immigrants who were brought here illegally when they were children and hoped to attend college or enlist in the military -- was the easiest piece to pass out of a larger overhaul of immigration laws that Mr. Obama supports.
....
Mr. Obama will now face growing pressure from immigrant and Latino groups to temper the crackdown and perhaps find ways to use executive powers to bring some illegal immigrants out of the shadows. Latino voters turned out in strength for the Democrats in the midterm elections, arguably saving their majority in the Senate.
The Times is fond of the "shadows" metaphor, but these immigrants are hardly in the shadows, as Preston showed a few paragraphs later:
Yet much pressure on the administration may come from immigrant organizations. Despite their illegal status, several hundred immigrant students watched the vote in the Senate gallery. Afterward, they held a somber prayer vigil in the basement of the Capitol, but moved on to a news conference that turned into a pep rally.
The Times often lapses into melodrama when discussing the Dream Act, and Preston didn’t disappoint on Sunday.
The movement has been driven by thousands of students who “came out” to reveal that they did not have legal status, and to recount their academic achievements and the barriers they faced. Now that their status is public, they have nowhere to hide. Meanwhile, an estimated 65,000 illegal immigrants are graduating from high school each year.
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Comments
Here's the painful setback
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:38am.
Millions of people have gone about the process correctly waiting years to get their green cards and even before my grandfather came here following the rule of law, but now law breaking illegals "deserve" to be here?
Hey illegals! Leave the US and get on the end of the line and wait like everyone else. You special or something?
Not only that,
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:44am.
but the Nightmare Act would have also granted to illegals in-state tuition rates at state colleges across the country. That's right--an illegal could just jump across the border and get the same tuition rate as a legal resident who has established residence (usually a 1-yr requirement minimum). It's the first step in the Democraps' plan to give full tuition grants to illegals. Yeesh.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
If America is so horrible
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:43am.
Why would anyone want to come here. Either BHO is lying or it's another one of the moron things.
How else can you square the apology tour with reality? Or is everybody in the world just laughing at BHO?
Who wants to jump the border to go to Kenya?
Yeah, it was a setback in the
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:45am.
Yeah, it was a setback in the liberals' continuous efforts to destroy two hundred years of America's traditions, values and rule of law. They'll just have to concentrate on destroying other things for awhile...
They are not immigrants. They are not illegal immigrants.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:51am.
They are aliens, illegal aliens or squatters.
Suggested questions for MSM types to ask. This reporter states that 65,000 aliens are graduating from high school each year.
1.Why should the taxpayers be paying for their education?
2.While in high school should these students be counseled on how to apply for legal residency status-Resident Alien?
3. Regarding alien college students how did they get into college? I think when I went in the Stone Age I had to prove that I was a citizen and what my residence was. Do colleges now not care about residency?
4. If a college knowingly accepts an alien must that persons status be reported to immigration authorities?
5. How are the alien college students paying for college? Is the taxpayer again paying their way?
These are a few questions I would think MSMers would as if they were curious and did not have an agenda.
Pass it and they will come
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 9:55am.
". . . a painful setback to an emerging movement of immigrants . . ."
That emerging movement of immigrants comprises those who are poised to illegally move into the US with their children the instant that the DREAM Act is passed.
seemed jubilant
Submitted by blablablather on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 10:07am.
The reporter also seemed jublilant that pain was inflicted on immigrants. Didn't you see that too, Clay?
The "set-up" has been years in the making
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 11:09am.
By not requiring proof of citizenship in order to use our public school systems, the Left has spent decades setting up this influx of illegal aliens.
Riddle me this, how many of the "elites" in the government and media even interact with Latinos on a regular basis or know how to speak ANY Spanish? Here in Texas, we don't have a problem with Latinos, most of us have friends, doctors, bankers, lawyers, or significant others who are of Hispanic descent. We DO have a problem with illegal aliens who are not supposed to be here, using our taxpayer-funded institutions.
Again, I say, since Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. have the problems they do, with no viable middle class, poor or non-existent educational facilities, etc. WOULDN'T THE HIGHLY EDUCATED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES BE AN ASSET TO THOSE NATIONS AND WOULDN'T THEY BE IN AN ENVIABLE POSITION TO OBTAIN JOBS AND CHANGE THE CULTURE IN MEXICO, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, ETC?
jobs
Submitted by blablablather on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 12:35pm.
and then there's all jobs that are waiting for them here, too.
If people can't come in here
Submitted by rbosque on Tue, 12/21/2010 - 12:31pm.
If people can't come in here legally, why should they be entitled to other people's money? Why is that a "setback" for law-breakers? It's Americans that have been paying their bills, why aren't illeagls "setbacks" for Americans?