Some time this week or next, the DREAM Act will die a quiet death. For those of you who don't know, the DREAM Act provides a path to citizenship for undocumented children so long as they complete two years of college or serve in the military for two years. It provides hope for children who had no say in the decisions of their parents and have no home other than the United States. It is a bi-partisan bill that has support ranging from the likes of Orin Hatch to Barbara Boxer. Promised to be voted on as a part of the Department of Defense appropriations by Democratic leadership, one of the few remaining legislative priorities of the Latino community has been buried.
Rather than give Latinos a reason to vote Democrat, the Rahm Emmanuels and Chuck Schumers of the world have cast the Party's hope for 2008 on the ability of Republicans to turn off this critical voting bloc.
Granted, the Republican Party has done everything in its power to turn Latinos away and forfeit the increased support garnered by President Bush in 2000 (35%) and 2004 (40%). The Bush years have seen increased disparities in education, health care and housing for Latinos. On immigration, the rhetoric has reached hateful proportions. Enforcement only policies from the Administration and rhetoric from Republican members of Congress give a clear signal to Latinos, young and old, that we are not welcome in the GOP. Lest we think this is a product of a few in their party, the Republican presidential nominees have adopted the same hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Evidenced by a 33% increase in turnout during the 2006 midterms and overwhelming support for Democratic candidates (69%), Latinos are returning to their natural home in the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, though we are allowed in the house on Election Day, we are required to check our legislative priorities at the door.
The message is becoming clear: No Se Puede for Latino priorities.
Comprehensive immigration reform largely failed as a result of Republican Senators. Still, just because it failed on the first try, does not mean that it should be abandoned completely. Though controversial in nativist circles, polls consistently show that the American public supports a comprehensive approach. One need only look at issues such as the Iraq War, minimum wage and ethics reform to see that it takes multiple tries to get things right. Taking only one shot does a disservice to Latino voters who helped put Democrats in the majority and to a nation desperately in need of leadership.
In spite of the difficulties of this summer, the DREAM Act is an opportunity for the Party to show that Latino priorities still matter. It is an opportunity to show that in the face of a hostile and hateful nativist machine the Party can lead. It is an opportunity that is now on life support.
The anticipated vote on the DREAM Act is nearly seven years in the making. Members of both parties have consistently expressed support. Votes were being lined up. The Latino community has been engaged and vocal. Sadly, the Rahm Emmanuel and Chuck Schumer electoral brain trusts in the Party have decided that Latino issues are not a priority. They prefer to receive fewer anti-immigrant phone calls than more Latino votes on Election Day. Regardless of the need to give Latino voters a reason to turnout and the fact that we can turn the Southwest blue, the DREAM is dead.
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