Make Or Break DREAM Act Vote Saturday

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has set up a make or break procedural vote for the legislation on Saturday. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum and Chair of the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign.

“It is time for leaders in the United States Senate to take a stand, and Saturday’s vote on the DREAM Act will be a career defining moment. Too many Senators have provided excuse after excuse for why we can’t or shouldn’t pass this bill. Now, after the Senate has met Republican demands on taxes and other issues, we have arrived at the moment of truth. Several Senate Republicans promised to vote for DREAM if it appeared as a stand-alone bill. They have gotten their wish. Now it is time to tell America where they stand.

We have spoken with every single member of the United States Senate and made every good faith attempt to address concerns about the legislation. For more than a year, our movement has delivered all the voices, support, answers, and help these Senators need in order to vote the right way. There are no more excuses. We are closing in on the 60 votes needed to move the DREAM Act, and our nation forward.

Students and youth leaders from all over the country have converged on Washington D.C. in an all out effort to urge Senators to vote the right way on Saturday, the eyes of an entire movement will be on the United States Senate. We expect that every Senator will support this bi-partisan, common sense legislation. We stand ready to support and celebrate any Senator, Republican or Democrat, who votes to move this legislation forward. While we’ll lift up our champions, we’ll never forget who stood against us. Together with our partners, Reform Immigration FOR America will make sure that every Latino, Asian, and immigrant voter remembers how each and every Senator voted on the DREAM Act.”