Marco Rubio’s Alternative Dream Act: Is It A Bad Dream?

by Griselda Nevárez, Voxxi

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has revealed that he is crafting an alternative version of the DREAM Act that would legalize but not promise citizenship to undocumented youth who graduate from college or serve in the U.S. military.

A month ago, Rubio sat down with Hispanic Link News Service and said that while he supports the goals of the current DREAM Act legislation, it is “the wrong way to do the right thing.”

Various versions of the DREAM Act have been introduced in Congress since 2001 but all failed to receive enough votes to reach the White House for signature. In 2010, a bill passed in the House but was five votes shy in the Senate.

Unlike the Democratic bill introduced May 11, 2011, by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Rubio’s would allow undocumented young immigrants who meet its requirements a visas to stay and work in the United States but would require them to get in line to apply for permanent residency.

Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) introduced Jan. 27 a version of the DREAM Act called the ARMS Act that requires military service but not college graduation.