The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has rejected a proposal presented by Senate Republicans that would grant undocumented youth a pathway to permanent residency if they serve in the military or seek a higher education in the United States, ABC News/Univision reported on Wednesday.
Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Kay Baily Hutchison of Texas introduced the Republican version of the DREAM Act, called the ACHIEVE Act on Tuesday. According to Fox News Latino, the two have been consulting with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida for the bill. Rubio has also promised to introduce his own "permanent solution" in 2013.
During a news conference on Wednesday morning, Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) said, "The problem with the ACHIEVE Act is it does not achieve the dream." Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) added that the proposition was "too little, too late," ABC News/Univision reported.
Fox News Latino reported that the DREAM Act, which failed in the Senate two years ago, would have provided a special path to citizenship for around 1 million to 2 million undocumented immigrants brought to the United States before the age of 16. The ACHIEVE Act lowers age of entry to 14 and does not provide a path to citizenship.
According to ABC News/Univision, members of the Hispanic Caucus also rejected the STEM Jobs Act, which would increase the number of green cards available to foreign graduates with advanced science, technology, engineering and math degrees from American universities.
During the conference, members of the caucus presented nine principals for immigration reform, ABC News/Univision noted. Gutierrez added, "We've asked for one simple thing-fairness." He added that the Republican Party "demonized immigrants."
A March Fox News Latino poll revealed that 90 percent of Latino voters support both the DREAM Act and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
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