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Reid plans to put Dream Act before Congress after November elections
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Sunday that he intends to put legislation allowing a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants before Congress after this week's elections, according to the New York Times.
Reid, who made his comments during a television appearance on a Spanish-language political talk show, plans to submit the Dream Act for a vote regardless of the election's outcome.
The Dream Act would give legal status to children of illegal immigrant who arrived in the United States before they were 16 years old, have lived in the U.S. for a minimum of five years and complete at least two years of college or military service.
The Dream Act was first submitted to the Senate in 2007, when it was stalled by a Republican filibuster. It was also added as an amendment to a defense bill in September of this year, but Republicans blocked it then as well.
Foreign nationals not eligible for legal status under the Dream Act may instead participate in the EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 program awards green card eligibility to foreign nationals whose $1 million ($500,000 in certain regions) investment in an American company creates or preserves at least 10 jobs.