(Thumbnail Image: Vivir Latino)

BY STEVEN HSIEH

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced he plans to attach the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act to the defense-authorization bill next week.

Better known as the DREAM Act, the bill would make children of illegal immigrants eligible for citizenship if they attend college or serve in the military after high school.

But critics say the bill sends the wrong message about immigration reform.

We’re analyzing coverage from Fox News, The Atlantic, MSNBC, The Salt Lake Tribune, and Democracy Now!

Fox News has perspectives from both sides analyzing the political implications of the DREAM Act - with November elections ahead.

Hayes: “There are three problems with it. The first is that it’s attached to the defense authorization bill, which you shouldn’t do. The second is it doesn’t mention enforcement. It has nothing to do with enforcing the current laws. The third is that it’s all politics. This is Harry Reid. He wasn’t to turn out the Hispanic vote. This allows him to say he pressed to do so.”
Kondracke: “The Democrats are playing politics, no question. But so are the Republicans. Lockstep against it? All they’re doing is trying to pander to the anti-amnesty crowd.”

And a writer for The Atlantic calls this a savvy political move by Senator Reid, but notes it’s not a –quote “slam dunk.”

“...Reid also sets a potential trap for himself, opening the door for Republican opponents to emphasize his Washington insider habit of manipulating legislation so as to further his own political ambitions. ‘Harry Reid,’ one can imagine the voice-over actor intoning, ‘would rather cater to interest groups than give our troops the support they need.’”

But a DREAM Act advocate tells MSNBC, political ploy or not, the bill demonstrates progress.

“For the Latino electorate, we’re going to be looking at who’s willing to vote for progress, and who just wants to keep saying no to everything. I think the question ought to be called, and I think they ought to demonstrate if they are going to stand, not only against something that’s in the interest of our national security, but also, frankly, in the interest of children.”

And an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune says the DREAM Act not only helps children, but also makes economic sense.

“Hundreds of thousands of children should not be forced to place their dreams on hold. After already investing in their education, it makes no sense that the system then acts to prevent these students from putting their talent to use … However, Congress can do something about it and do right by these children by passing the DREAM Act now.”

But an Iraq war veteran tells Democracy Now! The DREAM Act doesn’t do enough to help graduates get to college, thus favoring the military option. He claims the bill is a way to funnel America’s youth into service.

“It gives the government the opportunity to take a pool of 65,000 kids who graduated high school in this country to send them into the military and, upon their return, still have the ability to very likely deport them. It’s a very draconian bill.”

President Obama supports the DREAM act and has called on the Senate to pass the bill.