Illinois Senator Richard Durbin offered the DREAM Act yesterday as an amendment to the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. The act would provide a six-year path to legal status for young men and women who were brought to the United States by their parents when they were children and who fulfill certain responsibilities upon their graduation from high school.

To qualify for a green card, these students would have to demonstrate good moral character and, within the six-year period, graduate from community college, attend two years toward a four-year degree, or serve at least two years in the U.S. military.

The students who would benefit from the DREAM Act had no control over their families' decisions to bring them to the United States when they were young. They excel in high school, but are unable to continue their studies past graduation because, without immigration status, they are unable to receive the financial aid necessary for their families to afford for them to go on to college. Those who would like to go on to serve in the U.S. military are also barred because they are undocumented.

Durbin's speech yesterday before the Senate focused on the benefits of the DREAM Act for U.S. military recruitment:

Now, obviously, in the midst of the Defense authorization bill, some people question why one might bring up an immigration issue. The answer is simple: The DREAM Act would address a very serious recruitment crisis facing our military. Under the DREAM Act, tens of thousands of well-qualified potential recruits would become eligible for military service for the first time. They are eager to serve in the armed services, and under the DREAM Act, they would have a very strong incentive to enlist because it would give them a path to permanent legal status.

I've pasted Senator Durbin's full floor statement here.

A number of bloggers have been writing about the DREAM Act this week; Immigration Orange has been keeping a roundup of posts, including LatinaLista's posts on organizing efforts by immigrant students around the country and some small signs of hope that their message is getting across. Migra Matters blogged this week about the need for pro-migrant groups to join together to get the DREAM Act passed and provides a list of senators who have not yet committed to a vote.