Democrats' Linkage of E-Verify and DREAM Act Called 'Cynical'

Reintroducing the twice-failed DREAM Act for illegal aliens, congressional Democrats are hoping that a mandatory E-Verify employment-screening law will make their third attempt a charm.

Immigration-control groups call it a losing proposition.

DREAM, which would award in-state tuition and federal financial aid to students here illegally, remains highly controversial with the American public.

Although supporters of the bill, including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., claim the DREAM Act is not an open-door or free-ride, the eligibility criteria set forth in the legislation are minimal and can be waived by the Department of Homeland Security, says the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

"Since the illegal alien beneficiaries under the bill are in the U.S. illegally there is no way to prove they have been present in the country for the required five years or if they were under 16 years old upon entry," according to a research paper by the Washington, D.C.-based research group.

"This 'student' amnesty plan is mass amnesty in disguise. Illegal aliens up to the age of 35 are eligible -- thats potentially half of the entire illegal alien population," FAIR stated.

Needing a bargaining chip, Senate Democrats have suggested they will push mandatory E-Verify in exchange for getting DREAM enacted.

"This cynical proposition reveals the true motivation of the Obama administration and its allies," FAIR said."After fighting any attempt at real enforcement for the past two years, they will only entertain E-Verify if it is paired with a massive amnesty plan that will 'legalize' the very illegal aliens that an enforcement plan would identify."