WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined with over 30 fellow senators in reintroducing the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2011, which would give bright, law-abiding, hardworking immigrant students an opportunity to earn legal status. 

Under the DREAM Act, students would be eligible to apply for legal status if they were brought to the U.S. before their 16th birthday, lived continuously in the U.S. since at least 2006, graduated from high school, passed a background check, and completed at least two years of college or military service in good standing.

Last year, the DREAM Act was passed by the House of Representatives and received a strong bipartisan majority in the Senate, but was ultimately blocked by Senate Republicans in a lockstep procedural vote.  Reed, a staunch supporter of the DREAM Act, vowed to keep working for passage of the bill and toward comprehensive immigration reform.

"We should be encouraging these young people to realize their dreams of higher education and service in the only country they know and love," said Reed.  "Giving these students the chance to earn legal status by going to college or serving in the military will help strengthen our communities and our economy.  I am pleased to stand with my colleagues in reintroducing this important piece of legislation."