Nice editorial from the Salt Lake City Tribune (of all places) on the demise of the DREAM act.

[pampango]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/50842834-82/act-dream-bennett-fear.html.csp

Killing the DREAM

Once you get beyond all the fear, race-baiting and xenophobia that are tied up in the issue, there is a valid reason to be worried about the large number of illegal immigrants who are in, and who continue to come to, the United States.

That reason is the real threat of the creation of a permanent underclass of unassimilated workers, one that undercuts the value of all labor, puts a great strain on public services and provides cover for real criminal enterprises, from drug and sex trafficking to terrorist activity. And that real threat is a reason why Utah’s entire congressional delegation should be ashamed of itself, and we of them, because they acted out of petty political fear in helping to kill the long-overdue passage of the DREAM Act.

Few experiences have been more assimilating for newcomers to this land than military service and higher education. The DREAM Act, rather than put the taxpayers on the hook for more generations of destitute immigrants, could have helped millions of eager young people become productive taxpayers. Experts estimate that it could have reduced the federal deficit by at least $1.4 billion over 10 years.

But all three Utahns in the House — Democrat Jim Matheson and Republicans Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz — voted against the measure. It passed anyway, 216-198, but looks to be dead in the Senate because the craven flip-flopping of Sens. Orrin Hatch, once a bold DREAM Act co-sponsor, and Bob Bennett left the Republican filibuster unbroken.