Dream Act Clears House Hurdle, Now On To Senate

MIAMI (CBS4) - With an act of Congress, the Dream Act is once step closer to becoming a reality.

On Wednesday night, the House passed legislation which would allow citizenship to children born outside the country and brought into the U.S illegally.

With the 216-198 vote, the bill now moved to the Senate, where it faces much rougher time. Democrats are unlikely to come up with the 60 votes needed to advance the bill past tough GOP opposition. The bill will go before the Senate on Thursday.

Illegal immigrants in South Florida are hoping for a miracle when it goes before lawmakers. At Students at Miami-Dade college were glued to the coverage from the House session.

"It's very nerve racking because I understand the importance that it means to a lot of my friend," said student Ruth Moreno. "I just hope, Im praying to God that it does pass."

The bill has some restrictions. It would only apply to children brought into the U.S. before the age of 16, who have been in the country for five years, and graduated from high school or gained an equivalency degree.

The last step to citizenship would be for those students to join the military or attend college.

"I just wish politicians would stop playing with our lives," said Esteban Roncancio, and illegal alien. "Give us a chance to finally demonstrate that we have potential."