The Senate will consider Tuesday whether hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children should be placed on a path to citizenship.

The controversial measure is being pushed by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who bypassed usual Senate procedures by including it in a defense reauthorization bill.

Opponents consider the Dream Act a form of amnesty and have accused Reid and other Democrats of using it to appeal to Hispanic voters, an important constituency, as the midterm elections approach. Supporters, who include retired Gen. Colin L. Powell and other military officials, have argued that the measure is long overdue, humane and practical.

The Dream Act would open the door to citizenship for undocumented immigrants younger than 36 who arrived in the United States as children, have lived here for five years or more, and are contributing to the country by attending college or serving in the military.

Although about 2.1 million of the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country could be eligible for legalization under such criteria, the Migration Policy Institute has estimated that only about 825,000 people would be able to take advantage of the provision.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/20/AR2010092006297.html