As Kathryn noted, Sen. Reid has filed to invoke cloture on the DREAM Act amnesty, now stand-alone measure S. 2205; Numbers USA has legislative details. Contrary to the advocates’ claim that this would be a small, numerically almost inconsequential measure, my research director looked at the census survey from this spring and estimates the bill would grant amnesty to about one and a half million under-age illegal aliens, and grant an exemption from deportation to another one and a half million illegal-alien parents. Also, there are four million-plus adult illegal aliens under 30, which defines the pool of potential fraudulent applicants (since only those under 30 can apply if they claim to have come here as children). Over at the Washington Times’ new immigration blog, Steve Dinan notes that when this particular amnesty came up recently as an amendment to a defense spending bill, “many of the bill’s supporters said Republicans were using the military bill explanation as an excuse to duck a difficult vote. Durbin is now ready to see if they were bluffing.”

Incredibly, people on the Hill tell me that the sponsors of the bill — Senators Durbin, Hagel, and Lugar — are actually planning a sit-down with a group of illegal aliens today at 3 p.m. to hear why Congress should give them amnesty. Maybe later Dick Lugar can find time to meet with me so I can tell him why I shouldn’t have to pay my mortgage.