Chances of paving a way for young illegal immigrants who attain a college education to become permanent legal residents faded away Saturday, as a procedural vote in the Senate fell five votes shy of the 60 needed to pass.

The DREAM Act would have allowed illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before the age of 16, graduated from high school and spent at least two years in college or the military to become American citizens, provided they have clean records and have been living in the U.S. for at least five years. Reid is looking to pass a stand-alone version of the legislation. The House passed the legislation earlier this month 216-198.

Illegal immigrant students have a hard time finding jobs after college and cannot serve in the military because it is illegal to hire undocumented workers.

Despite thousands of phone calls placed by supporters as well as heavy lobbying from the Obama administration, Democratic Senators Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Max Baucus, Kay Hagan and Jon Tester voted against cutting off debate.

Four Republican senators supported the cloture vote: Sens. Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Dick Lugar and Lisa Murkowski.

Four senators did not vote: Sens. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) vowed to move forward on immigration reform next year, but acknowledged it would be a tough task because the House will be under Republican control.