Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrats have introduced the fifth different version of the controversial DREAM Act this year.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Image from Creative Commons)

The DREAM Act would offer legalization for immigrants who were brought to this country before the age of 16 and go to college or serve in the United States military for at least two years.

There are limits on the DREAM Act and this fifth version would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition, limit individuals from sponsoring family members for US citizenship, and would restrict the eligility of anyone convicted of certain misdemanor crimes, among other proposed changes.

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey said that this new bill “simply is an effort to deal with any potential costs estimates to make it revenue-neutral. There wouldn’t be any reason for anyone to vote against it because it wouldn’t cost anything.”

The fifth version was introduced to address the concerns from critics and win support from both Republicans and Democrats.

However, the Republican side of the Senate Judiciary Committee said that "Democrat leaders, in their rush to pass an unpopular bill during the lame-duck session, have completely bypassed the Judiciary Committee. They have introduced four separate versions of the same bill and, without any committee review, placed each and every one of them on the legislative calendar. This unusual approach creates a chaotic situation, one that makes it more difficult for the public and their representatives -- as well as the press -- to review this deeply controversial measure."

Now that a fifth version has been introduced, there may be even more confusion.

Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine has urged Republicans to support the bill. "The DREAM Act is based on two very simple principles: that children brought up in this country should not be penalized for the actions of their parents and that our country is made stronger by hard-working immigrants who are willing to do what it takes to build a better life in America in a way that makes our country both stronger and more secure," he said.

Reid had planned to file a cloture motion Tuesday night, but he had to wait until Thursday because of the latest version. Ultimately, he decided to hold off a cloture vote until the middle of next week.

Reach reporter Monica Nguyen here.