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The Spanish-language press reports that as the beginning of the lame-duck session of Congress approaches, both supporters and opponents of the DREAM Act are already fired up in anticipation of a debate and vote on the bill. Meanwhile, Jorge Ramos has created a new scholarship fund for immigrant students–including DREAMers–and California, New Jersey, and New York kept the dubious distinction in 2009 of having the most hate crimes in the country, although there were fewer incidents in those states, and nationally, in 2009 than 2008.

The Spanish-language press reports on yesterday’s White House meeting between President Barack Obama and Hispanic Democratic legislators Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) to discuss moving forward on immigration bills during the remainder of the 111th Congress. After the meeting, the White House declared that both the President and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) agree that Congress should approve the DREAM Act before the end of the session. Various outlets report that the bill will come to a vote in the House of Representatives after Thanksgiving.

As the lame-duck session of Congress approaches, the movement to pass the DREAM Act before the new Congress is seated in January gains steam. As an editorial from La Opinión and columns from Jorge Ramos and Maribel Hastings all call for the bill to pass, the eyes of the Latino media are on Washington–where Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez have announced their support for the bill, and Menéndez will meet with the President and other key Latino members of Congress at the White House today to discuss strategy on immigration legislation.

The Spanish-language media continues to analyze the implications of last Tuesday’s elections, particularly the influence of the Latino vote and the prospects of immigration relief measures under the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, in his new book, former president George W. Bush looks back on his attempt to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2007.

The Spanish-language press reports today on the Democrats’ defeat in the House of Representatives, and retention of a reduced majority in the Senate. They also focus on the role of Latino voters in key races, such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s reelection in Nevada and Jerry Brown’s victory in the California gubernatorial race. While the anti-immigrant rhetoric used by many newly-elected Republicans motivated millions of Latinos to vote for Democrats by historic margins, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives presents an obstacle to passing immigration reform.