The DREAM Act failed to move forward in the Senate Saturday.
With a vote of 55-41, the legislation was greeted with 5 less votes than the 60 needed to sidestep objections and move toward debate.
The bill would have eased the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants willing to commit to two years in the military or at a college.
Democrats Max Baucus (Mt.), John Tester (Mt.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) voted against the act. Republicans Bob Bennett, Richard Lugar and Lisa Murkowski (I-Ala.) voted in favor of the bill.