Two days after the DREAM Act was defeated in the Senate, the White House announced it would not affect President Obama's push for immigration reform next year. 

On December 18, the DREAM Act failed to get a majority vote after a filibuster in the Senate. This is the only immigration bill that has come up for a vote in the first two years of the Obama presidency. 

When reporters asked whether the defeat of the DREAM Act would affect comprehensive immigration reform, the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said there would be no effect.  Obama was clearly disappointed by the result, stated Gibbs, and regretted that with bipartisan support, the bill still did not pass.

Gibbs pointed out that comprehensive reform is the only solution to the country's immigration problems, which must be implemented by the federal government and not by the individual states, in violation of federal law.

After the defeat, [Charles Schumer (D-NY)], the Chair of the Senate Committee on Immigration said that the Senate will discuss comprehensive immigration reforms next year. The DREAM Act was defeated because it lacked the support of the Republicans, he said, adding that to obtain comprehensive immigration reform, bipartisan support is necessary.   

The DREAM Act, or the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, would allow those who came to the United States before the age of 16 and who have been living continuously in the United States for the past five years to obtain legal status if they are high school graduates, college students, or military personnel.