An advisory commission of U.S. President Barack Obama expressed support for a measure to give tens of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status.

The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders said in a statement that the DREAM Act, which grants citizenship to children of illegal immigrants if they attend college or join the military, “is good for our economy, our security, and our nation.”

“Research has shown the potential of undocumented students to contribute to the economy and the U.S. workforce,” said Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce Department and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

“The DREAM Act would offer a rigorous and lengthy pathway towards earned legalization that would be a powerful incentive for young people to stay in school, graduate, stay out of trouble, and contribute to the economic stability of our country,” he said.

Obama has made commitment for a comprehensive immigration reform in his presidential campaign in 2008, and has made it one of his top legislative priorities in the past two-year presidency.

However, the immigration reform was stalled in Congress as Republicans put more emphasis on border security over the legalization of undocumented immigrants.

After Republicans chalked an overwhelming victory in the midterm elections and substantially changed the balance of power in Congress, a comprehensive immigration reform seems even more unlikely during Obama’s remaining two years.

Analysts believe a more feasible way is for Obama to push for a scaled-down reform bill or do it piece by piece. And the DREAM Act is considered a key part of the overall reform package and also one that is more likely to gain bipartisan support.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that he would move to force a test vote on the measure this week. But it’s unclear whether he can garner enough votes to move it for an up-or- down vote.

The legislation has been killed by Senate Republicans earlier this year even after Reid attached it to a defense authorization bill to increase its chances of passage.

“The DREAM Act would provide an opportunity for eligible undocumented students who have been raised and educated in the United States to earn legal status by pursuing a higher education, or by serving in the U.S. military,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who also serves as Co-Chair of the White House Initiative.

“Enacting the DREAM Act would be an important part of our efforts to meet the Administration’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.”

It is estimated that approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year, many at the top of their classes, but they cannot go on to pursue their dreams of higher education or continued development.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, one in 10 potential DREAM Act beneficiaries comes from an Asian country.