The Senate on Wednesday blocked the latest effort to address the thorny immigration issue, refusing to call up legislation that would allow some children of illegal immigrants to legalize their status in the United States.

Bill supporters needed 60 votes to limit debate and call up the so-called DREAM Act. The tally was 52-44, leaving advocates of the legislation frustrated.

The measure would allow the children of illegal immigrants who entered the United States before age 16 and lived here at least five years to gain conditional legal status and eventual citizenship if they attend college or join the military for at least two years. Only those who are 30 or younger on the day of enactment would be eligible.

“Since when do we in American visit the crimes of the parent on the children? Is that what America has come to?” asked Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., sponsor of the measure. “What crime did they commit? They obeyed their parents. They followed their parents.”

Although a dozen Republicans voted to consider the bill, 36 voted “no.” And most of those made clear that they remain opposed to even limited efforts to legalize the status of illegal immigrants residing in the United States. The vote came four months after the collapse of broader legislation that coupled tough border security measures with provisions that could have legalized the status of most of the estimated 12 million immigrants now living in the United States illegally..