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PDF versionImmigration Front & Center
by Michael Sean Winters on Jan. 26, 2012
As the GOP contest heads to Florida, and later to Nevada, New Mexico and other states with large Hispanic populations, watching the candidates tie themselves into a pretzel over the issue of immigration reform will be like the scene in “Men in Black II” when the worms engage in a game of Twister. It ain’t going to be pretty.
Mitt Romney has the toughest assignment and not because he once, by mistake, used a slogan associated with Fidel while campaigning four years ago. Romney’s burden has been that immigration is the one issue where he saw an opening to try and outflank Newt Gingrich on the right. Romney’s insistence that all undocumented immigrants “self-deport,” that there be no pathway to citizenship for those who came here without papers, and his fierce opposition to the DREAM Act all guarantee that he will have a tough time convincing Latinos that he understands the challenges facing them.
Gingrich’s proposal for World War II-style civilian boards to assess the claims of immigrant neighbors who have been here for a long time – Gingrich cites the figure 25 years – and allow the boards to permit some long-time immigrants to stay here, without citizenship, can only be seen as humane when it is contrasted with the positions of his opponents. Gingrich gets a smidgen of credit for breaking with the “deport ‘em all” stance of the hard right, but only a smidgen. He, too, opposes the DREAM Act.
Turbo-Catholic Rick Santorum has distinguished himself on the issue of immigration reform during the debates by repeating, ad nauseum, that undocumented immigrants did not just break the law once but continue to break the law by working without authorization or with false documents. Not a word of compassion has ever passed his lips on the subject.
Compassion, of course, is not the only thing missing from the GOP’s anti-immigrant stance. Responsibility is too. For fifty years, the United States – our companies, employers and our government – have given the equivalent of a big wink to our neighbors south of the border. There has been no serious effort at enforcement of the laws and, in the case of employers, whole business plans have been launched and succeeded, premised on the supply of exploitable, undocumented workers. It cannot be asserted with a straight face that the undocumented, and they alone, bear responsibility for the current situation.
Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, suggests the GOP take a different tack in an important op-ed in this morning’s Washington Post. The most important point Bush makes is this: “The American immigrant experience is the most aspirational story ever told. Immigrants left all that was familiar to them to come here and make a better life for their families. That they believe this is possible only in America is the best expression of American exceptionalism I know.” Here is a way for the GOP to take one of its most common tropes, American exceptionalism, and instead of using that phrase to demean others, Bush suggests employing it to welcome others. That is not only a more humane way to look at the issue, it is smarter politics.
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Bush also calls for comprehensive immigration reform, as did his brother, former President George W. Bush. It should be remembered that in 2004, the GOP took its largest slice of the Latino vote in its history because Bush refused to endorse the anti-immigrant hardline some in his party advocated. But, while Jeb Bush calls for comprehensive immigration reform in his article, he ducks the key issue: Republicans tend to call any effort to create a pathway to citizenship “amnesty.” Of course, every proposal at reform I have seen sets a pretty stiff penalty in terms of fines and waiting periods before the undocumented can regularize their legal status and proceed to seek citizenship. We change the penalties for breaking our laws all the time. Assessing a big fine is not the same thing as amnesty, and it is dishonest of the GOP candidates to call it such, but call it such they do, repeatedly.
The issue of immigration reform also touches the issue of religious liberty. In 2006, after the U.S. House passed a law that would have made Catholic Charities guilt of “alien smuggling” by serving undocumented workers at a soup kitchen, educating undocumented children in schools, or caring for an undocumented patient at our hospitals, Cardinal Roger Mahony said that he would encourage all Catholic institutions to break such an unjust law. In Alabama currently, the only reason a similar law has not taken effect, a law that infringes on the right of the Church to fulfill its mission to care for the poor and the needy regardless of their legal status, is because the federal Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against it, charging that immigration is a federal issue. In a debate last week, Gingrich said he would remove the DOJ suit against that law and he did not stipulate that he would file a new lawsuit against Alabama on religious liberty grounds.
Of course, the Obama administration has a pretty dismal record on immigration. In addition to ramping up the number of deportations, it did precious little to get an immigration reform measure through Congress in the first two years of the administration, when Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate too. But, Obama will benefit by comparison. He may not have delivered for Latinos, and his support in that community is softer than it was four years ago, but he has never been hateful and it is difficult to see how any of his opponents could capitalize on his inaction when their promises to act would grievously cause harm to the Latino community.
I have a word of warning to the GOP. Demographics are not destiny, but they are important, and until that party sheds its anti-immigrant stance, it will be doomed to increasing marginalization in many states. Jeb Bush begins his op-ed claiming that: “In the 15 states that are likely to decide who controls the White House and the Senate in 2013, Hispanic voters will represent the margin of victory.” In 2016, and 2020, and 2024, that number will grow.
And, a word of warning for the White House: Don’t take Latinos for granted. They don’t want lip service. Latinos voters want justice for their undocumented brothers and sisters. It is vital that in making his case for another four years, President Obama place immigration reform at the top of his list of objectives and insist that the election be a mandate on the issue. He mentioned the issue in his State of the Union speech, but he mentioned many things in that speech. He needs to communicate to the American people that the issue will be a priority for him in such a way that, should he win, he can claim a mandate to enact meaningful reform. He must be explicit and repetitive on the issue, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind. Otherwise, Latinos may turn election day into a good day to stay home.
"Ad nauseam" not "ad nauseum"
"Ad nauseam" not "ad nauseum" - Let us have compassion for those who love Latin as well as Latinos.
I am a Latina and I want
I am a Latina and I want justice. I want everyone to play by the same rules. It took me eight years to get a visa to come to this country, but I did it. My family made the sacrifice because we believe in the rule of law. I don't know what you mean by justice. You seem to think all Latinos want the chaos of open borders. Some do, but most of us want to live in a stable society where there are rules and good people obey those rules. After eight years waiting for a visa, I'm not sure I want the children of undocumented immigrants to compete for funding with my children, who paid a steep price. A system that penalizes those who live by its laws is not a just system. I have never heard of Catholic teaching that permits people from one country to enter another country without some system of accountability, have you?
Hmm is this a case of the
Hmm is this a case of the biblical brother who was angry cause his dad killed the prize calf for his prodigious brother?
Everyone in America (with the
Everyone in America (with the exception of Native Americans) is an immigrant, or the descendant of one. If our grandparents or greatgrandparents came here "legally" it was because "back in the day" America's immigration policy was far less restrictive than it is today.
The people who come here today are desperate to find a better life for themselves and their families, whether they come alone and send what they can back home, or come together. What father or mother does not want a better life for their children? These people endure incredible hardship just to get here. And of course, once they arrive their are plenty of unscrupulous employers ready to increase their own profits by exploiting them.
I am tired of hearing "My grandparents came here the legal way" and "These people are taking jobs away from American citizens". The truth is that most of the work done by undocumented workers is work no one else wants; hard, dirty, backbreaking work under conditions that no American worker would accept. There are no sick days, no benefits of any kind. There is no worker's compensation if someone gets injured at work (a frequent occurence given the dangerous nature or repetitive physical motions on these jobs). There is no time and a half for hours beyond 8 in a day or 40 in a week. Often the pay is below minimum wage and the hours are 10 to 12 a day, 6 or 7 days a week. American workers rejected working conditions like these long ago.
It is high time that everyone remembered that immigrants are also made in God's image and likeness, that they too are His children and that the Holy Family were once refugees, illegal immigrants, in Egypt fleeing from Herod.
Obama is expanding a
Obama is expanding a compassionate visa program administratively, but he needs to do more, which is hard to do when you make the Governor of Arizona your Homeland Security Secretary and give her a free hand. Largely, the Democrats will continue to win as the GOP argues about immigration within itself, with businesses liking the status quo so that they can threaten to call Homeland Security on any workers who get out of line (without mentioning that this would result in action against them as well- especially if the worker was trafficked, giving him the right to stay).
TAXPAYERS ARE THE PAYEE FOR
TAXPAYERS ARE THE PAYEE FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS
It’s not condescending, but if you came to America by whatever means without permission of the People via the US government, you are violating this country’s sovereignty rights? I doubt if there is any country on Mother Earth, where you would not be imprisoned or immediately deported? Mexican laws have very strict statutes, that illegal entry is punishable as a Felony. Congress and being owned by special interests money doesn't impose a felony. It's a walk away "slap-on-the-hand punishment and then unless it’s a second entry after deportation, you can now walk away from being incarcerated--thanks to the executive order from President Obama. Life has been made so easy for foreign nationals, which they can even demonstrate in the streets, demanding rights without any recourse from ICE? They shouldn't even be here, but they are able to ride the welfare programs through a poor interpretation of the 14th Amendment. People come from every hemisphere after waiting years for a visa, but others steel in disguised as a tourist with unborn babies or just steal across our perforated border fence. Then they go about stealing somebody’s Identification to get a job, procure that persons credit.
Our once praiseworthy schools are now poorly recognized for performance, as they were 30 years ago. The top State for education originated in California and now it is somewhere around the bottom of the barrel. Millions who swarmed into Los Angeles County have turned it into miles of poverty stricken neighborhoods, without any countermeasures from the immigration police. Hospitals are hurting from unpaid treatments and Border States saw many of these institutions go bankrupt—another good example of unfunded mandates. Prez Obama is on hunt for more votes in 2012, so it makes major sense to fly off to Nevada, heavily populated with illegal aliens and a very poor set of voting regulations. Every American must be involved to oversee the outcome of every precinct and the value of Absentee Ballots that are easily forged. How can the United States government expect to support, the senior citizens, along with veterans, homeless and infirm citizens, when they are subsidizing 440 000 illegal alien infants annually. Why patriotic Americans who speak up for themselves should, be forced to feel guilty or defend their stance on illegal immigration. The Tea Party doesn't--that for sure, and rigidly holds the line on another blanket amnesty, sanctuary city policies, and dream acts, family chain migration or any other law, which eventually falls to the taxpayers in supporting unfunded mandates.
I think the President is in for a rude awakening as pro-illegal alien Democrats, Republicans lawmakers start to lose their seats in the Senate or House in the forthcoming months. Why should Americans be forced by the law courts to be the payee for the rest of the world? No matter for what issue, whether foreign or domestic policies? We must look to employing our own low income, white and blue collar labor and stop the incessant pandering to lawbreakers. Our Immigration laws are not broken as the Liberal press assures us, as they are either eating out of the hands of the newspaper owners or carefully manipulated by unions, non-profits and radical groups. With probably the most important Election in decades we must be seriously vigilant of no real movement on behalf of this administration, to stop non-citizens voting. They will and have driven by are manufactured ACORN organization who are accomplished in fraudulent canvassing for votes. All would-be presidential candidates should be well aware of illegal aliens voting, specifically when they are very likely to be issued a deportation order. Of course if other states akin to Arizona are crushed by the iron hand of the Department of In-Justice, run by Liberal progressive Eric Holder who reputation is ruined by his involvement in the gun running carnival, which killed a US border Patrolmen? Simple and with no cost to taxpayers is the well documented “ATTRITION BY ENFORCEMENT.” Self-Deportation will commence when Aliens cannot support their families, with the implementation of Mandatory E-Verify.
Two bills are ready to arrive at the floor of the House of Representative, which could injure the mechanism that awards criminal acts of illegal immigration. E-Verify --The "Legal Workforce Act" that can contain the 8 million working illegal aliens and will halt them in their tracks. The E-Verify program must be succeeding as 4 Democrats have now co-sponsored this bill and you should contact your federal or local lawmaker at 202-224-3121. A simple method of identifying who is hired by companies, that doesn't want to become a victim of incompetence,. They know full well that when this law is passed, they will be facing heavy fines, loss of assets and even time behind bars. A few citizens or authorized or lawful residents, which fall through the cracks, can find relief by going to the local Social Security office; aliens will flee, rather than entering a federal agency. Another bill less publicized by the Liberal press or other media, is the “Birthright Citizenship" amendment, which would offer no more foothold for the illegal parent or parents of children smuggled into America. No more easy preference for a pregnant Mother so she can immediately get public assistance, hospital birthing, food stamps or anything else given freely by our indifferent government. Whoever wins the presidency--Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum or even Ron Paul must be held accountable, for every promise they declare to the public audience.
Make your own judgment for who you will vote for, whether a new state governor, a new state senator or those in the highest levels of government who have been secretive in pouring billions in taxpayer money to support the 20 million and more who have settled here illegally. Any search engine such as Google Yahoo will show you hundreds of reports on the real costs, graphs and other statistics. The power of the American people, that is the TEA PARTY, is sickened by the complete abuse of laws from the founding fathers. NumbersUSA has displays of grafts and the presidential hopeful’s grades on illegal immigration. Want to know how minority speaker deceived the system through her corruption; it is well illustrated in the legal watchdog pages of Judicial Watch. Want to know the nauseating cost if President Obama slips through a blanket amnesty, that’s found at Hermitage Foundation.
The TEA PARTY does not alienate any race or nationality as the Liberal media would like you to think? It just requests the 1986 Immigration law (IRCA) enforced and not altered to pander to illegal migrants and immigrants.
And the taxpayers would bear
And the taxpayers would bear the cost of a massive number of additional federal employees to investigate, find, arrest, process, hold, prosecute, and deport physically some 14,000,000 illegal immigrants.
And the taxpayers would thereby cause massive shortages in fruits and vegetables in the markets, crops rotting in the field.
It is fiscal conservatism, budget cutting, weakening the federal government, listening to lobbyists, core Tea Party beliefs, that have created the problem you are so upset about.
I just want to ask you to
I just want to ask you to think for a minute: who are building your houses, bulding your highways, bridges, doing the nasty, and dirty jobs that the americans DONT like to do.... And I think thar this people that Do all this jobs diserve any pathway to get a least the permanent residency... no matter how : paying a fee, passing a writting test, but please Do something... Stop the racism..... and deport all people that had been in felonies like driving under dui.. I dont care; but those who are working everyday to rise up this country need to be in legal way............. God Bless America....!!! and I hope congress do something or God is not goint to Bless America no more.....!
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