As time wears on, it appears more and more that the push for immigration reform by the end of this year is in vain. Despite persistent efforts of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) to have a bill passed by the end of this year, waining public and Republican support as well as a more or less overwhelmed president seem to ensure that nothing more than a start to reform will be accomplished this year. According to Reuters, president Obama recently made a statement that, "I want to begin work this year, and I want Democrats and Republicans to work with me - because we've got to stay true to who we are, a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants."
In other news related to the bill passed in Arizona, a recent poll by Fox News shows the majority of Americans who have an opinion on the bill are for it (34-21), with Republicans strongly supporting the bill (51-9) as is the case with Independents (37-18), and Democrats strongly against it (35-18). The vast majority of people are in fact, for the bill, which is somewhat suprising based on the reaction from the Democratic majority in the House and the executive branch's disdain for the allegedly "racist" judgements that must take place under the new law.
I think one thing that most all of us can agree on is that SOMETHING must be done to reform the way our boarders are secured and illegal immigrants are dealt with. Whether or not Arizona's method is the right way is a matter of personal opinon. However, the one thing I think is a little unsettling about the way controversy is being handled over Arizona's bill is that most people have no idea what it actually said. At best, the conversation is based upon snippits of hear-say and contextual quotations from news reports. It is at this point I'll give you the freedom to decide for yourself how you feel about the bill, based on the real facts available. The following link is to an article from the Los Angeles Times, which contains the full bill passed by the governor of Arizona. Read this for yourself, and then maybe some real discussion can occur based on facts, and not on emotion and drama of what people have said. And maybe, just maybe, when it comes time to really grapple with national immigration reform, people will be able to look at how this bill has affected Arizona and see if it is really the right way to go.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/05/full-text-arizona-illegal-immigration-law-jan-brewer.html
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Waiting Game
Unfortunately for Democrats and immigration reform activists, it looks as if the wait for reform is going to be a lot longer than hoped for. Fueled y the recent talks prompted by Arizona state passing a toothy illegal immigration bill, protesters and advocates of illegal immigration reform are outraged by the lack of response from the federal government to place reform as the top priority on the national to-do list. What makes their plight even worse is that Arizona's bill has begun to prompt other states to pursue their own immigration reform bills. The video linked here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw4Thm6RpS4 talks about the recent reform in Arizona, and how Utah is now considering passing a similar immigration law. But why is the federal government waiting to press forward on this issue if its so pertinent to millions of Americans and illegals alike?
According to a recent article in Reuters, it seems the reason why is because there is so much more going on right now that immigration reform has to take the back burner. Much of the aggression of protesters and advocates alike have is focused on the president, who made campaign promises to try to pass a reform bill sometime in his first year of office. However, between the financial crisis overhaul of Wall St., the nomination of two new Supreme Court Judges by the end of this year, dealing with a climate change bill coupled with a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the economic failure and jobless rate increase, as well as an impending arms treaty between Russia and the U.S., it seems as if the president doesn't quite have the time to deal with the reform bill at the present time.
Not only does the president not seem to have time, but Congress also looks to be at a stand-still on this issue. The Washington Post's recent article on the Congressional effort towards this bill speaks of how the only Republican that was working with Democrats to pass a bill by the end of this year, has recently backed off of the issue. Sole Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, has stated that at the present time, pushing an immigration reform bill against the current opposition would stall the process "for years to come." When speaking to the secretary of Homeland Security, Graham stated that "I believe we can do it by 2012, if we're smart and we address the big elephant in the room, and that is that our borders are broken."
For those Democrats relying on the paltry Republican support, Sen. Graham's digression is quite the blow for their movement to pass a reform bill this year. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the number three Democrat, explained that the federal government (under such a bill as could be passed) would enhance border control and create a new fraud resistant Social Security card for current citizens. If illegal immigrants wanted to stay in the U.S., they would have to admit to breaking the law, pay back taxes and fees, and pass a criminal background check after living in the U.S. for eight years.
In short, it looks like regardless of what side of the fence you're on its going to be a long wait. With staunch opposition to a reform bill by Republicans and crisis after crisis facing the Whitehouse at the present time, any form of a bill won't be seen anytime in the near future.
According to a recent article in Reuters, it seems the reason why is because there is so much more going on right now that immigration reform has to take the back burner. Much of the aggression of protesters and advocates alike have is focused on the president, who made campaign promises to try to pass a reform bill sometime in his first year of office. However, between the financial crisis overhaul of Wall St., the nomination of two new Supreme Court Judges by the end of this year, dealing with a climate change bill coupled with a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the economic failure and jobless rate increase, as well as an impending arms treaty between Russia and the U.S., it seems as if the president doesn't quite have the time to deal with the reform bill at the present time.
Not only does the president not seem to have time, but Congress also looks to be at a stand-still on this issue. The Washington Post's recent article on the Congressional effort towards this bill speaks of how the only Republican that was working with Democrats to pass a bill by the end of this year, has recently backed off of the issue. Sole Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, has stated that at the present time, pushing an immigration reform bill against the current opposition would stall the process "for years to come." When speaking to the secretary of Homeland Security, Graham stated that "I believe we can do it by 2012, if we're smart and we address the big elephant in the room, and that is that our borders are broken."
For those Democrats relying on the paltry Republican support, Sen. Graham's digression is quite the blow for their movement to pass a reform bill this year. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the number three Democrat, explained that the federal government (under such a bill as could be passed) would enhance border control and create a new fraud resistant Social Security card for current citizens. If illegal immigrants wanted to stay in the U.S., they would have to admit to breaking the law, pay back taxes and fees, and pass a criminal background check after living in the U.S. for eight years.
In short, it looks like regardless of what side of the fence you're on its going to be a long wait. With staunch opposition to a reform bill by Republicans and crisis after crisis facing the Whitehouse at the present time, any form of a bill won't be seen anytime in the near future.
Heating Up
The debate on immigration reform is heating up all across the country this week, with thousands of people taking to the streets to pass the law in Arizona last week and Congress having serous talks about how to deal with the push for immigration reform.
At the national level, the President has provided two opposing statements within the last two days. On Friday while aboard Air Force One, the President stated that, "Congress might not have the appetite for an immigration overhaul." However, more recently the President has stated that the immigration reform is "an important step" and that a lack of federal action on passion new legislation would leave room for "a patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and, as we have seen recently, often misguided."
The Democratic members of Congress have also showed two sides of their intentions, unveiling a framework for a comprehensive immigration reform bill, but not committing to a specific date for accomplishing reform. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) however, believes that, "Failure to act on immigration reform will mean that our broken system and ineffective laws will continue to weaken our national security and hurt our workers and fall short of the most basic standard of justice" (further underlining the message sent out by the president). The essential gist of the proposed bill would be to secure our boarders first before dealing with the illegal immigrants already here, as well as punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants with jail time or harsh fines. Unfortunately for democrats, not a single republican has opted to support the bill, leading to what House Republican Leader John Boehner states is "not a chance" for an immigration reform bill to pass this year.
Meanwhile out on the streets of major cities all across the USA., thousands of people came out to support immigration reform in a positive light, frequently carrying signs and banners denouncing the bill passed in Arizona which many regard as "racist." Many of the protesters are advocating that Washington D.C. is taking too long and not giving an easy enough way for citizenship for illegal immigrants. Others are simply fed-up with the utter lack of direction from the federal government itself, stating promises that Obama made during his election that he has yet to keep.
Whatever happens in the next few weeks should be interesting. With all of the mixed messages flying around in Congress and from the President, as well as the steady increase in volume from protesters having had enough of waiting, the future is wide open to just about any kind of reform... Or lack thereof.
At the national level, the President has provided two opposing statements within the last two days. On Friday while aboard Air Force One, the President stated that, "Congress might not have the appetite for an immigration overhaul." However, more recently the President has stated that the immigration reform is "an important step" and that a lack of federal action on passion new legislation would leave room for "a patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and, as we have seen recently, often misguided."
The Democratic members of Congress have also showed two sides of their intentions, unveiling a framework for a comprehensive immigration reform bill, but not committing to a specific date for accomplishing reform. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) however, believes that, "Failure to act on immigration reform will mean that our broken system and ineffective laws will continue to weaken our national security and hurt our workers and fall short of the most basic standard of justice" (further underlining the message sent out by the president). The essential gist of the proposed bill would be to secure our boarders first before dealing with the illegal immigrants already here, as well as punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants with jail time or harsh fines. Unfortunately for democrats, not a single republican has opted to support the bill, leading to what House Republican Leader John Boehner states is "not a chance" for an immigration reform bill to pass this year.
Meanwhile out on the streets of major cities all across the USA., thousands of people came out to support immigration reform in a positive light, frequently carrying signs and banners denouncing the bill passed in Arizona which many regard as "racist." Many of the protesters are advocating that Washington D.C. is taking too long and not giving an easy enough way for citizenship for illegal immigrants. Others are simply fed-up with the utter lack of direction from the federal government itself, stating promises that Obama made during his election that he has yet to keep.
Whatever happens in the next few weeks should be interesting. With all of the mixed messages flying around in Congress and from the President, as well as the steady increase in volume from protesters having had enough of waiting, the future is wide open to just about any kind of reform... Or lack thereof.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Immigration Reform Post Wk. 1 made by Tonimae Krasco
According to the 14Th amendment, anyone not born in the U.S. are considered aliens. Therefore, any person who tries to enter the U.S. from another country is an illegal immigrant.
In the most recent news of today. An article from Fox News, Harry Reid states he has an energy bill and not an immigration bill. The climate bill is much farther down the road than the necessary reform of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. January 28Th 2007, was the day that Barack Obama signed saying reform was needed for Health Care and immigration. That was three years ago and he still is not completing what he has promised Americans. People opposing the law that was just passed on Friday the 23rd of April, believe that the law will lead to rampant racial profiling and turn Arizona into a police state. Anyone who is not white will be questioned about their immigrant status. Arizona is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants. Governor Jan Brewer was the one who signed the bill on Friday, is now in charge to make sure no illegal immigrants are doing drug trafficking from Arizona to Mexico. President Barack Obama believes this bill is "misguided" and needs to be examined to make sure it is legal.
What the law does? The law makes it so if an illegal immigrant can't provide legal documents of citizenship, they could be arrested, jailed up to 6 months and fined $2,500. People believe the March 27Th shooting of Rob Krentz on his property in Arizona, was what made illegal immigration and border security more important. It was said he was shot by an illegal border crosser. There is an organization that is based upon immigration reform called FAIR, it focuses on improving border security, stop illegal immigration, and to promote immigration levels consistent with the national interest. There are more than 100 million illegal immigrants that come to the U.S. every year. This puts a burden on our economy, health care, education, government budgets, employment, environment, crimes and many other issues in America. Immigration Reform is necessary, it was supposed to take place when President Bush was in office and that didn't happen and it is supposed to take place with President Obama. Hopefully, he doesn't let us down.
In the most recent news of today. An article from Fox News, Harry Reid states he has an energy bill and not an immigration bill. The climate bill is much farther down the road than the necessary reform of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. January 28Th 2007, was the day that Barack Obama signed saying reform was needed for Health Care and immigration. That was three years ago and he still is not completing what he has promised Americans. People opposing the law that was just passed on Friday the 23rd of April, believe that the law will lead to rampant racial profiling and turn Arizona into a police state. Anyone who is not white will be questioned about their immigrant status. Arizona is home to an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants. Governor Jan Brewer was the one who signed the bill on Friday, is now in charge to make sure no illegal immigrants are doing drug trafficking from Arizona to Mexico. President Barack Obama believes this bill is "misguided" and needs to be examined to make sure it is legal.
What the law does? The law makes it so if an illegal immigrant can't provide legal documents of citizenship, they could be arrested, jailed up to 6 months and fined $2,500. People believe the March 27Th shooting of Rob Krentz on his property in Arizona, was what made illegal immigration and border security more important. It was said he was shot by an illegal border crosser. There is an organization that is based upon immigration reform called FAIR, it focuses on improving border security, stop illegal immigration, and to promote immigration levels consistent with the national interest. There are more than 100 million illegal immigrants that come to the U.S. every year. This puts a burden on our economy, health care, education, government budgets, employment, environment, crimes and many other issues in America. Immigration Reform is necessary, it was supposed to take place when President Bush was in office and that didn't happen and it is supposed to take place with President Obama. Hopefully, he doesn't let us down.
Immigration Reform Post Wk. 1 made by Leah Grassl
Ever since our nation's conception, it has been immigration that has been the basis for the diversity of our culture. Many different nations have immigrated to the U.S. at different periods of time, like the Irish after the potato famine, German's after WWII, and now more recently, Mexican immigrants following hard economic times in their native Mexico. For the first time in U.S. history, illegal immigrants have outnumbered legal immigrants (NY Times). As of 2008, there were an estimated 11.9 million illegal Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. (NY Times). It is at this point the nation looks at its options: amnesty, a path to citizenship, arrest and deportation, or some other unmentioned idea? Where do we as a nation decide to draw the line?
In 2004 President Bush suggested a sweeping immigration reform, only rivaled by the 1986 act to permit amnesty for over 3 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.. However, this issue was not pushed by Bush and didn't amount to much of anything in the House. Rather than allow an easier path for amnesty as was intended by the Executive office, the trend in the nation was to impose stricter penalties and harsher legislation on exactly what would happen to illegal immigrants in our country. In 2005, the House passed a bill that would increase boarder security and make it a felony to live in the U.S. as an illegal. Conversely, in 2006, a bill was introduced (unsuccessfully) to make it easier to become a citizen if you were an illegal immigrant. Over the next two years, both state and national legislature passed over 206 bills that were intended to limit the rights of illegal immigrants in this country, ranging from driver's license obtainment to receiving public benefits.
Since 2008's crackdown on illegal immigration, the topic of immigration has been somewhat subdued due to issues like the economy, housing market, the War in Iraq, and other social issues. But as of this last week's unprecedented passing of a law in Arizona, immigration is back at the forefront of the public eye. Despite President Obama's disdain for the proposed legislation, Arizona's Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law a piece of legislation aimed at giving more teeth to the state's law enforcement with regards to the penalties enforced on illegal immigrants (Chicago Tribune). Police are now allowed to question whether an individual is legally in the state and it is now considered a crime if you are. It also makes it a criminal offense to not be able to produce papers showing your legality of being in the U.S. and carries a punishment ranging from jail-time to being confined for six-months and paying $2,500 in fines. (FOXnews.com). Opponents of the law state that it legalizes profiling and discrimination against Latinos. Proponents of the bill however, state that it was necessary legislation in lieu of the lack of concern and action taken by the federal government. NAACP members, clergymen, and other immigrant's rights groups are now looking into legal action on the state of Arizona, while protestors march on the capitol, vying for illegal immigrants rights.
Whatever the case, it is no doubt the beginning of a real debate on what the nation really needs to do with the border, and exactly what we are to do with the nearly 12 million illegal immigrants here in our country.
Citations:
· "Arizona immigration law reshaping the push for reform." Chicago Tribune 27 April 2010: Peter Nicholas. pag. Web. 27 Apr 2010.
· "Holder: U.S. May Challenge Arizona Immigration Law." FOX News 27 April 2010: n. pag. Web. 27 Apr 2010.
· "Immigration and Emigration." New York Times 26 April 2010: n. pag. Web. 27 Apr 2010.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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