America's Voice Blog

Posted 01/30/10 at 10:23am By Jackie Mahendra

Senator Graham: Deporting 12 Million Won’t Work, Need a Comprehensive Immigration Fix

Yesterday Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina, stood up for a comprehensive fix to our badly damaged immigration system. Graham has been crafting bipartisan legislation with Senator Schumer for some time now, and details of the bill are expected soon.

Senator Graham makes the case, in an interview with Brian Goldsmith, that the frenzied attempts to define comprehensive reform as "Amnesty" are as ludicrous as the enforcement-only alternative to real reform: the dangerous (and costly) notion that we can deport or jail twelve million people-- the number of unauthorized immigrants currently in the U.S.

Marc Ambinder reports for The Atlantic:

BRIAN GOLDSMITH: You're one of the few Republicans fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, which most Republicans have called amnesty. Where do you think that stands?

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Well I think the idea of border security as a confidence builder is the way to start. Most Americans are very practical and reasonable. They're upset about broken borders and our out-of-control immigration system. They will buy into a comprehensive solution if we can prove to them, and only if we can prove to them, we don't have twenty million more illegal immigrants, ten years, twenty years down the road.

And when it comes to the illegal alien population, if the definition of amnesty is you got to deport twelve million people, or put twelve million people in jail, then we'll never have a comprehensive solution, because that's just not workable, it's not practical.

To me, amnesty would be forgiving people, like Ronald Reagan did, with no consequence, and not repairing the system. Amnesty is what we have today. What I would like to see is the illegal immigrant population come out of the shadows, be biometrically identified, be required to learn English, pay the fines for their crime, and get right with the law. If they want to be a citizen, get in the back of the line, not break into line.

And to my Republican colleagues, I can understand the politics of this is difficult. Big things are hard to do. But I believe in 2008, we lost a lot of ground with the Hispanic community because of the rhetoric and the tone we set on immigration.

The cost of deporting these 12 million unauthorized immigrants has been pegged at anywhere from $100 billion (an estimate by ICE, Immigration Customs and Enforcement) to $230 billion dollars over 5 years (according to a Center for American Progress analysis cited in  the Washington Post), with a loss of 2.6 billion to our GDP. On the other hand, new studies show that immigration reform would bring about a $1.5 trillion boon to our economy.

Markos Moulitsas, founder of the progressive political blog Daily Kos, argues in "Immigration reform would be good for the economy:"

Anti-immigrant forces are hoping the bad economy gives them ammo to scuttle the common-sense legalization of 10-15 million undocumented workers in this country. The thinking goes, since so many Americans have no jobs, there would be little appetite to grant "illegals" the right to stay and work.

That may have some rhetorical power, even if few Americans are lining up to work in slaughterhouses or as day laborers. But fact is, normalizing their status would be a huge boost to the economy.

Bottom line is that the Senator is right: when it comes to immigration reform, we can't afford to wait. Or to take the simplistic "No Amnesty!" bait.

Posted 01/29/10 at 04:00pm By Maribel Hastings

With Three Words

Originally posted in Spanish at MaribelHastings.com.

ObamaWe were waiting for three words to fall from President Obama’s lips: “Reforma Migratoria Integral”—or “comprehensive immigration reform,” for those who speak the language of Shakespeare.

But what we heard from Obama in his State of the Union address was that “we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system.”

Certainly, we have to repair our failed immigration system—and doing so requires those three magic words: comprehensive immigration reform.

As Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, said, “we expected the Obama mention of immigration reform would be a drive by, we just didn’t expect it to be at 75 miles per hour.”

I won’t go off on a diatribe about what Obama should or shouldn’t have said and how he should have said it. But I will say that he could have shown more leadership and forcefulness when talking about immigration, and urged Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to resolve the issue once and for all, since no matter how hard they try to ignore the issue, it won’t go away. Or he could have linked immigration reform to economic recovery and explained that legalization would generate billions of dollars in tax revenues for the country’s coffers.

The odd thing is that many of these arguments were included in the “viewer’s guide” the White House circulated.

Keep reading at MaribelHastings.com

 

Posted 01/29/10 at 03:30pm By Maribel Hastings

‘Qué pasa’ in Immigration: Senior Advisor Says Obama ‘Remains Committed’ to Reform

que pasaFor the second day, today’s top story is Hispanic discontent with President Obama’s cursory mention of immigration during his State of the Union address; many outlets also quote Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to the president, assuring Hispanics that Obama remains committed to immigration reform, and report on statements from Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), chair of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, that he has met with ex-CNN anchor Lou Dobbs. An EFE article on the last item says that “Democrats seek Lou Dobbs’ help to pass immigration reform” (“Los demócratas buscan la ayuda de Lou Dobbs para lograr una reforma migratoria”).

The agency EFE highlights a roundtable in which senior Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett assured Hispanic reporters that the president’s commitment to immigration reform has not waned, headlined “Jarrett: Obama maintains a firm commitment to immigration reform” (“Jarrett: Obama mantiene su firme compromiso con la reforma migratoria”).

Jarrett affirmed that Obama had “absolutely no intention of letting immigration get forgotten.” “We’re not willing to give up,”stated Jarrett. “This was true last year and it’s still truer after the elections in Massachusetts.”

 According to the article, Jarrett explained that in order to advance reform, we need the public’s support:

“We have to make sure that we educate the public so they know that this is not just a Latino issue, it’s an issue for all Americans and it’s good for our country and to create jobs...” she explained amongst other things.

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/28/10 at 06:19pm By Adam Luna

Senators Reiterate Plan For Immigration Reform—Including Lou Dobbs?

ReidToday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reiterated their commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform.  After the President's low-fidelity mention of immigration reform in the State of the Union address last night, the Senators' clearly articulated commitment and bipartisan framework to get reform done was a welcome message.

It will be their job, after all, to bring immigration reform to a vote in the Senate, as Representative Gutierrez outlined today.

But during the Q & A at today's press conference, Senator Schumer said that he also met with Lou Dobbs yesterday to talk immigration.  Say what? 

Seems a bit hasty to be bringing Dobbs into the backroom. After all, Dobbs' expertise in immigrant leprosy prevention or Presidential birth certificate verification has been called into question more than once.

Hopefully, this was a PR ploy gone awry and not a serious strategy.

As Andrea Nill points out at Think Progress:

Schumer most likely met with “Mr. Independent” in an effort to use Dobbs’ appeal to attract more supporters from the center and center-right of politics. However, that strategy could backfire. To begin with, the majority of independents already support comprehensive immigration reform. Also, many of Dobbs’ most loyal supporters are right wingers who abandoned him as soon as he turned away from the hardline approach to immigration he advocated on CNN. And while a self-described “wiser Lou Dobbs” who favors an earned path to legalization for undocumented immigrants has emerged since he left CNN, the Latino and immigrant community is still largely skeptical about his change of heart. Many Latinos and immigrants are already disappointed by President Obama’s passing mention of immigration reform in last night’s State of the Union address.

If you need evidence about that "skeptical" part, click here.

Few think that Lou Dobbs is the credible spokesperson we need on immigration right now. I, for one, think President Obama might be a tad better at convincing the American people why immigration reform lifts wages and increases tax revenue. And yes, that could require more than 38 words.

Posted 01/28/10 at 03:38pm By Maribel Hastings

‘Qué pasa’ in Immigration: State of the Union (In Spanish)

promesa

A large number of Spanish-language news outlets today ran State of the Union headlines expressing disappointment among Hispanics and immigrants over what they described as the lack of detailed discussion, or any sort of vigorous defense, of comprehensive immigration reform in President Barack Obama’s address last night. BBC Mundo headlined its article: “Hispanic disappointment over Obama’s speech” (“Decepción Hispana ante discurso de Obama”)

La Opinion titled its article “Disappointment on the subject of immigration” (“Hay decepción en el tema migratorio”)

Here’s an excerpt from the article, in which the reporter speaks with community members who watched the speech:

“The President said “We need to reform our broken immigration system,” and the room filled with excitement. After a few moments, a voice called out “But tell us what you’re going to do. Be clear.” And the debate began.

“I didn’t like it. He didn’t really get to the point; he spoke as if he were still running for president. I’m not American, but if I were I’d be upset,” said one student.

 “I disagree,” said Gaby, another girl in the room. “He focused on the subject of the economy because that’s affecting the United States. He’s demonstrating to the public that he’s working on it; that we’ll have health-care reform, that everyone will be legalized (literally, “be given papers”), that the economy will be set right, but not in a single year. I think it’ll go step by step.”

 “Well, I didn’t like it because he spoke like a politician, evasively,” commented Andrea, a housekeeper. “He gave us no reason to hope for immigration reform. I know it’s not easy, but he’s promised a lot and he hasn’t done anything he’s promised.”

On the opinion pages, Jorge Ramos’ column, entitled “Unrest in the Union” mentions Obama’s inaction with respect to immigration reform.

Check out these other headlines:

Univision.com: “Obama plays down reform: Legalization of undocumented uncertain

Notimex: “Obama asks for fix to immigration system, but avoids detail”

EFE: “Latinos hope that Obama offers solutions to Hispanic community’s problems”

Ponte al Día: “Obama has to fulfill his campaign promises”

Mundo Hispánico: “Immigration reform on the ropes”

On the local level, press coverage highlights the effects of the government’s immigration enforcement policies, with deportations conducted through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the 287(g) program.

-

America's Voice is starting a new series to bring Spanish-language coverage of immigration and politics to a wider audience. Look for daily roundups (in English), of some of the best Spanish-language news.

Don't forget to check out the latest Spanish-language reporting and analysis on immigration over at MaribelHastings.com.

Posted 01/28/10 at 01:51pm By Dara Lind

Values In Action: January Brings Renewed Call for Immigration Reform by Faith Communities

As Marcello Ballve wrote this week at True/Slant:

One of the most interesting side issues branching out of my tracking of the immigration topic is the role some evangelical Christian groups play in advocating for immigration reform, demanding what they describe as more humane and Christian immigration policies. Socially conservative evangelicals who push on this issue seem the most likely candidates to change minds around this issue within the Christian right.

While particularly notable, it's not just the Evangelical community who are ushering in a new call for real immigration reform, either.

January has seen Catholic nuns, Methodist bishops and Islamic Shura Council directors -- to name a few -- speak out strongly in suppor of immigration reform. That's alongside a pair of clergy summits attended by over a hundred faith leaders apiece, and the beginnings of an avalanche of postcards from people of faith that will arrive in Congressional offices over the next few weeks. Here are some of the biggest headlines from a month filled with communities putting their values in action.

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/28/10 at 12:50pm By Jackie Mahendra

Rep. Luis Gutierrez: Timeline for Immigration Reform is in Congress’ Hands

GutierrezThis morning, Rep. Luis Gutierrez posted this response to the President's State of the Union address last night:

Last night, President Obama spoke for seventy minutes on the State of our Union. About two of those minutes focused on one of the greatest challenges facing it.

The President talked of health care and jobs and our economy. That was the right thing to do. But the President must acknowledge that fixing our economy, providing health care, putting people back to work and moving America forward cannot be separated from fixing our broken immigration system.

The President Said:

"And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system - to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation. "

"In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America - values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still. Every day, Americans meet their responsibilities to their families and their employers. Time and again, they lend a hand to their neighbors and give back to their country. They take pride in their labor, and are generous in spirit. These aren't Republican values or Democratic values they're living by; business values or labor values. They are American values. "

The President is absolutely right. It's timely. It's necessary. And it's the right thing to do. In fact, it is the American thing to do.

Rep. Gutierrez argues that the President did not go far enough to explain why we need real immigration reform:

But he did not go far enough for the four million American citizen children whose parents face deportation; the millions of Americans waiting to be reunited with loved ones overseas; hardworking Americans whose security is undermined in the workplace; women who are physically and sexually exploited on the floors of meatpacking plants; or the $1.5 trillion lacking from our Gross Domestic Product, all in the absence of real reform.

In addition, he argues that it is now up to Congress now to move a timeline on real reform forward:

Though he clearly supports the notion that our laws must reflect the contributions immigrants have made to literally build this country, it is clear to me that Congress cannot wait for the President to lay out our timeline for comprehensive reform.

We've introduced a proposal in the House of Representatives with the support of 92 cosponsors. It has the strong backing of labor unions, immigration advocates and faith leaders across the country. And it's time for that powerful community to come together and demand hearings.

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/27/10 at 12:10pm By Maribel Hastings

‘Qué pasa’ in Immigration: Introducing Spanish-Language News Roundups

America's Voice is starting a new series to bring Spanish-language coverage of immigration and politics to a wider audience. Look for daily roundups (in English), of some of the best Spanish-language news.

ObamaThe EFE and AFP news agencies report that President Obama’s State of the Union address will focus on the economy.

At a demonstration held in front of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. yesterday, activists protested President Obama’s neglect of his campaign promise to the Hispanic community to make comprehensive immigration reform a reality, as reported by Notimex and La Opinión.

Various media outlets have reprinted the MaribelHastings.com blog post about the DHS protest and “man-on-the-street” attitudes, including New York de Día and El Mirador Paraguayo.

EFE’s Chicago bureau reports that the Cook County Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution asking Congress to pass “just and humane” immigration reform.

Don't forget to check out the latest Spanish-language reporting and analysis on immigration over at MaribelHastings.com.

Posted 01/27/10 at 09:16am By Mahwish Khan

After TPS Granted for Haitian Immigrants, Groups Rush to Demonize, Demagogue

Earlier this month, President Obama and a bipartisan group of members of Congress did the right thing by granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian immigrants already in the United States. Granting TPS was a welcome and timely move that reinforced American values at a time of great international turmoil.

It was a move that we, and many other organizations, applauded with the advertisement to the right, which appeared in Roll Call last Thursday, January 21st.   

Since then, as Andrea Nill at the Wonk Room points out, anti-immigration policy organizations and anti-immigration legislators began spouting nonsense like, "Haiti’s So Screwed Up Because It Wasn’t Colonized Long Enough" and "Undocumented Haitians Should Be Deported, Haiti In ‘Great Need Of Relief Workers" immediately following the tragedy. Blogger Duke at The Sanctuary quotes the anti-immigration "think tank" director, Mark Krikorian, in "Krikorian: Problem with Haiti- slavery ended too soon."

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/26/10 at 04:29pm By Jackie Mahendra

Gibbs: Immigration Likely to be Mentioned During Tomorrow’s State of the Union

According to the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, immigration is a topic likely to be mentioned during tomorrow's nationally-televised State of the Union address, the first of Obama's presidency. 

Via USA Today:

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed a few more subjects that may surface in the State of the Union tomorrow night, including immigration and gays in the military -- but he provided few details and noted that the address is still being edited.

"Let's wait for tomorrow's speech," Gibbs said at one point.

The same article notes that Gibbs had little new to say about specific details of reform. While he mentioned that work is already underway by the Administration, he placed most of the onus on Congress to get immigration reform moving.

From the White House transcript of Gibbs' comments:

MR. GIBBS:  "Well, I think one of the things the President will -- has talked about and one of the things you'll hear him mention tomorrow and in the coming days, similar to what I've said on cap and trade, and that is that if -- we've started a process on this and if Congress can put together the way forward, a coalition to get the way forward, then it's something we'll work through."

No matter what President Obama says during the State of the Union tomorrow, one thing is certain: it will take real leadership from both the President and from bipartisan members of Congress to tackle this pressing issue. Independent, Republican, and Democratic voters alike want it solved. A growing, major demographic in this country expects it solved. Moreover, a strong bipartisan effort is gearing up to do just that.

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