Thread: Angst growing over immigration policies

Angst growing over immigration policies

Undocumented arrivals fear a Republican crackdown on immigration, but some activists remain hopeful immigration reform will happen.

Posted on Thu, Nov. 11, 2010
BY ALFONSO CHARDY


Fear is spreading among many day laborers in South Florida after Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, a move immigration activists say will make it more difficult -- if not impossible -- to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants.
But some activists who support legalization said Wednesday that separate immigration reform components could pass in the lame-duck Congress such as the DREAM Act, a bill that would give green cards to undocumented young students brought to the United States as babies or toddlers by their parents.

Even a Miami Republican political strategist, Ana Navarro, said the DREAM Act is still possible -- but only if Democrats are willing to reach out to Republicans.

``Something like the DREAM Act offers an opportunity for Republicans to show that there can be a positive story coming from the immigration issue,'' Navarro said during a conference telephone call with reporters from around the country.

Pro-legalization activists, also on the call, said they are confident members of the outgoing Congress will take up, and perhaps pass, the DREAM Act. The measure was taken up by the Senate in September but Republicans blocked it on a procedural vote linked to the Defense Authorization Bill.

SENSE OF DREAD

The call marked the first time immigration reform activists have spoken as a group on the issue since the Republican sweep in the Nov. 2 election, which upset many undocumented immigrants in South Florida.

``We are frightened that authorities will harden their attitude toward workers like us who need work permits,'' said Guatemalan Ramón Suárez, 33, as he waited for work in a cluster of foreign day laborers at a mall on Bird Road near Florida's Turnpike.

Súarez was one of a half-dozen undocumented foreign day laborers interviewed last week who voiced alarm at the outcome of the Nov. 2 vote and the possibility of an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida in light of Rick Scott's election as governor. During the campaign, Scott voiced support for an Arizona-like tough immigration enforcement law in Florida.

In the aftermath of the Republican House sweep, and an increase in the number of Republicans in the Senate, immigrant workers and immigration activists believe a path to residence and citizenship for the estimated 10.8 million undocumented immigrants is remote. ``I think it's dead,'' said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank that supports immigration control.

PESSIMISM

Pro-legalization advocates are pessimistic.

Ira Kurzban, a Miami immigration attorney considered an authority on immigration law, and Cheryl Little, executive director of Miami-based Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC), would not say legalization is dead, but acknowledged it will be more difficult to attain.

``It'll be an uphill battle,'' Kurzban said. Added Little: ``We're bracing for what likely lies ahead.''

But Frank Sharry, head of the pro-legalization group America's Voice in Washington, said he was comforted by a poll conducted on the eve of the election -- that his group released Wednesday -- showing voters still support immigration reform despite casting ballots favoring Republicans.

``When we simply ask voters whether they support or oppose comprehensive immigration reform without describing it, 67 percent support it, 55 percent strongly support,'' according to a statement from the group. ``However, provided with a description, support jumps to 81 percent, with 68 percent strongly in support. Republicans are actually the most intense supporters, with fully 72 percent strongly supporting comprehensive reform.''

In Miami, Little said she and other immigrant rights activists believe an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida is possible now.

``FIAC is . . . gearing up to oppose any copycat Arizona bill, since it now seems more likely such a measure could pass in Florida,'' said Little.

Some of the undocumented day laborers at the parking lot near the turnpike were also worried.

``This frightens us, because if such a law passes, we may have to return to our countries,'' said Alex Suárez, 27, another Guatemalan interviewed in the parking lot where dozens of day laborers waited for work.

The original Arizona law, since weakened by a federal court, authorized police to criminally charge foreign nationals if they were illegally in the state. Under federal immigration law, illegal presence is a civil infraction.

Two congressional leaders who could play key roles in future immigration policy may be Marco Rubio of Florida in the Senate and Lamar Smith of Texas in the House.

TOUGHER STANCE

Rubio, Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, is a rising Hispanic political star who does not support mass legalization -- a stance that departs from the norm for U.S. Hispanic politicians. He has repeatedly said he favors legal immigration but opposes illegal immigration and mass legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants.

Smith, a longtime proponent of tighter immigration controls, may take over as new chairman of the House Judiciary Committee -- a position that would give him added power to toughen immigration enforcement.

Smith authored several immigration enforcement laws that made it easier to deport large numbers of foreign nationals who previously might have been spared removal.

Smith is a co-sponsor of a 2009 bill that would withhold citizenship from children born in the United States unless at least one of the parents is a U.S. citizen, a legal resident or a member of the military on active duty.

www.miamiherald.com

Just tell these day laborers and every other illegal alien they're were breaking the law when they came here, they've broken the law every day they were here, Americans are sick and tired of it, and to pack their duffel bag and get the out of here the easy way or be incarcerated and deported the hard way. We don't want your labor, we don't want your work, we don't want anything you do here, and thus we don't want you in our country.

Related: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-217684.html

Fear is spreading among many day laborers in South Florida after Republicans won control of the House of Representatives, a move immigration activists say will make it more difficult -- if not impossible -- to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants.

Let me tell you something...Americans are sick and tired of illegal invaders! Americans do not want you here! So go home...you will NEVER get your beloved amnesty which you continue to demand! Never!

Get out of our country! We do not want you here. Comprende?