Thread: IMIGRATION 2007 by Edward Sifuentes

Immigration 2007: Congress' failure to act did not end immigration debate


By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

NORTH COUNTY TIMES - SAN DIEGO / RIVERSIDE COUNTY

December 27, 2007

Though 2007 featured few of the mass demonstrations, boycotts or walkout that punctuated the previous year, there was plenty of energy in the debate over immigration.

Such discussions occurred across the nation in 2007, everywhere from city council chambers to cyberspace.

President Bush had talked about changing the nation's system of immigration laws since taking office seven years before. It was widely reported that he hoped immigration reform would be part of his presidential legacy.

That hope ended in June when congressional Democrats and Republicans were unable to overcome significant divisions on what to do with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the country.

"Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people, and Congress' failure to act on it is a disappointment," a grim-faced Bush told reporters after the bill's defeat in the Senate. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find common ground. It didn't work."

From Congress to city hall

The federal government's failure to address the matter sparked efforts, equally doomed, by local governments to take on illegal immigration. Cities and states throughout the country adopted immigration enforcement-related measures.

Escondido's city council, which gave up trying to defend its ordinance banning landlords from renting to illegal immigrants in late 2006, pushed ahead with new ideas targeting migrants in 2007.

And on the streets, anti-illegal immigration activists continued their rallies in communities throughout North County, including some against St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook for hosting day laborers on its grounds.

In Washington, Bush's administration pressed a bipartisan group of senators to strike a deal that became known as their "grand bargain," but held only lukewarm support among important constituencies in both parties.

That was no match for the strong and vocal opposition from anti-illegal immigration groups, who derided it as amnesty.

"The end result was a blanket that was too small to cover everyone," said Tamar Jacoby, an analyst at the conservative Manhattan Institute who was a strong supporter. "By its nature, because it was a compromise, it was hard to muster intense support. But the opposition was very intense."

No match

After the bill's failure, the federal government announced a tightening of immigration rules, including a plan to get employers to comply with laws against hiring illegal immigrants.

There are millions of workers, believed to be predominantly illegal immigrants, whose social security numbers do not match those in federal databases.

The Department of Homeland Security planned to send letters, through the Social Security Administration, to employers asking them to correct the information. But a federal judge blocked the plan, saying the letters could result in legal workers being fired from their jobs.

It was one in a series of setbacks in the government's efforts to tighten immigration rules.

Labor groups and others, including the American Civil Liberties Union, filed the lawsuit challenging the no-match letters policy, saying it would put a heavy burden on employers and could cause many legal immigrants and U.S. citizens to lose their jobs over innocent paperwork glitches.

Early in December, the department appealed the judge's decision.

"I believe that the no-match rule is a major step forward in preventing employment of illegal immigrants," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a written statement. "Contrary to the ACLU's incorrect statements, the rule is not harmful to legal workers. DHS is not abandoning it."

Some gains

However, authorities gained ground in some areas of immigration enforcement.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement successfully raided numerous businesses, arresting and deporting 850 illegal immigrant workers. The agency also arrested 30,000 illegal immigrants wanted for deportation, officials said.

Among those deported was one of the most prominent advocates for legalizing millions of illegal immigrants, Elvira Arellano. In August, she was arrested in Los Angeles after leaving her Chicago church sanctuary and was deported to Tijuana.

But many local politicians said the federal government was not doing enough to stem the flow of illegal immigrants coming to the region. They said the migrants create problems, such as crime, and strain local resources.

Escondido City Councilman Ed Gallo proposed in December an ordinance targeting day laborers, most of whom are Latino men believed to be in the country illegally.

The councilman said he would like to model his ordinance after one adopted in the city of Orange, which makes it illegal for people on city streets to seek work.

Gallo told the North County Times in December that business owners have complained to him and other city officials about the workers.

"These guys are a deterrent to businesses," Gallo said. "I hear all the time about catcalls and other crap they do while hanging out in front of businesses."

David Blair-Loy, legal director for the ACLU in San Diego, said city officials must be careful to ensure the ordinances they draw up focus on a type of activity and not target any specific group of people or hinder free speech.

Local immigrant rights activists say those proposals, such as Escondido's rental ordinance, promote ethnic divisions in the community.

Going cyber

In recent years, advocacy groups, such as the San Diego Minutemen, have cropped up throughout the region to blame illegal immigrants for almost any social problem, from overcrowding in schools to increased traffic.

In June, the Minutemen and other activists began protesting at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook, saying the church was breaking federal laws by hosting a day labor site, where dozens of men gathered each morning looking for work.

The protests led to a confrontation between a member of the Minutemen group and a man he sprayed with Mace. The man, who grabbed for the Minuteman's video camera and struck him on the nose, was later charged with battery.

The groups have taken their fight to a new frontier, cyber space. Activists on both sides often post competing digital videos and photos on the Internet through popular Web sites such as YouTube and MySpace.

If the news blogs, e-mail loops and other cyber venues are any indication, the use of the Internet by immigration activists on both sides appears to be just beginning.

And with presidential elections coming in November, the often heated debate is unlikely to cool anytime soon.

-- Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.

Immigration in 2007

January

After dropping its defense of an ordinance barring landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, a split Escondido City Council adopts a largely symbolic resolution blaming illegal immigrants for a number of social ills and asking the federal government to allow cities to make inquiries into people's immigration status.

February

Immigrant rights activists split over new 'Day Without an Immigrant' protest.

May

Day of boycott falls flat as few participate in local marches.

Group of senators announces compromise immigration plan with President Bush's support.

June

San Diego Minutemen begin protesting Fallbrook day labor site at St. Peter's Catholic Church.

Immigration reform bill fails in the U.S. Senate as lawmakers disagree on how to address the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

August

Department of Homeland Security officials announce new rules to crack down on companies that hire illegal immigrants, including a no-match letter asking employers to verify workers' information.

October

Federal judge temporarily blocks the Department of Homeland Security's no-match letters policy.

December

GOP presidential candidates toughen their stance on illegal immigration after top candidates criticize each other's records during debates.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12 ... _26_07.txt

Comments On This Story

Skip
wrote on Dec 27, 2007 12:05 PM:

" The 2008 debate about immigration policy and America's future kicks off in Iowa, as talk radio hosts from around the state and around the nation come to Des Moines for two days to focus on the issue that is number one on the minds of their listeners. The Iowa 2007 Talk Radio Row, organized by the FAIR Congressional Task Force, will originate from the Des Moines Marriott Hotel continuously from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.on December 27 and 28, as 22 of America's leading talk show hosts broadcast live from Iowa. "

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12 ... _26_07.txt

the San Diego Minutemen, have cropped up throughout the region to blame illegal immigrants for almost any social problem

Notice how that pig reporter threw this in? Another pro-illegal reporter helping his "people" instead of doing his job which is just reporting without throwing in personal opinion.

Minutemen and other citizens protest outside the St. Peters Church in Fallbrook where a scuffle between the a Minuteman and mirgrant worker took place.