Editorials
Falling quiet on immigration
In our opinion
04-24-2007




While the Alabama Legislature was slowly but surely killing a number of “illegal immigrant” bills during its session, a recent USA Today/Gallup poll has revealed that 78 percent of those questioned felt that people now here illegally should be given a chance to become citizens.

While most of those polled did not want general amnesty for illegals, the poll revealed a recognition that these immigrants are people who have come here for a better life and are part of a long and honorable American tradition. The problem is that we are trying to deal with the influx with a system that was not designed to handle this situation.

Congress, where the problem should be addressed and solved, is dragging its feet.

Although after the last election there was great talk of a bipartisan approach to immigration reform, so far that hasn’t happened. Some of the very ones who talked loudly about working together to find a solution — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for example — have fallen quiet.

Of course, answers that seem easy in polls often create more problems than they solve. While 42 percent of those polled want illegal immigrants to leave but be allowed to return and become citizens, the White House rightly points out that deportation of all illegal residents would be “prohibitively expensive.” It would also create a crisis in some labor markets and prove an administrative nightmare.

However, 36 percent of the survey respondents felt that illegals should be allowed to remain in the United States and become citizens if they meet certain requirements — which seems a more reasonable solution.

Although some early supporters of immigration reform are shying away from the issue, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Header Harry Reid, D-Nev., have said they will work with President Bush to get legislation passed this year.

Reid has set aside the last two weeks in May for debate on the issue. The Democrats say they hope to get reform passed before the August recess.

We urge our senators and congressmen, Republican and Democrat, to join in this effort and contribute to its success. The time to act is now.



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