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  1. #1
    Senior Member Populist's Avatar
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    Why reforming immigration is risky business for Obama

    globeandmail.com
    Why reforming immigration is risky business for Obama
    There's political pressure for change, but it's an issue that polarizes the country

    JOHN IBBITSON
    April 16, 2009

    WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama appears determined to grasp the nettle of immigration reform. As if he didn't have enough to do.

    A consultation process is expected to begin soon, with the administration and Congress seeking input on legislation that could create a path to citizenship for the 12 million people living in the United States illegally.

    "We're expecting to see movement on legislation by the end of this year," followed by passage in 2010, said Paco Fabian, spokesperson for America's Voice, which advocates for immigration reform legislation.

    And that's probably the only point that opponents of legalizing illegal immigrants - who are girding for a nasty political showdown - can agree on.

    "It is very obvious that the groundwork is emerging for a massive amnesty, probably in the fall," said Bob Dane, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

    There is no more complex or divisive issue than figuring out how to fix America's broken immigration system. The debate threatens to overwhelm all other priorities, including the administration's planned reforms to health care, education and energy, not to mention efforts to end the economic crisis.

    But for America's increasingly powerful Latino community, there is no more pressing priority than immigration reform.

    "It's a defining issue for Latinos," Mr. Fabian said. "It helps define who the good guys are from the bad guys."

    Two thirds of Latinos voted for Mr. Obama, while slightly more than half voted for John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, in 2004. Their support was key to turning Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico from Republican to Democratic states last November. Their demands simply cannot be ignored.

    In a bid to blunt the increasing chaos at the southern border, and perhaps to forestall accusations that the Obama administration is soft on border issues, Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano announced the appointment yesterday of Alan Bersin as assistant secretary for international affairs and special representative for border affairs. The media instantly dubbed him the new "border czar."

    Getting control of the southern border is a challenge that has baffled successive presidents, as has reforming the legal immigration system. A bipartisan effort in 2007 that would have provided a path to citizenship for illegals while increasing penalties on those employing so-called undocumented workers was stymied by Republicans in the Senate, after months of acrimonious debate.

    But things are different, now. The Democrats have firmer control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The labour movement, which traditionally has seen illegals as threats to its members' jobs, has nonetheless decided to support reform, as the AFL-CIO and Change to Win union consortiums announced earlier this week.

    Given the politics of the situation, immigration-reform legislation is a question of when, not if.

    But there are also compelling reasons not to proceed right now. Nothing polarizes Americans like the debate over immigration. It could hijack every element of the Obama agenda.

    And to push through immigration reform is particularly problematic in the midst of a recession, when many lower-income voters believe their jobs are under threat from workers sneaking across the borders.

    "It's political annihilation to do this," Mr. Dane predicts. Americans, he believes, will see immigration reform and any amnesty that results, "as yet another massive bailout, this time to illegal aliens.

    "... This is probably one fight we can win against this administration."

    But Mr. Fabian believes the President has the will and the ability to add immigration reform to the agenda, and to push it through.

    "The man can walk and chew gum at the same time," as he put it.

    Any proposed reform would probably hew broadly to previous failed efforts. People living in the United States illegally could eventually qualify for citizenship, but it would take years, would include a fine and would be accompanied by increased penalties for employers who hire illegals.

    Bob Gibbs, Mr. Obama's press secretary, cautioned that the President does not expect to sign immigration-reform legislation any time soon.

    "There are a lot of things on his plate and a lot of pressing issues relating to the economy," he told reporters last week. "I don't think he expects that it will be done this year."

    But the ball will soon be rolling. And if friends of immigration reform in the administration and Congress have their way, a bill will be on the President's desk in 2010.

    After a very long, loud fight.

    jibbitson@ globeandmail.com

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  2. #2
    Senior Member miguelina's Avatar
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    If the American people have their way there will be more conservatives voted into both house and senate in 2010, putting this shamnesty nightmare to permanent rest!
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
    "

  3. #3
    Senior Member Captainron's Avatar
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    Start working on the flip-floppin' Congressmen!
    "Men of low degree are vanity, Men of high degree are a lie. " David
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  4. #4
    Senior Member ShockedinCalifornia's Avatar
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    Just like Dane said, "amnesty is yet another massive bailout, this time to illegal aliens."

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