Immigration policy that is confusing

By Ruben Navarrette
2:00 a.m. March 4, 2009

We're only about a month into the Obama presidency, and already immigrant-rights activists are getting restless. Supporters of comprehensive immigration reform are more determined than ever to overcome the nativist fears that helped derail their efforts in 2007 and fix a broken system.

It won't be easy. With the economic crisis, some say this is a bad time to give the issue another hearing. The argument against immigration reform goes: Why would Americans want to legalize and throw into the work force millions of people to do jobs that should go to U.S. workers?

The reformers have counterarguments: Most illegal immigrants are already in the work force. Adjusting their status would make it harder for employers to play off illegal immigrants against U.S. workers, and force companies to increase wages for everyone.
And where does the Obama administration come down on all this? It's hard to tell. People are confused.

The president has promised to make comprehensive immigration reform a top priority. Just last month, during an appearance on the Spanish-language radio show hosted by Los Angeles-based Eddie “El Piolinâ€