Thread: Navarette: On immigration, U.S. in punt formation

On immigration, U.S. in punt formation

Ventura County Star (California)
December 6, 2009
By Ruben Navarette

The paradox of the Obama administration's plan to achieve comprehensive immigration reform - one of these days, when it gets around to it, be patient - is that the agency responsible for removing illegal immigrants is now supposed to find a way for millions of them to stay.

Given that agency's law enforcement bent, don't be surprised if it is much better at the former than the latter.

The Department of Homeland Security is where you'll find U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is the administration's point person for immigration reform.

Many Latino liberals naively hoped that, as a Democrat, Napolitano would conjure up a kinder and gentler version of immigration enforcement, such as a decrease in deportations and an end to workplace raids.

This hasn't happened.

What has is that, under this administration, ICE is supposedly doing more to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants - when it's not praising those who don't. Homeland Security recently unveiled an effort to spotlight the hundreds of thousands of companies that use the "E-verify" program, a free Web-based system that compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) against federal databases to verify workers' eligibility.

Fine. But, besides handing out blue ribbons, ICE needs to make more arrests of employers who ignore the law in addition to rounding up the illegal immigrants they hire.

The government should not be shy about continuing work-site raids, but the net needs to be much wider and catch bigger fish.

Appearing with Napolitano at the news conference to announce the new initiative was John Morton, assistant secretary for ICE.

Morton recently made headlines by trying to rein in renegade Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., who is enforcing immigration law, despite the fact the administration has denied him the authority to do so.

Addressing the issue of employers, Morton dished some plain truth.

"The main reason people enter the United States illegally is the opportunity to work," he said.

He's right. These people don't come for welfare, healthcare or public schools. They don't come as part of an invasion force that is intent on converting the United States into a Spanish-speaking nation so it can become part of Mexico. Illegal immigrants come to work - mostly at jobs in which Americans have lost interest.

Yet, enforcement is only part of the equation. During a recent speech to the Center for American Progress, Napolitano spelled out the rest.

Borrowing language from the Bush administration, she called for a "three-legged stool" that includes enforcement, pathways for legal immigrants, and "a firm but fair way to deal with those who are already here."

Enforcement is the province of Homeland Security.

But Napolitano doesn't seem all that eager to force the other two legs of the stool.

Despite saying that immigration reform "has been punted from year to year, from Congress to Congress, from administration to administration," she did the same thing. She punted.

"When Congress is ready to act," Napolitano said, "we will be ready to support them."

When Congress is ready to act? Is she kidding? Congress is never ready to act on difficult issues that make enemies and threaten to terminate the comfy jobs of legislators.

Latinos care about a range of issues. Still, many of the Latino voters who helped put Barack Obama in the White House expect him to keep his promise and deliver comprehensive immigration reform.

They see the issue as a test of political courage. Instead, all they've gotten are more promises, stall tactics and pushed deadlines.

Obama showed up for the debates on an economic stimulus, healthcare, climate change, education reform, and troop strength in Afghanistan.

Why?

It's because he obviously cares about those issues.

So Obama doesn't care about fixing the immigration system?

Now he tells us.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 18&start=2

Latinos care about a range of issues. Still, many of the Latino voters who helped put Barack Obama in the White House expect him to keep his promise and deliver comprehensive immigration reform.

Americans do not want amnesty for those who entered this country in violation of our immigration laws.

Besides...it's not up to obama!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Latinos care about a range of issues. Still, many of the Latino voters who helped put Barack Obama in the White House expect him to keep his promise and deliver comprehensive immigration reform.

Americans do not want amnesty for those who entered this country in violation of our immigration laws.

Besides...it's not up to obama!

Another "special interest" that goes against the will of American citizens.

Many Latino liberals naively hoped that, as a Democrat, Napolitano would conjure up a kinder and gentler version of immigration enforcement, such as a decrease in deportations and an end to workplace raids.

This hasn't happened.

What planet have you been on, Navarette? It has happened, as so many stories posted on ALIPAC have been saying.
No more workplace raids, but emphasis put on employers with an audit coming, of which they are notified well in advance.
Gotta love someone who can blather without any basis for their argument.

He's right. These people don't come for welfare, healthcare or public schools. They don't come as part of an invasion force that is intent on converting the United States into a Spanish-speaking nation so it can become part of Mexico. Illegal immigrants come to work - mostly at jobs in which Americans have lost interest.

BS. Illegal aliens are taking advantage of welfare, healthcare and schools. And if they dont get these entitlements, they say that they are being DENIED THEIR RIGHTS! Just enforce the laws and they will go home. If they dont, deport them.

Sit on your 3 legged stool Janet......NO Amnesty!

So Obama doesn't care about fixing the immigration system?

Well Ruben I guess the big O not only deceived Americans but Latinos and IAs too. Now are you really SURPRISED?