Thread: Tulsa:Chance for "CHANGE" on immigration?

Chance for change
Will feds finally take charge of immigration policy?


By MIKE JONES Associate Editor
Published: 12/14/2008 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 12/14/2008 2:55 AM

There have been some interesting developments recently concerning the illegal immigration issue.

On the bright side, Colorado U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo has decided to retire from Congress. That removes the most vitriolic anti-immigration voice from Congress, but he won't likely fade from public view entirely. It's a good bet that he will continue to parlay his passion for xenophobia, upon which he built his political career, into a think-tank job or a possible run for governor of Colorado. He tried to use what he believed to be a nationwide movement against immigrants into a run for the presidency, but that plan fortunately fell flat.

On the other hand, the appointment by President-elect Barack Obama of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of Homeland Security is both good news and bad news.

On the down side, Napolitano's departure as governor will make way for a replacement that likely will be a Republican and one who is sympathetic to the anti-immigration crowd in Arizona.

Some of Arizona's anti-illegal immigration proposals make even Oklahoma's HB 1804 look tame by comparison. Napolitano, during her two terms as governor, has vetoed several unfair and unnecessary anti-immigration bills in Arizona.

Some of those bills would have forced the police to become enforcers of federal immigration law, rejected the 14th Amendment right of citizenship to children born in the United States, created a state militia to deal with illegals, allowed police to arrest undocumented workers for trespassing
and made English the official language.

No doubt, those issues will come up again with the veto-pen taken out of Napolitano's hand. Arizona does have one of the most pressing illegal immigration problems in the country. That has led the state to nurture such groups as the Minutemen, the self-appointed protectors of the southern border. Not much has been heard from this vigilante group lately but, make no mistake, it still has its members and supporters.

Arizona also has the distinction of being home to the self-proclaimed "world's toughest sheriff" Joe Arpaio. He gained fame with some unorthodox, if not unethical, punishments for his jail inmates. He also recruited more than 2,000 civilians to form a posse to track down illegal immigrants. He also gave his deputies the power of enforcement that ought to be reserved for federal agents.

The Bush administration, for all its talk about immigration enforcement, did little. That allowed states such as Oklahoma and Arizona to attempt to take over immigration enforcement through wrong-headed laws. All such laws as HB 1804 accomplished was to cast suspicion over the entire Hispanic community.

Much of the illegal immigration problem will solve itself as the economy continues to sour and jobs dry up. The illegal immigration issue is fueled by economics, not some desire by Hispanics to invade and take over the U.S.

Fair-minded Oklahomans need to be aware that the upcoming legislative session will certainly find renewed interest in some old bills. Look for another attempt to pass a law making English the official language. And there will be an attempt to strengthen HB 1804. Another bill that would require that citizens show identification or a voter registration card before being allowed to vote will surface. It, of course, is aimed at immigrants, the young and the poor.

All these measures, as well as those in other states could be quashed if Napolitano uses her position at Homeland Security to put some teeth into federal regulation of immigration policy.

Beefing up much-needed security at the border and enforcing workplace rules on illegal immigration employment would be a good start. But the federal government ought to begin some sort of fair resolution by offering a path to citizenship and legal work status for the 12 million to 20 million illegals already here.

When Obama and his cabinet take office in January, it could be the beginning of a resolution to this long-standing problem. And it could finally get the states out of the business of the federal government.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/artic ... ehve802676

The comments under the article were interesting. Evidently, Tulseans (?) know this writer well.

Much of the illegal immigration problem will solve itself as the economy continues to sour and jobs dry up. The illegal immigration issue is fueled by economics, not some desire by Hispanics to invade and take over the U.S.

So of course it is our fault that the economy is in the toilet while illegals have nothing to do with the horrendous population pressure on jobs and resources.
As far as hispanics not planning to take over the US, they have already invaded and why the hell do we have to press one button for English and another for Spanish? I just checked my ATT email and there is a new surprise: I can now check a box for the email to be delivered in Spanish. What happens to the person that prefers another language?

Nothing biased about this guy, right? Where to begin. First, Mike Jones is everything his readers say he is. Some of the comments suggest he'd change his position if they replaced him with a Mexican Associate Editor. Regardless, I doubt he knows the official language issue has nothing to do with what's ordered off a Mexican menu. It simply eliminates the cost of printing everything in Spanish and much of the millions spent on interpreters. The Minutemen? Well if Mike had two strands, he'd know they're simply a neighborhood watch organization that works on the border rather than his tiny little gated community. He probably doesn't know the Minutemen have not been involved in a single act of violence ever -- unless you consider what the Mexicans do to their signs, cameras, cars and caps. Oh well, even a constitutional republic needs a few cuckoos, just for balance.