Thread: Voters weren't on the fence about illegal immigration

Voters weren't on the fence about illegal immigration

Democrats' gains and a Latino shift may breathe new life into push for sweeping changes

By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
Nov. 9, 2006
Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Jolted by the dramatic shake-up on Capitol Hill, the incoming Congress may prove more receptive to sweeping immigration changes such as a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, lawmakers and policy experts said.

Among the causes: Democrats' big gains, a shift by Latino voters away from the GOP and the defeat of several conservative Republicans who ran on a strident anti-illegal immigration message.

"I do see a light at the end of the tunnel," Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, of Houston, the top Democrat on the House immigration subcommittee, said Wednesday.

Still, few were rushing to predict that Congress will quickly — or successfully — tackle a major immigration overhaul in the legislative session that begins in January.

"Some of the worst (political) barriers have been washed away," said Tamar Jacoby, an immigration expert with the conservative Manhattan Institute. "(But) it's still going to be extremely hard to accomplish it in Congress."

Immigration's huge impact on economic, national security, cultural and foreign policy arenas makes it among the most controversial of policy issues in the best of times.

"It's a difficult issue," said newly re-elected Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. But, she added, "We need to make every positive effort to work with the Democrats and have solutions. That's what the people want."

On Wednesday, President Bush identified immigration as an area in which he'd work with Democrats. And in comments directed to congressional conservatives who stymied his push for a guest-worker plan, Bush noted that strides have been made on border security.

"I would hope we can get something done," Bush said. "There's an issue where I believe we can find some common ground with the Democrats."

Though immigrant-rights backers drew comfort as they sifted through election results Wednesday, they acknowledged the outcome is not unalloyed good news for their side. They noted that several victorious Democratic candidates sought to outflank GOP rivals on illegal immigration and presumably will take a hard line when they come to Washington.

And, even as some prominent border-enforcement hawks will see their power ebb with the Democrats' capture of the House, any immigration solution will require a bipartisan consensus, they said.

"Neither party can deliver immigration reform on its own," said Cecilia Muñoz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza, which is pressing for legal status for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

But she and her allies had a bounce in their step with the defeat of several ardently anti-immigration incumbents and exit polls suggesting Latino voters deserted the GOP in droves.

"The immigration issue upset many Hispanics — the tone of it, the rhetoric, the reactionary solutions, the building of the wall," said Miami pollster Sergio Bendixen, who tracks Hispanic voting trends. He called the House GOP's enforcement-heavy approach a "very, very bad tactical mistake" that could weaken the party for years to come.

Congress proved unable this year to bridge the gulf between the House's enforcement-first plan and a Senate bill that paired increased border security with "earned" legalization and a worker program. But House Republicans pushed into law a bill mandating 700 miles of fencing at the border and provided billions in additional funding for border agents, detention beds and surveillance.

With a new Congress convening in January, the clock essentially is reset, and a new bevy of hearings, votes and debates will be required.

Still, "I think we've learned a lot during the debate," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "My hope is we'll roll up our sleeves and sit down and work out a bipartisan bill that the president can sign."

Some Republicans, however, made clear they won't budge from their opposition to a legalization plan.

"I just think it will be very difficult for the Democrats to pass legislation granting amnesty to illegal aliens," said Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston.

During a triumphant round of appearances Wednesday, Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill didn't identify immigration as an immediate priority.

They noted that several victorious Democratic candidates sought to outflank GOP rivals on illegal immigration and presumably will take a hard line when they come to Washington.

Let's hope so..............