Thread: Immigration reform needn't wait until '09???

From the Arizona Daily Star:

How do you rank illegal immigration as a political issue?


It’s the No. 1 issue 58 %
It’s a top 5 issue 34 %
It’s a top 10 issue 5 %
It’s not an issue at all 3 %

Total number of votes 149

How likely do you think it is that Congress can pass non-enforcement immigration reforms this year?


No chance 60 %
Very little chance 33 %
Somewhat likely 4 %
Very likely 3 %
A certainty 1 %

Total number of votes 146


Immigration reform needn't wait until '09

Our view: U.S. lawmakers should look for chances to enact meaningful changes
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.14.2008

When Congress failed to pass a comprehensive immigration-reform bill last summer, many observers, including us, thought overhauling the nation's broken immigration system would have to wait until after this year's elections. That still might be the case, but we're encouraged to hear that our local representatives would welcome the opportunity to do something before 2009.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., told the Star's editorial board last week that immigration reform is one of her top priorities for 2008.
Giffords' statement was surprising because the rhetoric surrounding illegal immigration remains red hot, and it doesn't help that presidential hopefuls like Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney seem to be competing for the title of "most anti-immigrant candidate."
Despite the charged political climate, Giffords, who supported last year's failed STRIVE Act, said, "I'm hopeful. I really think we can get something done. I don't control the agenda, but I'm going to push for reform. For me, it's a keystone issue. We have to make progress."
Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., also said he would look for opportunities this year to fix the immigration system, but he cautioned that they have to be the right opportunities.
Grijalva said, for instance, that he likely wouldn't support legislation to increase the number of H-1B visas and other permits for highly-skilled technical workers, nurses and researchers without also increasing the number of visas for low-skilled workers that are needed by the agriculture and service industries.
Giffords said she is working on a bill to increase the number of H-1B visas the country gives out each year.
"The number of H-1B visas is a legitimate issue, but it's too narrow a focus," Grijalva said. "If we're going to open up the box and take care of one industry, there's no reason we can't help other industries as well."
We agree.
While Congress doesn't necessarily need to pass a huge bill like STRIVE, which, in effect, tried to fix the illegal immigration problem in one fell swoop, it does need to make meaningful changes. If universities and technology companies get more access to foreign labor, so should farmers and the hospitality industry.
Passing any sort of immigration-reform bill this year will be a challenge, but we encourage lawmakers to try and to make sure they pass good policy in the process.
89 Comments on this story


http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/220164.php

The American peoples' answer remains NO! We want the fence built, our borders secured, and employers who hire illegal aliens fined and jailed.

They are dreaming. Let us hope they are stupid enough to make this mistake during the election year. That would greatly benefit our cause if they tried it.

W

86. Comment by Michael B. (#1967) — January 14,2008 @ 12:28PM
Ratings: -0 +9

#80 - For the birth of my first son, for which we paid cash to TMC - yep - that's right - no insurance, my wife had a shared room.

Turns out, the other in the room was an illegal who had crossed the border two days before to have her THIRD child - all paid for by you and me and not a penny to her.

All night long we were treated to many of her family members up all night, demanding, demanding, demanding - all in Spanish, all very loud and very rude. She just wasn't getting good enough service - for free.

How likely do you think it is that Congress can pass non-enforcement immigration reforms this year?

What in the world is NON-ENFORCEMENT IMMIGRATION REFORMS?
Amnesty?
Checking immigration status?
Nullifying illegal immigration laws?
Country becoming a sanctary nation?

Be sure to vote on the poll; it's on the right side of the webpage

How likely do you think it is that Congress can pass non-enforcement immigration reforms this year?


No chance 61 %
Very little chance 32 %
Somewhat likely 5 %
Very likely 2 %
A certainty 1 %

Total number of votes 173

How do you rank illegal immigration as a political issue?


It’s the No. 1 issue 59 %
It’s a top 5 issue 31 %
It’s a top 10 issue 6 %
It’s not an issue at all 4 %

Total number of votes 181