Thread: A sorry sight on immigration

Editorial, 7/5: A sorry sight on immigration

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July 04, 2013 11:59 pm • By the Journal Star editorial board
(36) Comments

Journal Star editorial board

Julie Bechtel, publisher
Dave Bundy, editor
Gordon Winters, opinion page editor
Ava Thomas, general manager
Brady Svendgard, operations manager
L. Kent Wolgamott, entertainment writer
Zach Pluhacek, assistant online news editor


Informed, common-sense Nebraskans can do little but roll their eyes at the unproductive role played by Nebraska's two senators when the upper chamber approved a bipartisan immigration bill.

Sens. Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer dug in their heels and refused to budge toward meaningful change.

In contrast to more thoughtful Republicans ranging from former President George W. Bush to GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, Nebraska's senators refused to look past the overhyped issue of border security

Johanns' soundbite justifying his opposition was that the “promise of secure borders is not airtight.” Fischer echoed the same line, prompting a frustrated McCain to sharply criticize Fischer on the floor as “so ill-informed I don't know where to begin.”
The bill would have more than doubled the number of border security officers and doubled the length of pedestrian fencing.
As McCain told CNN, “I mean this is not only sufficient, it is well over-sufficient. We'll be the most militarized border since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

In case it has slipped anyone's mind, McCain represents a state that actually borders Mexico.

Attitudes like those displayed by Fischer and Johanns may have guaranteed that America's immigration system will remain broken for at least a few more years and perhaps longer

Immigration reform probably needed to come out of the Senate with a full head of steam in order for reform to make progress in the House.

Instead of using the Senate bill, the House plans to write its own bill, Speaker John Boehner said. It almost certainly will not include a path to citizenship, which means it will be unacceptable to the Senate.

The senators seem to think they have the pulse of a majority of Nebraskans on immigration policy, and, to be fair, perhaps they do.

However, elected officials and voters who are fixated on border security and refuse to consider other arguments, like the one put forth by Nebraska’s GOP committeeman John Kramer that “the way to fix the problem of illegal immigration is to fix the problem of legal immigration,” simply guarantee that nothing will be done, perhaps for years.

Everyone knows that America's immigration system is broken. The legal pathways are clogged with red tape. Millions of illegal immigrants lead a shadow existence. The status quo is a disaster.

Congressional dysfunction on immigration may be no worse than it is on any number of issues, but it is still a sad spectacle to contemplate.

http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/...b563e7ba9.html

Reply by Senator Johanns:

Letter, 7/10: Promises in disappearing ink

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10 hours ago
(6) Comments


A recent editorial ("A sorry sight on immigration," July 5) accused me of digging in my heels on the recent immigration debate in the Senate. I voted to begin debate on this legislation. I also offered and cosponsored numerous amendments to fix the bill. Those amendments, for the most part, were blocked because the Senate majority leader dug in his heels by refusing to let them come up for a vote.

I agree with the Editorial Board that “America's immigration system is broken.” Where I disagree is the apparent belief that this flawed piece of legislation, which cleared the Senate without my support, passes for a solution.

If you remove the rose-colored glasses and examine the bill's text, you quickly find many of the bill's promises are written in disappearing ink because of attached waivers.

One such waiver would allow the Homeland Security secretary to eliminate the new border security requirements — a key part of immigration reform -- after 10 years if any litigation delays their implementation.

The secretary also can waive provisions prohibiting illegal immigrants with gang affiliations or other criminal offenses from receiving citizenship. The bill's work requirements can likewise be waived, and the legislation could leave hard-working families on the hook for funding benefits to folks who broke the law.

Nebraskans deserve a straightforward solution to immigration reform, not one that contains escape hatches to avoid needed requirements and reforms.

The overwhelming majority of Nebraskans opposed this bill. I know this from the many discussions I've had with folks across the state. It's my job to listen to those views, delve beyond the talking points and make informed decisions. And that is what I did.


U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb.

http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/...0c05b2ee0.html