Thread: Just Say No To Limbo (opinion)

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Just say no to limbo
Senate should, for once, put politics aside and move forward with compromise on immigration reform
Published on: 04/11/06

The U.S. Senate's failure last week to vote on the best hope for comprehensive reform of the nation's fractured immigration laws is yet another example of politics-as-usual in Washington. Indeed, strategists for both parties may be happy to see the issue stay red hot — without any real action — through the November mid-term elections.

The compromise measure approved last week by the Senate Judiciary Committee was far from perfect, but it at least contained the basic outline of what needs to be done to bring millions of illegal immigrants out from the shadows of the underground economy created by our current failed system. The bill gained the backing of both the White House and Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and it probably would have gotten 70 votes had it been brought to the floor.

Unfortunately, partisan maneuvering prevented a vote from taking place before the Senate recessed for Easter. Democrats blocked proposed amendments to the bipartisan compromise, either for partisan advantage or out of well-grounded fear that an eventual compromise with the more hard-line House would produce a bad bill.

Whatever the motivation, the tactic played into the hands of Republicans such as Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, who opposes the bill and continues to incorrectly classify any measure that contains a pathway toward citizenship for illegal immigrants as amnesty.

The committee's measure would significantly tighten border security and create more effective workplace enforcement to reduce the demand for illegal laborers. Most importantly, it outlines ways to deal humanely and effectively with most of the illegal immigrants already here.

Among other things, it creates a guest-worker program of 625,000 temporary immigrants a year, nearly half of them agricultural workers. It also establishes a path to legality for the 7 million illegal immigrants who have been here five years or more, allowing them to seek citizenship after paying back taxes and $2,000 fines, passing health and criminal background checks and gaining rudimentary language skills and knowledge of the nation's laws.

Those who have been here for two to five years would be required to go back across the border to get temporary visas that might allow them to return to the United States legally.

The bill puts spouses and children of legal residents — those most likely to have the deepest roots in the new country — on the fast track for legal residency. These families would now be rewarded for their decision to abide by the law — and their stamina in waiting in line for green cards — instead of being punished for it, as is the case under the current law.

Overall, the Senate Judiciary Committee's plan signals that this "nation of immigrants" knows how to keep immigration both legal and humane, and that it recognizes the contribution immigrants can make. As the signs carried by Latinos and immigrant-rights supporters at Monday's rally in Atlanta stated, "We are not criminals. We are hard workers."

Voters should demand that the Senate finish its business and that President Bush act more forcefully in pushing members of his governing party, particularly those in the House, to compromise in producing comprehensive — not mean-spirited — immigration reform.

Let me take a guess.

Cynthia Tucker wrote this, right?

Voters should demand that the Senate finish its business and that President Bush act more forcefully in pushing members of his governing party, particularly those in the House, to compromise in producing comprehensive — not mean-spirited — immigration reform.

Man, is HE/SHE out of touch!!
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