http://www.nysun.com/article/49871


Roger Cardinal Mahony is expected on Capitol Hill this afternoon for a meeting with Senator Kennedy about changes to immigration laws, and let us just say, it is a welcome presence. Cardinal Mahony was appointed archbishop of Los Angeles in 1985 by Pope John Paul II, and he represents 4.3 million Catholics. He has made immigration an important cause, speaking as recently as Ash Wednesday about his plans to travel to Washington "to encourage Congress and our President to take active steps to pass meaningful, just and humane, comprehensive immigration reform legislation during 2007— reform that will keep families together and give children the opportunity to live happy lives, and grow to achieve their dreams without the fear of losing their parents or not having access to the tools to succeed."

It will be illuminating to see whether a Congress that is now controlled by the Democrats will be able to pass the immigration overhaul that eluded President Bush during his first six years in office, when his own party controlled the Congress. The advisory from Mr. Kennedy reports that the senator is hoping soon to introduce immigration legislation together with Senator McCain and with Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Rep. Jeff Flake. The last time those four got together on a draft immigration law it was a good package that would have substantially increased legal immigration to America.

Our own regret is that these efforts are being led by congressmen from Arizona and Massachusetts and Illinois rather than from the state of New York, which has traditionally been the national gateway of immigration. Senator Schumer sits on the judiciary committee, which has oversight on immigration. Mr. Schumer's new book calls for a 50% increase in the amount of legal immigration, with a concomitant reduction in illegal immigration.

Mr. Schumer writes that he used to think that illegal immigrants take "jobs away from Americans by working for lower pay and no benefits," but that his views have changed on the issue. The Schumer book tells the story of Napoleon Barragan, founder of the successful New York business 1-800-Mattress and an immigrant to America from Ecuador. Writes Mr. Schumer, "Motivated people who are willing to leave their families and their lives behind for a chance to make it here are good for America. Legal immigrants fill gaps in our labor market, start small businesses and become Americans. Immigration is a critical source of our country's strength."

The online editor of the New York Sun, Ryan Sager, observed recently that the 2008 presidential election will be fought and won in the intermountain West, in states such as New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, with large Hispanic populations. The 2008 presidential candidates are staking out positions on the issue, with Senator McCain taking a leadership role on behalf of immigrants that some warn could backfire in the Republican primary. His rival among the Republicans, Mayor Giuliani, staked out a pro-immigrant position as mayor of New York, a pulpit from which another potential 2008 presidential contender, Michael Bloomberg, has also been advocating on behalf of increased legal immigration and, by the way, doing so with great eloquence.

Our own preference would be for Congress to increase the limits sooner rather than later, so as to address both the labor shortage and the problem of a population of illegal immigrants so large that it has begun to erode the rule of law. If Congress fails to act this year, we wouldn't be surprised to see the issue emerge in 2008 as one on which a pro-immigrant Republican or Independent candidate such as Mr. McCain, Mr. Giuliani, or Mr. Bloomberg, has an opportunity to flog the Democrats for failing to pass legislation on the issue even though they had a majority in both houses and a supportive president.

Cardinal Mahony is too shrewd to get himself mired in partisan politics, but it can't have escaped him that if the immigration issue is played correctly, it could put California's 2008 electoral votes in the column of a candidate such as Mr. Bloomberg or Mr. Giuliani. Both of them have recently spent time in the Golden State visiting with the governor, who is an immigrant from Austria. Next visit, they might want to stop and see Cardinal Mahony — there's no reason to leave this issue to Ted Kennedy.