We must not allow them to vote out the good senators that killed the horrible immigration reform. (I translated it to English but here's the link http://www.univision.com/content/conten ... id=1223067

THE SADEST DAY
The failure of immigration reform
By Jorge Ramos Avalos, Univision Online

They didn’t understand. The senators that killed the immigration reform-and the hopes of legalization of some 12 million undocumented-never understood that their decision will cost hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives. And that they are promoting a country defined by fear and hatred.

TEARS AND DESOLATION

It was a very sad day. I heard many immigrants crying on radio shows. It is terrible to hear the stories of children who are afraid that their parents will be arrested, fathers who do not know what else to do to protect their families, and of a deaf and blind political class (who is on vacation all this week).

The senators did not do their job. Their job is to resolve problems and they failed miserably at one of the most important. They lacked political will, creativity, and courage.

The most ridiculous thing is that the decision of the senate will leave things just as they are. Every minute an undocumented illegaly crosses the border with mexico, or violates the terms of their visa, and remains here in the U.S. Half a million (illegals) are added each year to the 12 million already here.

THINGS WILL GET WORSE

When the issue resurfaces in congress in a few years, the problem will be monstrous.

But the worse thing is, that with their lack of action, the senators are condemning undreds of immigrants each year. Last year 432 died on the border. This year more may die.

DIVIDED IN TWO

The U.S. is divided in two: the legal population and then, below, far away, the undocumented. This is an exploited class, afraid, without rights, without representation….and growing each day.

These senators lack political vision. They can forget the latino vote. Already various hispanic radio stations are circulating the list of the 53 senators that voted against immigration reform.

The two political parties, democrats and republicans, are, in part, responsible for the failure in the senate. Thirty seven republican senators and 15 democrats voted against the reform.

THEY HAVE GOOD MEMORY

It is true that the undocumented do not vote. But 12 million hispanic citizens will do so in 2008. This can be the moment for political vengeance. The hispanic voters will have the memory of an elephant.

In a very close election, like we are surely to have next year, the latino vote will be crucial. And it is silly not to try to understand what the electoral group of greatest growth in the U.S. wants.

Although legalization was not obtained, there is something new in the latino and immigrant community, and that is the sensasion of power. The hispanics have discovered that together thety are stronger and that people will listen. And to prove it, there are the marches of May 1st, the million letters in favor of legalization that were taken to Washington and the high percentage of legal residents becoming citizens in order to vote.

LOTS OF ERRORS

But this doesn’t mean the the hispanics and immigrants are not guilty of the immigration reform failure in the senate. There were many errors.

For starters, there was no coordination, no common strategy among the groups that were seeking legalization.

Second, marketing failed. The anti-immigrants succeded in presenting the legalization as “amnestyâ€