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Daily Labor Report
1MAR07
Immigration Overhaul Proponents Express
Optimism About Bill's Prospects This Year
Representatives of organized labor, business, Latino, and conservative organizations March 9 expressed optimism that Congress will pass a comprehensive immigration bill this year that combines stricter border enforcement with a path toward legalization for current undocumented foreign workers.
During a teleconference sponsored by the National Immigration Forum, several speakers suggested public sentiment has shifted from anger to a more pragmatic viewpoint that Congress needs to do something now to fix a broken immigration system. They added that the "A word"--the prospect of "amnesty" for about 12 million illegal immigrants--has lost much of its political sting and that a bipartisan bill must include some process for such individuals to remain in the United States legally.
Frank Sharry, the executive director of the National Immigration Forum, who moderated the discussion, said the "fundamentals" for enacting comprehensive immigration legislation "have never been better" given public pressure, congressional willingness to act, and both parties' awareness of the political benefits of successful legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has vowed to bring a bill to the Senate floor this spring, and "we're optimistic the House will move with the same dispatch," Sharry said.
Cecilia Munoz, senior vice president of the National Council of LaRaza, noted that the council had representatives from 32 states lobbying Congress this week on immigration and "it's hard to overstate the level of energy and enthusiasm." She added that both parties have a stake in a more successful outcome than in 2006, when the Senate and House passed divergent immigration bills and no conference committee was convened.
The Democrats feel pressure to show "they can deliver legislation that the country is demanding" while Republicans are fighting for "the soul of the party" and the votes of a growing Latino electorate, Munoz said. When some Republicans sought to ride voters' perceived anti-immigrant sentiment to victory in the 2006 election, Munoz said, "they overwhelmingly failed."
Craig Regelbrugge, senior director of government relations for the American Nursery and Landscape Association, said the business community's level of concern and engagement on the issue is "escalating rapidly." "Everyone in business understands the demographics that worker shortages are with us and are only going to get worse," he said.
Some growers experienced labor shortages of up to 30 percent last year and some were forced to abandon crops in the field, Regelbrugge said. "The concern is that this time around we need to get it right," he said, explaining that the 1986 immigration law "failed to recognize the long-term economic needs of business."
Business is seeking "expanded legal channels" for foreign workers "to come here for extended periods or even permanently," Regelbrugge said. He added that in contrast to last year, immigration reform proponents are seeing members of Congress "from all over the political spectrum" acknowledge that "we need to do something that goes beyond border enforcement."
Tom Snyder, the national political director of UNITE HERE, said the message from organized labor and the public is that "the status quo is intolerable," and "it's time for Congress to get it done." As the other speakers did, Snyder asserted all signs indicate "there's never been a better time" for enacting immigration reform. He added, however, that "the clock is ticking, and Congress needs to get rolling."
Tamar Jacoby, a self-described Republican who is a senior fellow with the Manhattan Institute in New York, said it was striking that speakers from across the political spectrum were "all saying exactly the same thing, if in slightly different keys."
She commented that although "the political temptations are going to be strong" to derail an immigration bill as the 2008 election looms, there are strong, countervailing public pressures to "get it done" in 2007. Recent surveys show "a whole new mood" regarding immigration, indicating "less anger" among the public and more of a "pragmatic" sense of "how are we going to solve this," Jacoby said.
The secret to a successful package will be "finding the sweet spot" that attracts the 20 Republican senators and 40 Republican House members needed to pass a bill, Jacoby said. She acknowledged there will be some resistance in Congress but suggested "politicians are going to respond" when the public demands action and the issue becomes how to shape legislation that is definitely moving forward.
Asked to identify the potential "sweet spot," Jacoby replied that rather than last year's debate about "how many hoops" an undocumented worker must jump through to achieve legal status, now it will be "is the enforcement provision going to work?" The legislative goal must be to "go from a system where illegality is the norm to a system where people abide by the rules," she said.
Jacoby said last year's Senate-passed bill provides the "architecture" for comprehensive legislation but that "operational" details need to be ironed out. "Some of the vileness and silliness is draining out of the debate," she said.
Snyder, of UNITE HERE, said he is "not concerned" that no bill has yet been introduced because "a healthy process" is occurring behind the scenes. Congressional leaders are working to ensure the Senate bill "moves more smoothly" once it is introduced and to avoid the rancorous debate of last year, Snyder said.
Asked about potential differences between the legislation currently being drafted by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) and last year's Senate bill, Sharry said sponsors are looking for "a bill that moves forward" and can garner large bipartisan support. That means "stronger and more targeted enforcement procedures" and a practical system for legalizing undocumented workers, Sharry said.
Accepting that people who currently are illegally in the United States are going to stay here, Sharry said, the key question becomes what the requirements are going to be. He said congressional sponsors are working to improve the bill in that regard.
Agreeing with Sharry, Jacoby reiterated that surveys show the public wants pragmatic solutions and is less concerned with getting tough on illegal immigrants who are already here. "Even the 'A word' is losing some of its sting," Jacoby said, referring to some politicians' past denunciations of amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Asked about the refusal of administration officials to endorse a "path to citizenship" for foreign workers in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Munoz acknowledged it was confusing and that her group was trying to clarify White House intentions. She added, however, that President Bush has always supported a "path to citizenship" when he discusses the issue.
"Most of us feel that without a path to citizenship, there can't be a deal," said Snyder of UNITE HERE. Sharry remarked that some congressional Republicans have signaled that "temporary workers are fine but citizenship is a problem" but he added, "I don't think that's sustainable."
Sharry said he has never seen the administration "more engaged" than in recent weeks on immigration and that "there's no question the White House is starting to weigh in" on a "consistent and persistent" basis. He said Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff "have been working the Hill," developing responses to congressional Republicans' concerns. "They're working to deliver Republicans," Sharry said. "We'll see if it bears fruit."
As for timing, Sharry said that once the Senate bill is introduced, Judiciary Committee hearings could take place in late March or soon after the Easter recess, and Reid could bring the measure to the floor in late April or May. Sponsors are "trying to make sure they come out with a bill that permits quick action once they do so," Sharry said.
Jacoby added that congressional sponsors and the administration want to "work out some of the partisan stuff earlier" and spare Congress the "ugly stuff" that characterized last year's debates.
Asked if the "touch-back" requirement in last year's bill for undocumented workers would survive as a necessary step for legalization, two speakers expressed doubt that it would. Munoz said she doubts whether "something that harsh" really delivers Republican votes for an immigration bill or makes the public "more confident" about the immigration system.
On that score, Jacoby added that opinion research indicates many people are confused by the notion that undocumented foreigners would have to leave the United States and than re-enter. Rather, the sentiment among many survey respondents was if you're going to let them stay, then let them stay, Jacoby said.
Speakers suggested recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on employers using illegal immigrants send a mixed message. While Jacoby thought the stepped-up enforcement is "helpful" because it gives the public the sense that government is serious about enforcing immigration laws, Munoz said the "human cost"--particularly on children of arrested workers--demonstrates the degree to which the system is broken. She added that it makes people in the Latino community "question the sincerity" of administration statements about the value of immigrants.
