A defining moment in relations between the Latino community and the Obama Administration is fast approaching as the clock runs out on federal immigration reform legislation in 2010. By the end of June approving "comprehensive" immigration reform will be practically impossible given Republican resistance combined with the usual glacial pace of work in the Senate.
Compounding the Latino dilemma is the looming possibility that the Democrats who won more than 70% of the Latino vote in 2008 may lose control of one or both Houses of Congress, setting back immigration reform hopes through at least 2013.
Meanwhile, Latino communities are suffering massive deportations and raids, racial profiling and discrimination not seen in generations.
Already, plans are being made to punish the federal legislators of both parties in November 2010 for failure to enact legalization for undocumented immigrants -an issue of great concern for Latinos. Democrats blame anti-immigrant Republicans, but that only explains the logjam in the Senate. Indeed, Latino leaders are crystal clear that the White House has given only lip service to immigration reform. Worse, Speaker Pelosi has blocked action on three broadly supported reform proposals in the House of Representatives for months.
However Latinos will forgive them for now if Mr. Obama and the Democrats embrace a doable four point strategy in 2010 that delivers short term relief for under-siege immigrants, partially reforms our broken immigration system, boosts the U.S. economy, and jettisons the current punitive premises for immigration reform while continuing to seek bipartisan legislative consensus as well as public support for comprehensive reform in the mid-term.
Here is the "down-payment in 2010" on comprehensive immigration reform plan:
The approaching tight elections on the one hand and the mass social justice movement for immigrant rights (which just mobilized millions on May Day) in partnership with President Obama (he will have to use the bully pulpit a la Ronald Reagan in 1986 when he campaigned in support of the Immigrant Reform and Control Act-IRCA, which legalized 3 million undocumented persons then), will provide more than enough pressure to "convince" both Houses of Congress to promptly run the final version of the immigration bill through conference and approve it.
Of course, the final bill will have been trimmed by the conference process so that it is well short of comprehensive immigration reform (unfortunately). Nevertheless, a modest "down payment" on immigration reform in 2010 is far better than nothing and would be viewed as victory by Latinos with credit shared by both parties -thus neutralizing it as an election issue. This is same political formula than wedded conservative Republicans, liberal Democrats and President Reagan in 1986 during the previous immigration reform deliberations -successfully.
Otherwise, the November elections are likely to be ugly with Latino voters "paying back" those they perceive as being anti-Latino as well as purveyors of broken promises, under the slogan "no legalization, no re-election."
*Antonio Gonzalez is president of the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI). Oscar Chacon is executive director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC)
57 days and 18 minutes.
However, threatening to "pay-back" politicians if they don't give illegal immigrants amnesty won't work.
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This is rather disturbing to me in spite of the fact that I am not against another round of amnesty. This sounds like extortion to me.
Truthfully, I don't think Congress can pass another amnesty until the ecomony improves. Unemployed Americans of both parties wouldn't understand how that was the right thing to do.
I believe that eventually there will be another amnesty when the economy is in better condition and I hope there is more effort to control illegal immigration this time. However, I don't want to see anyone I vote for being blackmailed into it.
Since when is law enforcement enforcing the laws that the majority of the country agrees with a "siege?" You make it sound like they're just minding their own business, and the government is cruelly and pointlessly assaulting them. They broke our immigration and border security laws by coming here illegally! They're outlaws, and have no right to expect to get away with it just because they made it across. If you know of a group of people that isn't in direct violation of federal law who are under duress, feel free to refer to them as "under siege," but that's just crazy hyperbole applied to illegal border crossers.
This is not a Republican or Democrat problem - it is a problem for our entire country, Our immigration laws are fair and should be enforced. There are many of us who, no matter the party affiliation, believe in following the laws now on the books. If I break a law I will be punished - so why is it any different for the illegals?
If you and others believe so strongly in the "rights" of illegals, then take them into your own home, pay for ALL their needs and also pay for the paperwork and education for them to become legal citizens. Don't expect the rest of us to pay for them as we are doing now.
The American communitiy can't afford to absorb Latin America's surplus population.
Please get in line with everyone else and stop trying to get special privileges.
But, honestly, I doubt anything will happen on immigration legislation until or after 2012 giving us plenty of time to awaken more.
"...Foreigners can buy property without restriction in Mexico as long it is not on the coast or near the border, Ms. Vidargas said. The notary handling the sale must apply to the Mexican State Department for permission, which Ms. Vidargas says is usually granted in a few days and costs about $500..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/greathomesanddestinations/26gh-househunting.html?ref=realestate
How many millions of illegal, Hispanic/Mexican immigrants own property in the States, and were not required to get approval from the U. S. Government before buying property -- anywhere in the States? Talk about double standards.
By the way, you both are over estimating the Hispanic vote. And if blackmailing is what it takes to get their vote, it's not going to work. It is an honor to be an American Citizen, and threats are unbecoming to Americans. But I doubt you are aware of that, are you?
There are several BILLION people in this world who have living standards considerably lower than enjoyed in the US. Are you suggesting we open our borders to all of them? Is that practically feasable - or ethical to Americans who are already facing heavy cuts to public services?
the fact that AZ mearly adopted the federal immigration law to use because the fed wasnt doing its job shows me that citizens (you know actual tax payers) are tired of the drug trafficking, kidnappings and other displeasure of hundreds of unknowns are waling onto their lands daily.
If i went and got a fake id, committed identity theft.. i would be put in prison. Why should it be different for illegals?
should we not enforce laws because "they were trying to do the right thing for their family" ...so the next time a guy robs $50 from a 7-11 we shouldn't even prosecute. see how that doesnt make sense to you...
thats how rewarding people who broke federal laws with the very object of their desire in breaking the laws looks to me.
It seems to me in this instance... crime does pay
The 1986 law at least offered a hollow promise to secure the border. The article makes no pretense of even attempting to improve border security. In effect it is an open invitation to illegal immigration in the future.