With much fanfare last week, White House officials announced that the deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants could be halted if they are not criminals and pose no national security threat. Once terminated, the individuals can apply for permission to work. A special government working group will be reviewing the current deportation caseload to clear out low-priority cases on a case-by-case basis. The idea is to make more room to deport people who have been convicted of crimes or pose a security risk. The likely beneficiaries of the termination of deportation action include undocumented students whose parents brought them to the U.S. as youngsters (commonly called DREAM Act students), spouses of U.S. military members, and same-sex partners of U.S. citizens. In large part, the announcement was simply a statement of clarity and a vow of consistency for orders by ICE director John Morton issued in June, announcing that prosecutorial discretion could be exercised to terminate certain deportation proceedings.
Some immigrant rights advocates were quick to hail the White House announcement as a sound policy decision, while progressive members of Congress like Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Luis Gutierrez applauded the measure.
There is no denying that the new procedure is good for anyone currently facing deportation and gets their proceedings terminated. In fact, just a few days before the White House announcement, deportation was terminated for one of my own clients -- the case of a 16-year-old boy, Roberto, involving minor charges over bringing a toy pellet gun to school. Roberto benefited from the new process that likely was already underway before the White House announcement. Roberto and his family were overjoyed, and the legal services attorney I assisted was extremely happy as well.
Yet the new case-by-case determination that can lead to work authorization for individuals facing deportation is a far cry from what Durbin, Harry Reid, and advocates were actually hoping for -- an across the board, blanket halt to any action against all DREAM Act-eligible students including those not facing deportation. The timing of the White House announcement was also curious, coming on the heels of high profile protests by immigrants and their advocates against the DHS Secure Communities initiative (S-Comm) that has resulted in the removal of thousands of immigrants who are not dangerous criminals or national security problems. The announcement appeared to serve as cover for the growing criticism against the White House for its harsh immigration enforcement policies. Whatever its justification, Obama's DHS has been shattering Bush era deportation and detention records.
The Obama administration also trumpets its "silent raids" or audits of employers who are suspected of hiring undocumented workers. While the raids generally have not featured the gun-toting, military-like craziness of Bush era job raids, thousands and thousands of immigrant workers continue to lose their jobs as employers are threatened with fines. Workers are driven further underground and are exploited by unscrupulous employers.
How we got to this point -- where the Obama administration has become brutally committed to immigration enforcement that preys on innocent workers and breaks up families -- may be a matter of debate. Some suspect that Obama was enforcement minded all along or that his DHS is simply doing its job. However, others feel that the harsh enforcement is a manifestation of bad negotiation strategies by Obama in his effort to achieve comprehensive immigration reform or the passage of the DREAM Act. The president's own words suggest that he tried to convince Republicans that he could be tough on immigration enforcement if they would agree to a legalization program for at least some segment of the undocumented population.
"In recent years, among the greatest impediments to reform were questions about border security. . . Well, over the past two years we have answered those concerns. . .They wanted more agents on the border. Well, we now have more boots on the ground on the southwest border than at any time in our history...They wanted a fence. Well, that fence is now basically complete...We tripled the number of intelligence analysts working the border. ..[E]ven though we've answered these concerns, I suspect there will be those who will try to move the goal posts one more time. They'll say we need to triple the border patrol. Or quadruple the border patrol. They'll say we need a higher fence to support reform. Maybe they'll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat. They'll never be satisfied. I understand. That's politics."
Bad negotiator indeed. While the Republicans continue "to move the goal posts," the White House has dutifully played along, getting tougher and tougher on immigrant communities. Yes, the Republicans likely deserve most of the blame for the nation's failure to do the right thing for millions of immigrants who are simply here to work for an honest day's wage to put food on the family table -- immigrants who would rather be back home, but NAFTA and globalization have seen to it that steady work isn't possible back home. Yet, if Republicans are not being honest or are not negotiating fairly, then the White House does not have to be manipulated into doing the wrong thing.
While I applaud the recent partial step that has been taken on behalf many immigrants who should not be in deportation proceedings, the Obama administration needs to do more: terminate its enforcement regime of S-Comm, that continues to harass victims of crimes and low-level offenders; stop its "silent raid" audits of employers that simply results in job loss for hard working immigrants contributing to the economy; stop the removal of those who are on the severely backlogged family visa system and well as those who have committed crimes but deserve a second chance. It's time for President Obama to give us hope that he understands that we are a nation of immigrants that includes those who simply want to live, work, and contribute to our society in peace.
Follow Bill Ong Hing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/immprof
Mary Giovagnoli: President Obama's Very Legal Move on Immigration
I know it's hard to believe at first, but you read what he wrote. Of course he's for open borders! He even wrote a piece on HufPost saying we should throw them a parade. Hing is for ZERO accountability to our immigration laws but at least he's open about it. None of this "we must enforce our laws, but..." lip service to enforcement. What's dishonest about Hing is that he's also for "comprehensive immigration reform". Last I checked, CIR has enforcement measures in it. Do you really think people like Hing are going to go against their radical ideology against enforcement of immigration law? They just want the amnesty part and will try to weaken and stop the enforcement part. Whatever enforcement you get in CIR wouldn't be worth the paper it's written on so why give away a massive, irrevocable amnesty in a CIR deal? That would be the sucker bet of all time.
P.S.
Hing's bleeding heart also covers those who do NOT want to contribute or live in peace. On his blog, he's commented on violent criminal after violent criminal that they should not be deported. If he's ever been OK with the deportation of a single person I've never seen it.
Not mentioned is that the parents and spouses of the illegals will also get a "reprieve" - spouses okay, parents who broke our immigration laws in the first place not okay. And when you add the parents (and siblings) then we will have millions and not just the hundreds of thousands of illegals who get a "reprieve".
Arizona Border Fence Causes Flood and Self-Destructs—as Predicted
Mother Earth has spoken. Amidst recent reports that detail just how harmful the United States border barrier is to local wildlife and their habitats, rainwater knocked down 40 feet of the fence in Arizona last Sunday night.
The stretch of fence that washed away was part of a 5.2 mile mesh barrier that was built between 2007 and 2008. Though it is the first time this particular fencing has fallen, it came as no surprise to officials at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where the fence is located. When Organ Pipe expressed their concern with the proposed design for the barricade before its completion, Border Patrol unsurprisingly issued a final environmental assessment that said they found that it would have no significant impact. They added that, despite the claims of Organ Pipe officials, it would not cause flooding. They were wrong.
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/649895/arizona_border_fence_causes_flood_and_self-destructs%E2%80%94as_predicted/
ROF
Our Fed Gov is intent upon forcing Illegal’s on American’s and forcing US to pay the bill.
It is time for America to rise up in our own self-defense against the tyranny of Washington DC.
The majority of American citizens do not want this; Washington does not care and is intent upon shoving the 3rd world down our throats in the interest of pandering for votes.
If We the People do not act, the Fed Gov will be happy to hand America over to the 3rd world by default.
I suppose this all part of the Progressive’s Share the Wealth Plan.
The issue at hand is Why does the Fed Gov ignore the fact that these people are illegals?
You can make any excuse you want, but the simple fact is that these people should be deported.
Or do you allow people to break in to your house, eat your food, take from your children and expect you to pay their bills. Come on tell me how many squatters you have living in your house.
If you care about individuals you should care about unemployed citizens who are trying to feed their kids and keep a roof over their head
No I do not blame the individual I blame the soft headed people who think that we can solve the worlds problems by importing them
Fix NAFTA so our subsidised food does not destroy their ability to stay home
A standing ovation for that failure Calderone on the floor of congress was an insult of the highest order to Americans who deal with these trespassers on a daily basis
Let me ask you a question
After amnesty what do you think will happen All these problems just magically go away?
Or get much larger
Take away the reasons for coming here and then address the reasons they leave That is the only solution Otherweise you might as well just open the borders so all heII can break loose
Immigrants go through immigration unless we just don't care Your logic stopped with amnesty You need to think the whole thing through and give up the bias They just want a better life
Join the club
If that is all that is needed for someone to get a citizenship we go from 300M to 1B in short order
Does anyone seriously believe that our border is secure? Really? We don't ask for more border agents just for the sake of having more border agents, we want a secure border. Immigration reform can follow.
He's already managed to neutralize Mitt Romney on Obamney-care, and just the other day Mitt Romney agrees with Ben Bernanke's QE bailout policies to quell complaints about "spending".
And since everyone in the country is ignorant to what a bailout is, a healthcare law, written by insurance monopolies, Obama can exploit that and knock out any Republican in a debate.
No Republican can really complain, because Obama's done everything Reagan, Bush or McCain would've done, from warmongering to bailouts for Wall Street.
The corporate mass-media isn't much help to the voter either, since they never explain what the true agenda of any of these politicians are and what the issues are really about.
Issues, like immigration, don't address the underlying reasons for illegals, such as Wall Street exploiting Mexican labor and the drive to race everyone to the bottom, so it becomes a "football".
With politicians bought-n-paid-for in both parties it's no wonder Democrats will complain about what no Republican could get away with because in the end, they will be loyal and go along anyways.
And "hard work" is irrelevant to the issue. Most people engage in "hard work," which has nothing to do with breaking the nation's laws. "Hard work" is not the requirement for citizenship, nor should it be.
How is deporting illegal aliens preying on "innocent workers"? If their here illegally, THEY'RE NOT INNOCENT. And the same holds for breaking up families. If they hadn't come here illegally, they wouldn't be deported.
I just don't get this whole "innocence" thing with people who willfully entered our country in violation of our immigration laws while law-abiding immigrants waited patiently and followed our rules.
Signed,
Left of Liberal
It's been a few hundred years since the "European invaders," so the rhetoric really needs to be put to rest.
If I break the law, I suffer the consequences.
Why should the same be any different for illegal aliens?
Please read this American Immigration Lawyers Association document.
http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=36705
I think President Obama has simply paraded this "policy change" as some type of immigration reform, when in fact, it changes little or nothing. In other words, it is a lot of smoke for votes, and I won't even clap for that with one hand.
With that said, I support every Dream Act Kid or other eligible undocumented non criminal to call this administration's bluff. Go to ICE and ask for an immigration hearing. Boost the 300,000 back log to one, two , or ten million. Make them make a decision about immigration reform and take you lives off the back burner
http://twopesos-protestfortheundocumented.blogspot.com/2011/08/dream-act-kids-nows-time.html
I agree whole-hardly with your words Mr. Hing "It's time for President Obama to give us hope that he understands that we are a nation of immigrants that includes those who simply want to live, work, and contribute to our society in peace."
I just do not have any faith that our politicians and their elite supporters (employers) will change anything without peacefully forcing the issue.
Regards - John Randolph
They are criminals for being in this country illegally.
By reforming outdated federal immigration policies we could, once again, see newcomers as a blessing. Not as “illegal” but as “human.”
Our ancestors waited hours to pass through Ellis Island. Immigrants today may have to wait 18 years for “legal papers.” Some say it’s a crime to come (or stay) without documentation. No, it is an infraction of a civil regulation. It is not a “crime.” We do wrong to call people “illegal” and lock them in detention centers when they are guilty of no crime. This is precisely why we need federal immigration reform.
We are a nation of law-abiders who resent intruders coming across our borders.
Read this if you want more information. http://petras.lahaine.org/?p=1855