Immigration Debate Still Simmers Below The Surface

One of the great hidden issues of this presidential campaign season has been immigration. So dominant an issue in 2006 and 2007, immigration reform - for all the heat it used to generate - has now dropped way down the agenda of national politics. But not for long: early in 2009, immigration reform will be center-stage again. The competing armies have not gone away. They are simply on hold. When they come back we will face the same ten choices as before. So do we favor....

l. Forced repatriation of all undocumented workers
2. Increased raids by ICE inspectors, to trigger voluntary repatriation
3. A steady erosion of welfare rights for undocumented workers and their children
4. The building of longer and longer fences along the southern border
5. New documents for workers, and fines for employers who fail to police them
6. Expanded guest worker programs and more temporary work visas
7. Various routes to legal status for existing undocumented workers
8. A general amnesty for undocumented workers here for a specified period
9. The expansion of national quotas for legal immigrants
10. Reform and speeding up of legal routes for entry to the United States?

To a significant degree, Republicans and Democrats split in the middle of that list. The Republican Right is stridently demanding that any post-election "immigration reform" must prioritize items 1-5. It must force undocumented workers to go home. It must erode their rights while here and by build stronger walls to block their return. Progressive voices - more often found in Democratic ranks than in Republican ones - argue the contrary. They want better guest-worker programs and routes to legality for undocumented workers now here, before the building of some stronger border control to prevent a new wave of undocumented entrants.

But the fit between program and party is not perfect on immigration. There are plenty of Democratic Congressmen out there wanting the border closed effectively before all else; and labor unions opposed to expanded guest worker programs. There are also Republican-leaning businessmen and politicians wanting routes to legality for the workers they currently employ, and an increase in temporary work visas for those they will employ in the future. And there are Republican politicians flip-flopping up and down this list: caught between a Republican base keen to close the border and a business community keen to keep it open. John McCain is the major case in point. When Conservatives and Progressives clashed on this in 2007, McCain was in favor of comprehensive immigration reform: but not any more. Now he's a wall builder and a forced repatriation candidate, pandering to the Republican base.

The moral of this tale for those of us horrified by ICE raids? Call out John McCain on this. Get him to explain why what worked for him in 2007 apparently doesn't now. Check each politician in turn, and let them know that this is still a top priority for progressive voters. Let them know too that, on this as on much else, high numbers are good: not 1-5 but 6-10!

OffTheBus is publishing a variety of stories that cover the policy differences between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. If you have a policy expertise and would like to participate, please see Calling All Policy Gurus.

Comments

[Norski]

Supporting unlimited immigration is not progressive. It is a throwback to the first century of the USA. We are now in our third century and many realize that there are better ways to do things.

Immigration Control is to control the Labor Market. That keeps wages from falling. It's comparable to having a Union for all workers. Believing that Illegal Immigration is no problem is like believing scab labor used to bust a strike is no problem.

Hogging all economic development in the USA used to be acceptable back when we had room to grow. But now we horde economic development like misers and import workers to make it work. People refuse to see that supporting development in the rest of the world when we are at full employment will eventually bring an end to outsourcing. How many jobs now get outsourced to our fellow developed nations? Almost none. And economic development in the rest of the world gives us millions of new customers to sell products too in those industries where high tech manufacturing continues to boost per person productivity.

And we must be stewards of the environment. Unlimited immigration holds the promise of completely depleting our water resources. America west of the Mississippi is arid. Many cities are already at the limit of available water. The recent death of the Salton Sea and the imminent depletion of portions of the Oglalla Aquifer are the Canaries in the Coal Mine if only we care to head their warning.

[AustinMillbarge]

David -- Thanks for posting this diary. This is certainly a vital issue to our nation and to our economy, and I think that it's been pushed under the radar by the media during election season but is still a crucial concern for millions of Americans.

I hope that in the next administration -- whoever wins -- the President can work with Congress to pass smart, comprehensive reform. I like some of the ideas you proposed, and I want to encourage you to check out America's Voice http://www.americasvoiceonline.orgg), with whom I work, for more ideas and strategy.

[DavidCoates]

Austin - thanks for posting this comment. I will definitely check out the site, and hope that others will too. My colleague and friend Peter Siavelis and I have edited a collection of essays on immigration reform drawn from a 2007 conference at Wake Forest University. The conference proceedings can still be watched by visiting the 'Voices of Our Time' section of the University's website. The collection will be published by Potomac Books in April 2009, under the title, 'Getting Immigration Right: What Every American Needs to Know'. I hope that you and others find the volume useful, as we work together to obtain progressive and comprehensive immigration reform from the incoming Administration and Congress.

'A Liberal Tool Kit', cited in the Amazon.com advert that accompanies this posting, also contains a chapter arguing for immigration reform. Details are at http://liberaltoolkit.blogspot.com. Again, I hope you and others find that of value.

[clr2]

I favor deportation of all ILLEGAL ALIENS.

[MdeG]

As to the reliability and affiliations of the groups cited by Brittanicus, see http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2008/09/19/tanton-fair-founder-racism/ Almost all have clear links to white supremacist groups.

[edweirdness]

Like it or not, it just might be the fact that the majority of America's Citizens support securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, and that Senator McCain (albeit grudgingly), is trying to accept this reality? Indeed, Senator McCain has stated several times that he got our message "loud and clear". Most Republican voters recognize McCain's statements for what they are, pandering for the Conservative and Independent voter. However; we also feel that it's better the devil you know than the one you don't. How has it gotten to the state that we are now questioning any politician who even suggests that he might be willing "to listen to the will of the people" on any issue?

[Brittanicus]

THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, YOUR GOVERNMENT KEEPS INTENTIONALLY QUIET?
What Obama and McCain didn't talk about?

The 7 Billion bailout and one of its causes? www.michellemalkin.com/2008/09/24/illegal-immigration-and-the-mortgage-mess/ / www.vdare.com/sailer/080928_rove.htm

www.numbersusa.com With 880.000 patriotic Americans, fighting the illegal immigration invasion.

www.judicialwatch.org Promoting Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in Government, Politics and the Law

http://www.irli.org/ America's only public interest law organization working exclusively to protect the legal rights, privileges, and property of U.S. citizens and their communities from injuries and damages caused by unlawful immigration.

www.capsweb.org Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) works to formulate and advance policies and programs designed to stabilize the population of California at a level which will preserve a good quality of life for all Californians.

www.americanpatrol.com Fighting for US sovereignty by demanding removal of illegals and the rebuilding border security mandated under the US Constitution.
www.idexer.com/ Illegal Immigration news usually censored by the Liberal National media