After Being Ignored By White House, 521 Immigration Groups Join To Protest Obama's Inaction

PHOENIX, AZ -- Following a closed-door meeting last Thursday in which President Barack Obama, administration officials, and nearly 100 immigrant rights leaders discussed plans for comprehensive immigration reform, a coalition of 521 organizations signed an open letter to Obama criticizing the Presidents inactivity on immigration reform.

The organizations behind the letter are planning vigils, marches, and other events across the country to protest the administration's policy on the Department of Homeland Security 287(g) local immigration enforcement program and say they were "deeply alarmed" by the announcement six weeks ago by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano that DHS would be expanding the 287(g) program to 11 new jurisdictions.

Although the White House has refused to discuss the details or agenda of the White House meeting, sources who participated in the meeting last week say that the coalition behind this week's letter to Obama is even more troubled by the remarks Obama made directly to immigration reform groups last week expressing his support for 287(g) and other enforcement mechanisms.

The letter demands the "immediate termination" of the 287(g) program of the Immigration and Nationality Act, under which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can make agreements with local law enforcement agencies to allow federally trained and supervised state and local law enforcement officers to investigate, apprehend, transport, and detain people who are suspected of living or working in the country illegally.

Obama told participants of the White House meeting that he was elected to solve problems and that he intends to solve the immigration problem. Using some stump lines from his campaign days, he reiterated that he will pass comprehensive immigration reform that will actually make the system better. But Obama also said that he must show America that he is not afraid of enforcement and that he will uphold America's values as a nation of both immigrants and laws.

But among comprehensive immigration reform advocates, even after the meeting (or especially after the meeting), a chief concern is that the Obama administration is putting too heavy an emphasis on enforcement. Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) President Nativo Lopez told La Frontera Times, "The Obama administration continues to ignore that growing clamor from diverse sectors of the immigrant and Latino communities throughout the nation for an end to the enforcement-only policy that has wreaked havoc and destruction on our families and communities."

Although most of the immigration reform advocates in the White House meeting are die-hard 287(g) opponents, Obama told meeting participants that he supports the 287(g) program but that under his administration, DHS will ensure that local law enforcement agencies follow the rules.

In response, the open letter to Obama calls 287(g) a "failed Bush experiment" and asserts that 287(g) has compromised public safety by empowering and encouraging local law enforcement officials to "justify and intensify racial profiling."

ACLU Legislative Counsel Joanne Lin says, "The 287(g) program has proven to be a failure – resulting in rampant illegal profiling by local police under the cloak of federal immigration enforcement power."

The coalition letter to Obama contends that the 287(g) program harms public safety "by eroding trust and cooperation of immigrant communities and diverting already reduced law enforcement resources from their core mission."

The letter cites a report released in March by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) that said the 287(g) program lacks internal controls to ensure the program works as intended to reduce crime and to remove repeat offenders. The report concluded that 287(g) is being used when only minor violations of the law occur, and racial profiling is being used by local 287(g) officers in many communities.

Organizations behind the letter to Obama include NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Anti-Defamation League, SEIU, ACLU, Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund, American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Jobs with Justice, United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, and a long list of unions and other organizations. Read the full letter and see the full list of signatories.

Omar Jadwat, a staff attorney for the ACLU Immigrant Rights Project says, "The 287(g) program encourages racial profiling, diverts scarce police resources and puts everyone's safety at risk. State and local police should not be transformed into federal immigration agents – particularly through a program known for cursory oversight and insufficient training. President Obama should end the program immediately."

The most heated political battles over 287(g) have been in Arizona where Maricopa County's Sheriff Joe Arpaio has made immigration enforcement one of his top priorities. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) continually faces off against local immigrant-rights groups on the issue of immigration enforcement. While MCSO asserts that its officers do not engage in racial profiling, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the matter.

Earlier this month in Mexico, Obama said that a comprehensive immigration reform package will not be put before Congress this year. Instead, he is pushing for legislation to be drafted by the end of the 2009 legislative session so that Congress can act on it when they return in early 2010.

Napolitano told White House meeting participants that she has been working with immigration experts and key stakeholders to sketch out a bill that can actually pass in both the House and the Senate, and she laid out the components that she believes must be included in any reform package:

• A fair pathway to legal status for those who should be allowed to stay
• Common-sense enforcement, including a fair process for deportation
• A mechanism that helps employers to comply with immigration laws
• A more efficient system that conducts fair and timely proceedings
• Public confidence that the immigration system can be fair, enforceable, and sustainable

Napolitano pointedly declared that her policies are not "more of the same," a charge that has been leveled at her by advocates of comprehensive immigration reform since she announced the expansion of the 287(g) program.

Just as Napolitano was about to take questions from the group, Obama made a surprise appearance and spoke directly to the group, but some participants were miffed when Napolitano failed to return the meeting to a question and answer session after Obama finished.

Much like health care reform, the immigration debate is an area where Obama has taken hits from both sides. Numbers USA Executive Director Roy Beck, an advocate of immigration enforcement, doesn't trust Obama or the comprehensive immigration reform advocates who criticize him, "In order to satisfy this [pro-immigration] wing of his supporters, Obama not only has to give amnesty to current immigration law breakers but also has to promise no enforcement of future immigration law breakers. They are just unrealistic. Even the slightest hint of enforcement sends them over the edge."

Beck says that a push for amnesty in the coming months will stir up an enormous backlash across the country. According to a person who attended the White House meeting last week, Obama told participants that comprehensive immigration reform will be very difficult to pass because the issue is rife with demagoguery from both sides, adding, "but the White House is getting lots of practice with this on health care."

Beck says he has never seen any sign that Obama is committed to enforcement and suggested that Obama simply told meeting participants what he is telling the public, "He just didn't give [immigration reform leaders] the wink."

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Comments

[CarlosQC]

Let me remind you or inform you in any case:

US foreign policies control most Latin American countries and have caused poverty, wars, coups and deadly displacement in those nations. The US influence in Western hemisphere have forced millions of poor people to migrate undocumented to this country, in order to survive. No one risks their lives and put leaves their families behind under such tragic conditions, just because they feel like it.

No money for immigration reform? What if the US stops building military bases in Colombia, closes some of its 1,000 military bases around the world, ends military conflicts it promotes in other countries like Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Colombia, Peru, Rwanda, and others.

Stop being hypocrites, stop xenophobic hate, let's promote a country with equality and social justice for all. How many hurricane Katrina do you need to remind you that you won't take your money when you die, but you can leave a legacy to the future generations. How will your grand kids understand your reasons to abuse 12 million second class citizens supporting your nation of billionaires?

[CarlosQC]

Immigration Reform is an urgent priority for the United States and its future as a country, it's a matter of national security, social justice, public safety, democracy, labor and human rights.

Those arrogant, selfish, insensitive and ignorant people who think the opposite, need to wake up. The world does not end at the southern border, and undocumented workers are part of this nation because most of them contribute to its economy, culture, society, and they will be here - with immigration reform or not.

This is a very young nation with a history of important contributions to the world, but let's remember the US was created by undocumented immigrants, built by slaves, created in stolen and invaded lands, with a history of injustice, colonialism and military and corporate imperialism.

The US has had obsolete laws that once treated non-whites as sub humans, and women as inferiors. Laws are meant to be reformed, changed, updated, improved. The question is, does the US want to allow human exploitation of millions of workers? Is this a nation ready to change its embarrassing mistakes of the past?

[Paul Frank]

Behind the machinations, I hope Obama is advancing an intelligent, humane approach to our 11 million illegal immigrants. When the numbers are that large, Americans are complicit in the problem and the response needs to be altered accordingly

There seems to be a general consensus that a strict enforcement of borders is part of the process to any resolution. The 287g) enforcement is part of that effort, but critics are saying the methodology of the enforcement has been counterproductive I am not clear about the moral logic of it, but I can see a political logic to it. Some "I-am-tough-on-immigration" creds may be crucial to the efforts to get something passed. Protests by the various immigrant groups is actually an asset in the reform effort. I hope there is some wisdom behind everything.

The immigration debate has more raw passion implicit in it than the health care debate (where too much of the passion has been generated and inflamed by big moneyed interests).

[jaguar59]

8 MONTHS, He has only been in office 8 months. Get a Life.

[Drjimmy72296]

And three years, four months from now will the excuse be, "It's only been four years"? I'm asking honestly, how long until we should reasonably expect to see some tangible benefits of hope and change?

[nee]

All we have to do is heavily fine those who hire ILLEGALS and they would self-deport. That would only take a few months.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Slow learner?

[tnkeating]

Who cares close the boarders and only allow legal immagration

[formerroadie]

let's get health care passed and then get amnesty done. one huge massive fight at a time.

[Gasparilla]

Great idea. Then we just have to do another amnesty a few years down the road.

[cjt1957]

And then another amnesty a few years down the road....

[ritenow]

No action in the past eight years and now let's raise hell because it didn't happen in eight months. Really?

[cjt1957]

Bad idea 8 years ago, still is now. Obama needed a carrot on a stick to get the votes....

[k1k2legend]

Today, illegal immigrants refuse to go clinics for routine health problems and instead go to the ER at night since they are told that they cannot be turned away. RazaUnida threatens lawsuits when the ER staff assess a non-emergency and refer them to a clinic. If the illegal immigrants are routinely deported, essentially there wil be no health care crisis! They receive free health care, education, and welfare as they send their money to Mexico.
Our laws state that people who cross into our borders illegally will be arrested and deported, but Americans bemoan that our Immigration and Naturalization officials enforce these laws. Why?
Every facet of our lifestyles are impacted by our ability or inability to speak spanish, not english! In Mexico, If you cannot speak spanish, find an interpreter. If you march against the capitol for your rights as an American citizen, the result will be a Mexican jail for an undisclosed period of time. We must fight for our country. Apathy is the greatest danger facing our nation today. Our elected officials allow RazaUnida and other Mexican lobbyists to pander legislation for the illegal aliens instead of their own constituents.
These people dare to march in our country screaming for their rights??? RazaUnida has no place within our Congressional process....if they want a united mexican race, go to Mexico and fight for it. America will not become Mexico II. We have tired of our courts representing Mexico instead of the American citizen.
Think about it.

[itsanewday]

Well stated.

[marmara33]

I think it's about time legislators start working on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. While they procrastinate the problem just gets bigger, the hate just gets more hateful. Fix the problem now!

[Gasparilla]

"The problem" is that another amnesty, like the one in 1986, just sets the stage for another one further down the road.

[Pquilson]

I agree, fix the problem. Enforce the immigration laws on the books. Enforce employer sanctions against hiring illegal aliens, secure the border.

[yukionna]

The comments I read here are really quite disappointing. Mainly because I believe that very few of you have experienced the current immigration process. For countries like Mexico, Philippines, etc. the priority dates (i.e. the date of the applications that are being processed) are mostly in the 90's. With such an enormous backlog, the disadvantages of being an illegal immigrant (crappy working conditions and low pay) are more bearable than the disadvantages of having to go through the legal immigration process (no/crappier work or pay for 5-10 years). Moreover, complications exist in the visa application process that put most illegal immigrants in the category where they will have to wait 10 years to get in.

I remember my interview for my green card, and the immigration officer took no more that 20 minutes going over my documents (note that this is a big folder). With such a huge backlog in visa applications, I propose increasing the number of USCIS workers as well as indexing the application fee to inflation. Also, removing per-country visa application limits add to the inefficiency in the system by creating shortages, thus forcing others to use a different method to obtain work in the United States. As for the current illegal immigrants, I suggest that they pay a large fee and grant them a working visa which would allow them to work here and for them to pursue a path to citizenship. Finally, removing minimum wage laws because they aren't economically efficient.

[Gasparilla]

You operate under the assumption that everyone who wants to come here is entitled to do so. We accept by far the largest number of immigrants in the world. That is the main reason our population will grow to more than 420 million by 2050. If you are "disappointed" that anyone cannot just enter here because they want to, that's your problem.

[skeck]

I went through the process with my ex. It took about 6 years after we married and an unbelieveable amount of hassle for him to get his citizenship. At one point we actually had the FBI show up at our door. They were doing an internal investigation of immigration agents who were taking bribes to approve documents based on sham marriages. Since our marriage was legit - no problem -but it was a very interesting experience.
The day he was finally sworn in as a citizen was a great day though. Brought our kids and made a big deal out of it even though they were a little young to fully understand it all.
Exactly why I resent all the illegals who think they are entitled to something because they were able to sneak over the border

[itsanewday]

in other words you have no respect for this country. You are only here to benefit yourself while dis-obeying the law. The process is there for a reason and just because you do not agree with it does not give you the right to disrepect the citizens of America and our laws.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

"I believe that very few of you have experienced the current immigration process. "

Actually, if you are disappointed in finding increasing opposition to illegal immigration, it is because more and more of us are being exposed to the current immigration process.

It's a free-for-all. The immigration laws are not being enforced to either protect U.S. citizens or legal immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens or otherwise lawfully work in the United States.

[nee]

Heavily fine those who hire ILLEGALS and the jobs will dry up. ILLEGALS would then self-deport. We are spending BILLIONS on ILLEGAL ALIENS. We need to use that money on our own citizens. All ILLEGAL ALIENS no matter who they are related to or where they come from should be deported. They need to go back to their own countries and make changes in them. We also need to return to the original intent of the 14th amendment and do away with anchor babies.

[OldFreddie]

The Congressional Research Service says Obama is not telling the truth about no health care for illegals in House bill 3200. The loophole is that nowhere in the bill does it say that proof of citizenship is required to apply for government programs. Also, there is a provision that if one member of a household is a citizen, all members of that household are eligible for government help. Can you say "anchor babies'? Shameful.

[Gasparilla]

There are many states that actually forbid a healthcare or social services provider from asking about a person's status. There has to be a law that specifically says no illegals will be eligible and no state law can stop a process of checking.

[itsanewday]

Healthcare official have mis-applied the law. The cannot turn away anyone with serious ailment that could result in life or death. They are free to turn away individuals seeking general health care such as a cold, a scrape finger, etc. Private hospital doing all the time. Hospitals like Parkland do it to get more federal dollars. The more illegals with no source of income the more they can apply for federal dollars to continue funding their many other projects.

[H321]

I'm a Liberal who is against Amnesty and against giving into illegals.
Sorry but this country is too broken right now, we can't bend over backwards for you any longer.
Take a hike or get in line.

[OldFreddie]

I agree. A country's immigration laws should be put into place to protect the citizens of that country, not the other way around.

[itsanewday]

and by deporting all of them and putting strict laws in place for violators is the only way to send a message that American is serious about unauthorized entry into this country.

[Hope01]

Healthcare reform first! take a ticket and get in line!

[nee]

We just need to make sure ILLEGALS don't get in the health care lines.

[Dupree]

The immigrants must take a number and wait their turn. It is called good manners. When in Rome .....behave as a Roman. It is not appropriate for a non-citizen to demand the status of that of a citizen. I can not see myself coming into a foreign country and then demanding that I be given preferential treatment. I am not against immigrants...but I am of the strong conviction that they are out of line to flex their non-citizen muscles and demand anything from a foreign government of which America is to them. We owe you nothing and it is a privilege NOT a right to be in this country and it is time all those that willingly cross our borders know this profound truth. I happen to embrace all people but I have a fundamental problem when those that are not born here...begins to demand citizenship and acts as if they are entitled to it.

[masher]

Well, Obama will just make them all citizens with "amnesty." And then they will be romans.
See how that works?