Why Immigration Reform Now Isn't Such a Bad Idea

The New York Times is reporting that the White House intends to jump-start a new debate on immigration reform this year, a move in line with promises made by the president during the campaign season. Not surprisingly, there is some trepidation among Democrats as to whether an issue as thorny as immigration might distract from this year's debate on health care, energy and education.

There are, to be sure, some serious risks in addressing immigration reform during an economic crisis. If the White House fails to persuade the public that immigration reform would have a positive impact on the economy, the president faces presenting Republicans with their first winning issue of 2009. The battle cry from the right will undoubtedly be that Democrats are bringing millions of new workers into an economy short on jobs.

Still, now might be the perfect time to debate the issue.

Perhaps the single most important voting bloc in the country is Hispanic voters, who represent the fastest growing minority population in the country. Even Karl Rove recognized how critical this group would be to building a stable, winning coalition, and he pushed for the GOP to target Hispanic voters. But, as with most smart political strategies suggested to the GOP in the last few years, no one who mattered paid any attention.

Instead, Republicans let their nativism run wild, making vicious anti-immigrant proclamations a center piece of their primary campaign. In doing so, they caused what might end up being the most significant realignment in American politics since the south abandoned Lyndon Johnson's Democratic Party. In 2004, John Kerry won the national Hispanic vote, 53-44. In 2008, Obama took it 67-31. In a state like New Mexico, that meant a Democrat winning by 15 points instead of losing by one. It also meant sizable electoral swings in other southwest states, including Colorado and Nevada, and played a significant role in Obama's victory in Florida.

Hispanic voters are the key to Obama's re-election. They are the key to his successor's election. What better time to solidify their support?

The political climate is ripe for it. Obama has admitted that, yes, immigration reform can be a minefield, but what better time to drag Republicans over a few mines? The GOP appears committed to their strategy of opposing the president as unanimously as possible; when they oppose immigration reform, when they once again begin their paranoid berating of immigrants, when they once again feed the panicked xenophobia of their ever diminishing base, they might well succeed in making Hispanics a reliable Democratic voting bloc for a generation.

Obama won't even have to sign immigration reform into law to succeed. He'll simply have to sound reasonable, reach out to the Hispanic community, and let the Republican Party do the rest.

Comments

[lilian101]

Why bother with immigration reform? Mr. Obama's campaigning for re-election needs would be satisfied if the U.S. simply granted all of Centrail and South America the right to vote in US Presidential Elections.
Never will forget the last president of Mexico speaking at the Los Angeles Unfied School District next to a Mexxican flag in a US Classroom, proudly announcing that, "Every citizen of Mexico has a right to an education in the United States."
Mexico does not provide the right to an education for its citizens in Mexico, the US does

[MexAm101]

Mr. Loewe assumes that all self-identified Hispanics are in favor of illegal immigration and that legalizing the current illegal aliens in the US would guarantee Hispanic votes for Obama in the future. Wrong! There are many Hispanics, myself included, who do not support giving an amnesty to illegal aliens currently living in the US. In fact, for me this is the critical issue. No amount of Obama charm or eloquent speech is going to convince me that granting amnesty to illegal aliens living in the US is a good thing. I've spent many years living amongst illegal aliens and I have observed that everyone that I have known (hundreds, by the way) is here only to see what he or she can get for free or to steal whatever he or she can. These people have no respect for the rule of law.

Mr. Loewe if you have any brains in your head you'll realize that some of the people most hurt by illegal aliens are American citizens of Mexican or other Hispanic descent. I've already written to my Congressman: NO to illegal alien amnesty. NO to education, health, or any other benefits to illegal aliens. NO to the Dream Act for illegal aliens. All illegal aliens in the US need to go home--wherever that is!

[sticksnstones]

So, your solution to a situation which demands a resolution is to round up 12-15 MILLION people and send them home to .... well, at least a few dozen countries. How do you plan to implement this brilliantl­y-inspired plan, Amigo ?? Where ya' gonna' round up the 3-5 million personnel needed to find, identify, sort, detain, feed, house, ship and disembark these 12-15 Million people?? Where are you going to find the funding for this project ?? I'm personally not willing to pay the freight on your plan just because, in your opinion, illegal immigrants " have no respect for the rule of law ".

[randyjet]

They can leave the same way they came. Just how did they get here to begin with? I don't recall the US government paying their way here. If you cut off their ability to work by mandating E-Verify in all workplaces, use ICE raids, take away their ability to get documents, the problem will largely take care of itself. There HAS to be workplace enforcement and stiff fines and jail time for employers who don't follow the law. This will knock out over half the illegals. The other half which works off the books, will have to be forced by raids and ID checks. The problem CAN and MUST be solved in this manner. As it becomes less illegal friendly, most will go back home since the reason for their being here will be gone.

[Henryk A. Kowalczyk - Huffpost Blogger]

Can we consider a different take on the same issue? The Congress established bad immigration laws and went unpunished. The executive branch did not enforce the nonsensical laws, and went unpunished. Millions of immigrants are employed here, what means that millions of Americans break the law every day and go unpunished. Please do not put any aliens into this mixture. They did not vote in our laws. They are not responsible for the enforcement of our laws either. Most of them want to work honestly to make a better living. If not given work and assurance of security from our fellow Americans, they would not be here.

It is time for Congress to take responsibility for its actions and recognize that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was a bad law that needs to be revoked. No amnesty is necessary. Congress needs to apologize to all Americans and foreigners that have been inconvenienced by the bad law. By doing so, it will make all illegal immigrants legal.

[scooperss]

I'm curious as I see you are an immigrant yourself. Does the country you are originally from have open borders? Could anyone come across the border and get free health care from a hospital any time they want? Could they get a job and not pay their own way but send money home while getting that free health care? Could they have children and get paid for doing that?

I don't see why you seem to think the US should completely do away with borders and allow anyone in when other countries are not doing the same.

Is your family still in that other country and you want them to cross the border and automatically be legal?

And the only things that were wrong was the first amnesty and the subsequent failure of our government to enforce it's own laws.

[VistaClimber2009]

In theory, legalizing the 15-20 million illegals will immediately 'raise their wages'

The problem is, and pro-amnesty forces cannot deny this credibly, the moment you legalize these 15 million workers, they magically become 'lazy Americans who won't do these jobs' (translation: we can't pay them slave wages), and the vans, trucks, tunnels will be needed to bring in 15 million MORE illegals.

It won't end. Not until the border is better secured and employers are legally and financially carpet-bombed for their anti-worker slave policies.

[schwr]

What do we want from immigration? First of all we would like to deal with law abiding citizens and taxpayers, we do not want to get criminals and welfare recipients. The immigration should be beneficial not only for newcomers, but first of all for natural born American citizens.
How could we achieve this goal? Today government officials decide the fate of prospective immigrants. I believe that the right to decide should belong to employers. If a foreigner can find a job in the US without taking it from American, if he pays taxes and does not commit crimes, he should be able to stay legally in the US, to become a permanent resident and later a citizen. In all other cases he has no room in the US.
It should be easy to visit the US with tourist visa . It should not be a problem to stay legally in the US to work or study. Hence only people without legal sources of income will have an incentive to stay illegally and these people should be deported.

The main problem is to guarantee that the competition of foreigners will not drive down the salary of American workers. I support the suggestion to tax employers of immigrants. Then it will be more profitable to employ domestic workers (if they can be found). Together with existing laws protecting American workers this tax will leave to immigrants the jobs where they will not present an unfair competition to Americans.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

"Vista Climber" has, in more words than necessary, described what some years ago observed as an incipient pattern in the so-called 'immigration policy' of the U.S., a CONTINUING ROLLING AMNESTY in which each cycle begets the next. 1986 was touted as the last and final time; less than 20 years later, the situation is worse than even then!!!

NO MORE AMNESTIES in U.S. Immigration Policy (even replete with childish figleafs like "path to citizenship")!

[Henryk A. Kowalczyk - Huffpost Blogger]

The voice of VistClimber, when translated into plain English means that socialism is better than the free market.

It calls for giving bureaucrats even more power to limit freedom of migration.

It manifests a complete lack of understanding of how the free market works.

It is fear mongering, straight from the lecture of John Tanton pamphlets.

[shiningstar1]

Pretty soon all of us American's out of work might be illegals in Canada. Maybe now some of the people that have been so unkind to people just trying to survive and take advantage of an opportunity, can understand what it's like to be without options in your own country. People do what they have to do and everybody came here for the same reasons. Timing is everything.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

.....and the time when the U.S. can accomodate "mass immigration" (as between 1880 and 1920) is long over! The reason "these people" are "without option in your[mutatis mutandem] is precisely why they should be excluded from the U.S., i.e., they are the NEXT(?) wavefront of OVERPOPULATION from the Third World!

The people of the U.S. (citizenry) should "do what they have to do" and REDUCE all IMMIGRATION--but totally all ILLEGALS--to protect the frayed resources of THEIR country as well as the social and ECONOMIC infrastructure which has taken generations to establish. MASS IMMIGRATION threatens to push the U.S. downward into a category below Japan, Europe, and eventually China.

There is NO demonstrated NEED for ANY additional supplies of labour in the U.S., except for some seasonal, agricultural help.

If you pity, sympathize, emphathize with the plight of the Third World, send them $$ or volunteer your expertise in order to improve living conditions there--especially in REDUCING their utterly unsustainable levels of FERTILITY!

[teron678]

A reasonable Immigration Reform Bill .. will comprise of closing the borders (not just talking about it), going after companies & people who hire Illegal Immigrants & giving amnesty to those Illegal immigrants .. but they will have to get in the back of the line to gain citizenship ...

[mergina]

This country is CHOKING on the infestation of illegal aliens pouring into this country. IT MUST STOP AND IT MUST STOP NOW. Reform this. Send them ALL BACK TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. Of course it will never happen, because businesses across America have politicians in their pockets, and when they can hire illegals to work for peanuts rather than hiring Americans, well there it is. What jobs they cannot outsource will be filled by illegals if they can be. You cannot imagine how many sensitive jobs in America are now being held by people who cannot even provide an accurate background check. Who are they? Where are they from? What have they done? Perhaps we should consider invading Mexico and simply making it the 51st state to clean out its wretched drug cartels and corrupt politicians and poverty.

[Inaru]

"Perhaps we should consider invading Mexico and simply making it the 51st state to clean out its wretched drug cartels and corrupt politicians and poverty." Already did that, it added CA and TX and AZ - how are the drugs, corrupt politicians and poverty-solving going there? And in the north, east and south and midwest, too, by the way.

My only comfort reading all the virulence here is that Germans, Irish and Italians, all but the Brits were spoken of this badly, and them too after a few years. And it makes clear just who really is a "progressive". Either a lot of people who think so need to re-think it, or HuffPo's been invaded by the dittos.

[nee]

The Germans, Irish, and Italians didn't come over here ILLEGALLY!

[Pleneras]

You cannot prevent natural human migration! That is the natural order of things for the human specie. What you will not admit is that the migration of your ancestors be that 2 generations more or less is not GRANDFATHERED. You are a natural born american not a native american. In about 1000 years you will still be considered part of the repeopling of the American migration. Too soon to prevent what is the natural human condition, and if the US didn't meddle in latin american affairs they would be better off then we right now. Some are by the way. Nuclear and filthy rich does not qualify for having the best functioning country for their citizens. You cannot consider Mexicans who have never left to be less than you who is evidently a son/daug of an immigrant or a grandson/daug of one. Mexican tribes have always travelled north for centuries all the way to the northwest, like birds fly south. Your ethnocentric ignorant comment proves you cannot love God if you can't stand the person next to you. Hypocrite. Get off your "I'm a native" mantle and return to your immigrant descendant stool, because you are not native. The Indians can make the same charge to you and they have every right to do so. There are several million europeans, Asians, and Africans illigally in this country. US is a mess starting at the top with a ignorant population who thinks like you do.

[QM2SS]

It appears you are predisposed to dismiss the established rights of sovereignty and national independence throughout the world while using that dismissal as a prerequisite for basing your argument. Thousand of years ago " natural human migration" was an uninhibited one. However, the world has come to a different understanding as to how it feels about its national rights. In my mind this is neither a ethnocentric issue, nor a xenophobic issue nor an immigration issue. This is not immigration in any form. This is an invasion of a sovereign nation by 20 million + uninvited people the likes of which the world has never seen. These law breakers are not fleeing a war torn region, nor are they being persecuted for their religious or political beliefs, nor are they escaping from under the iron hand of a despotic dictatorship. They are looking across the fence at the neighbors yard, seeing the grass is greener on the other side, and in lieu of planting their own, decide to camp out in ours. The economic impact of these law breakers has overwhelmed our social services system, filled our prisons, suppressed wages and dumbed-down the education of our children. All this while flying Mexican flags demanding their "rights".

I respectfully submit that as proud Mexican citizens it is incumbent on them to work collectively and diligently in their own country to build a nation which represents and addresses the needs of its citizens, like we fought and died for in this country.

[Henryk A. Kowalczyk - Huffpost Blogger]

It is amazing how much passion some people like mergina put in repeating a poisonous mantra spread by John Tanton. Backwardness, narrow mind, and lack of understanding of basics of social phenomena are in the background of these, for all practical reasons, fascist views.

The Freedom of Migration Act, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/henryk-a-kowalczyk/the-freedom-of-migration_b_164505.html offers simple and logical solution to our immigration crisis.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

You present only the limpist of VAGARIES, i.e., "social phenomena," and sneering AD HOMINEM arguments. Whatever your "distinguished" background portends, your arguments depend on foregone conclusions which--by the way--don't even rise above the self-serving to the level of ideology!

[teron678]

yes, all illegal immigrants are Mexicans .... send back the brownies .. but like all the whites .. from Europe, Canada etc .. who too are here illegally .......

Stop being a f00l ......

[LeLoup]

Be very careful what you wish for, Buster!

When the anti-immigration fervor ends up having ICE deporting AMERICAN CITIZENS by the hundreds (that we know of) how does that make you feel?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090412/ap_on_re_us/mistaken_for_illegal_i

[FairTalk]

We do not need illegals to take jobs from US legal residents. We do need to employ all of our urban youth. We need jobs noy jails, we don't need illegals.

I know why the Repubs don't get this, but why do the so called progressives not understand this?

[Inaru]

"Illegals" as you call them, do not take jobs away from citizens. Employers choose to give jobs to those who will take the least pay. If you force them to stay undocumented, you will lose jobs to them. If you give them work permits and temporary resident papers, put them at the end of the citizenship line after paying fines, then they must be paid the same as citizens by employers, they can organize to start/join unions, and the job-competition playing field is even, finally. Why don't "progressives" understand this?

On jobs not jails, agreed. The main reason "urban" aka black youth are conveniently deemed ineligible for jobs is a police record, often a felony conviction. Don't just complain, please do something, like support Virginia Dem Sen. Jim Webb for proposing we end useless incarceration of non-violent most-often drug offenders:
http://www.colorofchange.org/webb/?id=2424-421937

[nee]

Those who provide jobs for ILLEGAL ALIENS should be jailed and heavily fined. The only lines ILLEGAL ALIENS need to be in is the line to deport them back to their own countries.

[FairTalk]

You are completely incorrect.

The reason urban uouth are not hired is because employers don't want them. Are you suggesting all urban youth have police records, or only those whith police records go unhired?

In New Bedford Mass, a couple years ago, Immigration raid took most of the work force into custody. The "whine" in the news was Americans didn't want those jobs. Guess what? The pland didn't have to close after all, two days later thay had hired Americans and legal residents to replace all the illegals.

We also have a wonderful immigration policy. I suggest any who want to come and stay in America get in line and apply legally.

I expect all workers in this country be law abiding. Bottom line.

[research]

Require Employers, including homeowners, to enter the workers id info, to verify citizen ship, or permission to work in the USA. Fine the employers if the violate this, something like treble wages paid.

Require employers to pay minimum wage or more.

Require employers to list the wages paid on their taxes.

The whole immigration problem is a problem of us wanting our cheap submissive laborers, but not wanting the consequences.

[Inaru]

The citizenship ID database had better be a lot better than the terrorism-watchlist database is, which included Sen. Ted Kennedy!

Without granting immigrants temporary work visas and residency, you can't obligate employers to do anything. The whole point is the undocumented are "underground" workers. Only after long, drawn-out court proceedings are undocumented immigrants occasionally ruled eligible for equal pay.

Legal immigrants can organize/join unions - that's why the right-wingers are again suckered to help millionaire employers fight to not legalize the millions exploited here now. Progressives of every hue had best understand that, and quit blaming the immigrants for losing jobs. Trust me, as soon as we legalize the ones here, the employers will try to bring others to keep lowering wages.

If we make it legal and acceptable socially for immigrants, legal or not, to easily join/form unions, hell if we pass the Employee Free Choice Act to make it easier for citizens to form unions, the gaming of workers by the rich would be done, finished, through.

Funny - not ha-ha - how little energy progressives spend in supporting unions. Too many unions-as-thugs Hollywood movies? Unions aren't "cool" enough? Just because some were run by thugs and struck for wages that guaranteed their jobs were exported, does not mean it can't be done differently. Fair unions that preserve well-paying jobs just require more, not less, democratic participation.

No unions, no legalized immigrants = unfair too-low wages. It's really quite simple.

[research]

Mostly agree.

I also suggest that police carry instant id kits in their cars.

If you are stopped without ID for some reason, or if you ask for id, the police take info, picture and fingerprints. This goes on the publicly available data base at immigration. Obviously, like now, if there is a warrant for your arrest, that's what happens. If you just forgot you ID, it shows up that you are a citizen.

otherwise you go on your way, now with an official ID. Able to get work, Immigration permits for visiting foreigners.

So the only "Illegal" is someone who has committed some crimes.

Foreigners who have overstayed their visa, usually just get their immigration permission to work revoked.

Perhaps anyone should be allowed to join any union. Job or not, citizen or not, since it's basilica an advocacy group.

[FairTalk]

The problem is that the taxpayer pays for the consequences, and the elected officials pocket campaign contributions.

[Farkel4444]

Acorn needs to just give legal status to these people when they sign them into the Progressive Party.

1).. Saves money we could be spending to help the environment
2). . Saves all the legal fees from these close elections.
3). .. Helps create Chavez/Castro type state control.

Thank you Donkey!

[LeftLeaner]

With over 1 million "legal" immigrants becoming citizens yearly, along with over 13 "visa" related programs for foreigners, I don't think it's a good idea to make the over 12 - 20 milion illegals (plus their relatives) "legal" now or ever.

With jobs taking a free fall - especially in recent months - there are enough Americans in need of work without having to "compete" with unwelcomed illegals.

I couldn't disagree with you more, Dylan Loewe.

[Inaru]

Fine, let them reduce all citizen's wages then! Legal or not, they will work. Do immigrants lower wages and export jobs, or do employers? Have you worked to form a union? Then you got what you [didn't] work for. With or without immigrants, employers will pay the least possible, and take the most profit possible, gladly paying lobbyists before paying taxes or fair wages.

Now, Dylan is nuts for putting Colorado and Nevada in the SW! I don't know what's more embarrassing, American laziness for working for fair employment wages with democratic participation in unions, or our lousy geography knowledge. Only the Las Vegas portion of NV is south, the rest of NV and all of CO is parallel to Northern CA, Utah and Kansas. Dios mio!

[FairTalk]

Americans are not lazy. They are illinformed and unorganized. The unions have failed, and are no less corrupt that the corporations. The voters are apathetic and elected officials pocket campaign contributions.

Compared with European workers, American workers are unfairly compensated.

[jonmonbuckeye]

Here is another point to ponder... As you get older, and more baby bummers retire, who is going to fill the vast need for resources in key fields to take care of an aging population? Even estimates by the Heritage Foundation point to a severe shortage of available workers in these fields over the next 20-30 years. They themselves admitted that we will need to rely on immigrants to help care for the aging baby bummers. Simply put, we aren't reproducing fast enough to support the herd. Couple this with the fact that the majority of the Baby bummers will drain social security dry unless there are new revenue sources. You can complain all you want. The fact is, America needs as many immigrants as it can get. Sorry to interject reality into the xenophobic conversati­on....

[LeftLeaner]

The outlay of public costs to support these millions of illegals, will far outway the financial contribution they will bring this economy, as they are mostly low end workers, whose taxes to be collected (if any) will be minimal at best compared to the drain on the economy they will cause by use of our medial, education, and legal system - not to mention, the depressed wage base they will create.

Your assessment is inaccurate.

They will not be a plus to our economy, but continue to be an ever draining burden.

[jonmonbuckeye]

Boy I love your unsupported logic. Here are the facts: In Texas alone, illegal immigrants contribute over 16 billion on an annual basis to the state economy. Compared to social services spending that equates to paying approximately $2.25 for every dollar for social services received. Now let's compare that to individuals who earn 40K and below, in which the average social outlay is $2.37 for every dollar received from "legal" citizens in that income group. Take some classes in economics from any university, and not Fox News please.

[Kassandra]

That's just propaganda, not reality. Just another way to divide us. Don't believe it. Generational hogwash.
I wouldn't believe a thing the Heritage foundation said or says. They are in it for the One World Government and the mega corporations who want slaves back. The more they can make us fear each other, the better they like it.

[Inaru]

Sigh, is math really so badly taught here? It's simple math. Latinos - and most people from developing countries - have more children, kids are considered a blessing, not a burden. The simple fact that we have more kids means there will be more immigrant youth and youth from immigrants (not the same thing, read carefully!) than there will be European Americans. The descendants of Europeans here (and in Europe, for all I know) are taught to value possessions first, children later, and not many Europeans are knocking down the doors to come to no-health-care America. So, it is a simple fact, not a tin-foil-hat plot, that the demographics are changing. They did before (this is Indian country, after all), and they will again. Change is constant.

[QM2SS]

I'm not sure where you live, but in the Los Angeles area where I do there is ample evidence of the excessive amounts of illegal aliens throughout the county. Every Home Depot, construction supply outlet, and equipment rental company is fronted with swarming illegals pushing each other out of the way to get your attention in what ever aggressive fashion they deem necessary. Being one of those "bummers" you refer to who are "draining" the Social Security system after having contributed for close to 50 years, I take issue with your depiction of my generation as needy, xenophobic leaches. You are waaaay out of focus, no doubt clouded by your naivete. Your sophomoric and tepid rhetoric aside, I respectfully submit that if this issue were put to a popular vote of the citizens in this nation the polls indicate that 70% would chose enforcing the immigration laws and returning these law breakers to their home countries. Interject that reality...

[FairTalk]

LOL First of all, those of us who support US immigration policies are not xenophobic. We are, however, opposed to illegal, unlawful, cheaters, who refuse to stand in line to enter and work in the US.

BTW, in case you haven't notised, most baby boomers will have to continue working as they lost their retirement in the recent economic crash. Many have also lost jobs, and some 10,000 showed up for a job fair not far from here. All the while thousands of illegals are working in the same area.

So, let me understand, I am xenophobic if I oppose Americans on unemployment while illegals are paid under the table, and send the cash out of country?

[Tom Moulton]

Why can't we enforce the immigration Laws that are on the books now? Obama promised to make this a United States not the land of illegal States? Why doesn't someone post the laws in other countries and see what the penalties are for being in their country illegally? Its rather sad when you put the legal citizens on the back burner in hope of getting some new voters out of the illegal ones. It makes you wonder why you would want to become a citizen knowing that your chances of getting screwed over are far greater as one. Something well all should think about. Obama PROMISED us Change! he never said DOLLARS!

[LeftLeaner]

You are so right.

Both parties have sold out for the sake of votes and/or low wages.

We need a new party to represent "Us" the working class of American.

Unfortunately, 3rd party candidates are snuffed out in every election before they ever get a chance.

[Kassandra]

I heard today that immigration "reform" is going to be put off until the mid-terms and the existing laws enforced..­.Too bad that means a continuation of the border fence building which is going to work about as well as putting up plastic but KRB has the contract..­.so.......­..

[claylandg]

Secure the borders!!!!

[LeftLeaner]

Yes, and "implement" e-verify (95=% accurate), and our economy and we'll see an improvement in several sectors.

[LeftLeaner]

yes, and while they're at it (that will be the day), start implementing e-verify (95+% accurate).

That would certainly mitigate some of the out of control illegal problem we are dealing with.

[clarryr]

That's funny. E-verify was just voted down by the Idaho legislature in one of the reddest states there are - Idaho.

[Solaris123]

Anytime a President, Republican or Democrat issues a proposal, a group of sycophants immediately lauds it as necessary and timely. The same people would proclaim the issue unimportant if the White House said it was unimportant. How's this different from royal court of Louis XIV or some 14th Century caliph?

[FrozenNorthObserver]

Being a political cynic at heart I should point out it also makes a outstanding political distraction from the thorny issues of Iraq&Afghanistan, the Wall St scam, the Chaney like secrecy, fighting Bush investigations etc. Just look at the reaction here. The place is abuzz with opinion and emotion. It's the perfect distraction because it really doesn't matter much one way or another, it's not going really change anything. You get another 20million people who are already there anyway with no reasonable way of getting rid of them. So it already is what it is. More illegals will keep coming and 15-20 yrs from now you'll do it all over again but meanwhile people will go nuts on both sides and it takes the heat off. And as far as any extra cost who cares seems ya just wave a magic wand and get a trillion these days. But then these are Chicago politicians so that would be just silly. I don't know what I was thinking.