Is The Media (And Blogosphere) Killing Immigration Reform?

President Obama has resolutely and repeatedly stated his intention to move immigration reform this year and create a path to citizenship for 12 million hardworking, new Americans. The two major American labor federations recently agreed to a plan that will help immigrants as well as US-born workers, ending the stalemate that hampered reform in 2007. A major funder, the Ford Foundation, has announced unprecedented support for grassroots organizations pressing reform this year.

So why is the mainstream media in a perpetual state of disbelief? On April 9, 2009, the New York Times ran a front page story citing aides in the Administration who say comprehensive immigration reform, including a workable path to citizenship for America's undocumented population, will be a priority this year. Note that the story was front page news only because it was so counterintuitive --- not to the President, who sees immigration reform as an imperative moral and economic issue, but to the news media, who can't understand why Obama would pursue another complicated priority that the media can joyfully turn into a political soap opera. Shouldn't Obama just take a breather and save the whales?

Obama has made clear that he intends to help suffering Americans, citizens and immigrants alike, and recognizes that comprehensive immigration reform must be prioritized alongside other strategies to rebuild our struggling economy. Yet a full two weeks later on April 22, with plenty of time in between to read the New York Times cover story in between, Fox News reported, "The Obama Administration has not seemed anxious to deal with this political hot potato, at least not this year." Perhaps it's not fair to pick on Fox News, whose reporters have repeatedly proven they're illiterate, but privately, far more reliable journalists and columnists have expressed their unyielding skepticism. When Vice President Joe Biden told reporters, "We've got to start serious discussions, serious negotiations on immigration now. I hope we'd be able to complete it this year, but whether we can or not, we have to start," the AP reported only that Biden said overhaul of the existing system may have to wait for 2010. This is all a publicity stunt, the media suggests, for Obama to simultaneously woo and placate Latino voters. He couldn't be serious!

"The unprecedented political participation of immigrants in the past election, new allies and alliances supporting reform, the leadership of the White House --- immigration reform is at a level of possibility and necessity like never before," Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition told me recently. But here's what's going to happen. The May 1st immigration rallies across the country, which had swelled to millions in the streets in the past, will undoubtedly be smaller this year --- in part, says Hong, because "we're more sophisticated now and engaged behind the scenes to make reform happen" but also because the media has created the perception that reform isn't really on the table, tamping down the hopes and thus energy of immigrant communities. So on May 2nd, when the mainstream media says, "See, we told you that there isn't enough political pressure and mobilization for immigration reform to be a serious priority," the media will be guilty of creating the self-fulfilling prophecy they like to call news.

It is no coincidence that the mainstream media is faltering as the opinion-driven blogosphere is on the rise. While newspapers and television news have long denied that they are part of the stories they cover, that the concept of what is "news" is not objective but rather a subjective determination they drive and thus create, the blogosphere not only acknowledges but seeks to exploit its power to shape the environment on which it opines. Bloggers don't just comment on elections, they seed candidates. Facebook doesn't just track social movements, its starts them. Meanwhile the mainstream media, congenitally averse to acknowledging its point of view, is by design or by default a defender of the status quo. As the blogosphere tries to act at the speed of light to capture and catalyze change, the media reports on change only once it has happened --- inevitably behind the curve. So the prospect of not only sweeping change that would affect the lives of 12 million new Americans and their millions of US-born family members and friends and neighbors and classmates, all for the better, is so hard to believe for the change-adverse media that they require proof. Words from the President and his aides won't suffice. But the trouble is hard proof, like, um, passing legislation, will not happen as long as the media insists it's unlikely. It's a Catch 22 that not only hobbles the possibility of much-needed reform but the credibility and relevance of the media as well.

Not that the blogosphere is much better. In a 2007 study, the Opportunity Agenda found that immigration was woefully under-addressed in leading blogs, compared with other key social justice issues. And what's worse, posts that did speak to immigration reform were commonly pelted with deeply anti-immigrant comments, including on the most progressive blogs. Immigration reform is not an issue that the liberal establishment, new or old, has stepped up to champion. But again, that doesn't mean the Obama Administration isn't serious about making this a priority nor that the immigration reform movement has the moral suasion and muscle to win. All this says is that the white liberal mainstream, online or off, is as behind on this issue as many others affecting primarily low-income communities of color.

Immigration reform is a priority --- this year --- for our President, who prioritizes unity and shared prosperity over the lunatic rants of the fringe Right, and for millions of immigrants and their millions and millions of allies who know that as an American community, we can only move forward together. The mainstream media hasn't been skeptical about the commitment to health care reform and budget priorities and for these priorities, the blogosphere has shown its clear support. What about immigration reform? Will the media cover it, the blogosphere champion it, or both be culpable in killing it?

Meanwhile, if you want to add your voice to the millions calling for a workable path to citizenship and an immigration policy that lifts up all Americans, text JUSTICE or JUSTICIA to 69866 from your mobile phone, or visit http://www.anewdayforimmigration.org.

Comments

[Brittanicus]

Support the revised (SAVE) Act as it targets employers with stiff penalties for hiring illegal aliens, secures the northern and southern border by adding 8,000 new border patrol agents and increases interior enforcement by allowing for additional federal district court judges and provides more resources for law enforcement officers. In this package E-Verify would be mandatory, in-perpetuity driving illegal labor from the workplace. Rep. Heath Schuler's e-verification program, would require federal agencies, contractors and employers to verify the eligibility of --ALL EMPLOYEES--within one to four years, depending on the size of the company.

This is not about discrimination because E-verify is activated after someone has been hired,” Shuler said. “This helps to ensure that local officials can identify who they arrest. Interior enforcement is crucial.” It's essential that Americans back him and his sponsors when the act is introduced in the next few weeks. This is namely after Sen. Harry Reid(D-NV) and speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) silently neutralized E-Verify, plus 48 other members of the Senate. We cannot trust these pro-illegal immigrant-­-PARIAH--c­heap labor--BUSINESS politicians. With over 12 million Americans out of work and large numbers of new veterans entering the workplace, nor can our own kids get Summer jobs. We just cannot accept any legalization of 13 to 20 million foreign nationals and the huge costs sustaining them. Offer your support to Rep.Shuler (D-NC) on his website. Phone: [phone] Learn more at NUMBERSUSA

[QM2SS]

If "blame" is what you seek for the malaise you imply exists regarding immigration reform you have failed to consider the voice of the American people and the behavior of the illegal immigrant into the equation. To the citizens of this country this is not a fringe issue and they have made their opinion evident, particularly to the media. Responses to your blog along with recent polls, indicate that the vast majority of citizens in this country favor stringent adherence to all existing immigration laws.

These illegal immigrants, for which you advocate, 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 their neighbors yard, seeing the grass is greener on the other side, and in lieu of planting their own lawn, 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 in downtown Los Angeles 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. Granted, building a nation is no easy task. People in this country have fought and died doing just that.

[Brittanicus]

Change nothing! Just rigidly enforce the 1986 Simpson/Mazzoli bill, the Immigration Reform & Control Act. Demand Politicians enforce the above and the E-Verify system mandated. The job magnet will disappear and Illegal Immigrants will go home, opening jobs for Americans. Too much to comment on, regarding the Illegal alien invasion and it's cultural, language, society and financial consequences. Find the ugly answers of taxes, costs, environment and OVERPOPULATION at these websites. If you really want to fight back? NUMBERSUSA

[AspenBuzz]

There ain’t gonna be no stinking (eighth) amnesty-- not now, now ever. That’s because there are now way too many just like me who will use any means necessary, even it means having to go to jail, to stop this nation-destroying, massive attempted human pile-on from going down. That’s a given, so go ahead and try it. I can’t wait!

[MinnesotaProud]

I agree! I don't get why so many of our Democratic members keep pushing for this nonsense! Yes, LaRaza may be in the Whitehouse helping write this like they were last time, but it still won't make it pass with most of us Democrats! We hate it! Why do all of you push for AMNESTY! Never on my watch!! Obama is a smart cookie! He is trying to push this off until after 2010, because he knows most of us Democrats hate this as much as the Repugs! If he goes through with it we will vote his AMNESTY LOVING DEMS out as fast as possible! And then when he loses his Dem majority in Congress, he won't dare to try it again before he runs for re-election!
Seems Sen Amy Klobuchar has finally got the message! When she voted against an Amendment that would have PREVENTED any Illegal with a Sex Crime conviction or more than two DUI's from being able to get AMNESTY, she was flogged by MN voters! (By the way most Dem Senators also voted against this amendment. ) Oh yea, they really are interested in safety of the citizens they are supposed to represent! NOT Illegal criminals!
When E-Verify came up this past Stimulus bill she voted to keep the program and was one of only about 8 Dem Senators who joined the Repugs!
Sens them all back and American Citizens can finally have all those construction jobs which we need!

[BUTCHER111]

The deport them all type of talk isn’t practical but another practical question is, How about the backlog? The immigration system currently overwhelmed and has a backlog now. So another practical question that needs to be answered is, If the immigration system can’t handle the case load it has now then how does it suddenly handle 12 million more cases? The first step in any immigration reform is to get rid of the backlog, and fully fund and staff the system. Which would create jobs and help the unemployed rate a bit.

The second step in any immigration reform is to prove to Americans that employers that hire folks in this country illegally will be held accountable and prosecuted. In part by giving Green Cards to those workers in exchange for their testimony against the illegal employers. Because until you show folks that employers will be arrested and immigration laws enforced, and not just enforced against the employees, you won’t find the support. The line now is Amnesty 1986, we got the amnesty but not the promised employer enforcement. Until you go after employers, you won’t get the support cause nobody will believe you’ll enforce the law in the future.

[MinnesotaProud]

How about proving to American citizens that we are more important than bringing in even more people from other countries when millions in this country don't have jobs! This AMNESTY is ridiculous and will sink the Democratic Party! Despite what the talking heads and Far Left think, Americans do not support Amnesty or speeding up Immigration backlogs. We want less Immigration and that is proved in all polls except the Far Left polls!

[lancesjogren]

AndiMedi:

So the pro-amnesty media can produce push polls that prove their preordained result. So what?


The only polls taken in 2007 that asked the public specifically whether they supported the Senate CIR bill or not showed that the public was strongly opposed.

[MinnesotaProud]

It is clear! Most comments even here on Huff, DO NOT want AMNESTY!! Only the Farthest Left Loons want this to pass and Obama is smart enough to see this, even though he wants it as well! Just like Rev Wright, under the bus with you Illegals because it will interfer with his re-election!

[lancesjogren]

AndiMedi said:

"The silly notion that we will deport or drive out 12,000,000 people has collided with reality and reality is winning. "


Then stop proposing it. I don't know how many times the enforcement advocates can scream "we do not advocate mass deportation" before your brain can absorb that.

[lancesjogren]

"As I understand it--it would take at least 80 years to deport undocumented workers already in the United States, while more families continued to come to provide opportunities for their children. "

- Most immigration enforcement advocates support attrition, not mass deportation, so your point is meaningless.



"We need real reform, and a real plan that is fair and equitable. Obviously members of these immigrant families form a big percentage of our workforce--if we need that workforce, we need more ways for that workforce to be documented

-In case you hadn't noticed, unemployment is skyrocketing. We are headed into a great depression. Millions of Americans, citizens and immigrants, desperately need the jobs now held by illegal aliens.

[lancesjogren]

The author raises the question of why the media are not shaking their pom poms for "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" as they have in past years.

(well, the hapless New York Times still is, but it is true that more sober outlets of the Establishment Media are not).

Here are some possible reasons:

1). The Great Depression level unemployment that would be unleashed by CIR would give the Democratic Party a bad hair day.

2). This time, the Democrats can't pass the bill and get a half-wit Republican President to sign it. With Bush in the White House, the Democrats would have been able to blame the national disaster unleashed by CIR on Bush. Some of the public blowback would still fall on them, but the fact that the legislation had Republican as well as Democratic fingerprints all over it would greatly dampen the public ire directed at the Democrats.

[levotb]

Cobia is right on. The true number of illegal aliens--they aren't "immigrants" as this pro-lawbreaker author states--is between 30-40 million, not 12 million. "Illegal crossings are back to 2007 levels", says Border Minuemen activist Shawn Forde of MAD. She should knowl her group is on the Arizona-Mexico Border almost year-round. This article like so many others is a sham. It uses buzz words and p.c. jargon to cover up what all these efforts by the Dems and the leftist reconquista groups are trying to do--push Amnesty once again down the throats of law-abiding Americans. The Mexican flu (mistakenly termed "Swine flu" by the MSM to hide the truth) is just one very good reason to close the Border, and that would mean using U.S. Army and National Guard troops. The Border should have been shut down years ago due to the Cartel violence spilling over into the U.S. John McCain finally got it right the other day when he called for the closing of the Border.

[rwext]

HOW ABOUT 12 MILLION CRIMINALS ....

[nee]

If we HEAVILY fine and or JAIL those who hire ILLEGALS the jobs will dry up for them and they will leave willingly. I don't care how long it takes all ILLEGAL ALIENS need to be deported. We spend BILLIONS on them in CA alone. We need to use that money on our own citizesn.

[umbahli]

As I understand it--it would take at least 80 years to deport undocumented workers already in the United States, while more families continued to come to provide opportunities for their children. We need real reform, and a real plan that is fair and equitable. Obviously members of these immigrant families form a big percentage of our workforce--if we need that workforce, we need more ways for that workforce to be documented--our current law does not do that. I learned recently at a Beet Street presentation, that the US government often collects federal taxes from undocumented workers that are not traceable to the person who paid them. That file exceeds $500 BILLION! Real immigration reformers are not calling for open borders but a fair solution that does not destroy families. Many people deported are the parents of US CITIZENS--who are only children. The anti-immigration noise is loud but does not provide any solutions. It is possible to legislate our way out of the chaos, treat people humanely, and support US workers!

[huffposer]

"if we need that workforce, we need more ways for that workforce to be documented"

And you're going to argue that we need that workforce when unemployment is nearing 10%? An immigration raid occurred in Iowa and Americans were lined up to take those jobs. Recently, a janitorial job was advertised and over 500 people applied. Many of the illegal immigrants here now came because of the construction boom. Well, the construction boom is over. It'll take years to work through our existing inventory of empty homes. The jobs for which we need workers (many agriculture) can be handled with the guest worker programs. They should be streamlined, but that is the legal pathway for low-skilled immigrants to come here.

"Real immigration reformers are not calling for open borders but a fair solution that does not destroy families. Many people deported are the parents of US CITIZENS--who are only children."

And when someone is caught stealing, they're sent to prison. That breaks up a family. Get a 3rd DUI, go to prison. That breaks up families. Should we just not punish anyone with kids? Those parents came here knowing they were illegal. They knew they could be deported if caught. Then they had kids who are now going to cost $8K/year/kid to educate and who knows how much in terms of health care (SCHIP). Whose fault is that? Why should the taxpayers continue to bear the burden of their lawbreaking and irresponsibility?

[huffposer]

more --

"The anti-immigration noise is loud but does not provide any solutions. "

Here's a solution: Give us the enforcement from the 1986 amnesty that we never got. Crack down on employers who hire illegals -- fine and jail them. Streamline guest worker programs so that businesses will use them.

You say that you can't deport all the illegals (you keep calling them "undocumented"). You don't have to. Put just a few of the employers in jail and those jobs would dry up overnight. Many of the illegals would go home on their own. You think they won't? Well the papers say that the bad economy is driving some of them home already. If they can't work, many will go back home.

This issue is very personal for me. My cousin was murdered by an illegal alien (oops, "undocumented lifetaker") two years ago. If our government had done its job, she would be alive and her four-year-old daughter wouldn't be an orphan right now. They're not all murderers, of course, but they all are lawbreakers. They should be held accountable -- as should the employers.

We gave an amnesty in 1986. We thought there were 1 million illegals. 3 million showed up for the amnesty. Now, we have 12-20 million. If we do it again, how many more illegals (above and beyond the population explosion from the amnesty) do you think we'll have in another 20 years? 30 million more? 40 million? We need enforcement, not legalization.

[Never-The-Less]

YOU don't deport, you just enforce labor laws, if they got here on their own, they can leave on their own.

[Cobia]

"And what's worse, posts that did speak to immigration reform were commonly corrected with deeply anti-ILLEGAL immigration comments, including on the most progressive blogs. "

FIXED

[that-guy]

Your story needs a few corrections - these are not immigrants. They are illegal immigrants.
Immigrants already have a path to citizenship. Why are we giving illegal immigrants a free pass? If they want to immigrate to the U.S., they'll be welcome if they follow the laws of their soon to be adopted country.
The attitude of our lawmakers (pun intended) and some in the infotainment world seem to be if the institution or problem is big enough we should look the other way when it comes to obeying the law.
I don't think that idea will fly if I choose to break the law by speeding home from work. I don't think the officer will buy the argument that "everyone else" was doing it.
Are we on the road to another 'bail out' ? This time for illegal immigrants?

[Cobia]

Well, that-guy, it worked so well in 1985, didn't it?
Didn't it?

(St. Ronny and the bizR's 'amnesty bail out')

[Never-The-Less]

Amen