Progressive Activists React to Grim Diagnoses on Immigration Reform
Activists deny immigration reform is dead. (Photo: Jelena Kopanja)
Pro-reform activists acted quickly to tamp down gloomy predictions about the future of immigration reform in Congress after Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special Senate election. In a lightning round of conference calls and press releases, they argued that unlike the health care overhaul, this is an initiative that enjoys bipartisan support and that the new Senate math created by Brown’s victory “doesn’t change our fight.”
“One issue remains unshaken — immigration reform,” claimed the umbrella organization Reform Immigration for America (RI4A), which organized a national teleconference to speak “about the Massachusetts election and its lack of influence on the current debate.”
“That will make our job more difficult—but not impossible,” said Eliseo Medina, vice president of the Service Employees International Union during the conference. “We never thought of immigration reform as a partisan issue—we always knew we would need the support of both parties in order to pass comprehensive legislation.”
Support for an immigration overhaul “crosses party lines,” insisted Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice. He added,
“If the lesson Democrats took away from Massachusetts is that that they should not take on tough issues or make waves, they are wrong. Voters are hungry for leadership, despise partisanship, and want both parties to work together to solve our toughest problems. Immigration reform represents a golden opportunity.”
Another immigration reform supporter, U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D.-Calif.), took part in a Spanish-language press conference organized by MaribelHastings.com, an America’s Voice website. The Congressman said “of course” the House leadership has the political will to push forward with the overhaul.
President Barack Obama had promised to deal with immigration reform during his first year in office. While Mr. Obama’s self-imposed deadline expired this very week, Becerra said “the president remembers his promise well and I think that there’s an understanding of the political and social circumstances… that he faces at the moment, while he struggles with the immigration issue.”
The RI4A also emphasized a 2009 poll by the Pew Research Center, which said that 63 percent of the population supported a reform package including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
The stunning Democratic loss of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat spurred yet another conference in the pro-reform camp, this one organized by the Center for American Progress, featuring blogger Markos Moulitsas, union leader María Elena Durazo and Think Progress researcher Andrea Nill. (You can watch it here.)
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Immigration reform will be the best way to turn our economy around.
All of our jobs depend on the extreme hard labor that these people gladly perform for us!
Labor is set up in tiers, we have busted out our foundation!
This Recession the worst in U.S. History began at the exact same time as the Deportaions, January 2008.
All States that Deported their hard working TAX BASE, as counted for many years by the U.S. Census Bureau to base the size of our Government Services on, are now in Total Economic Disaster!
Phoenix Az. for example now has approx: 30% less TAX BASE, the State is now having to reduce Government Services to match the smaller Base!
Besides Triggering the Crash of our Banking System and putting a massive hole in the “Real Estate Bubble”, these Immigrants now vacated dwellings have made Phoenix approx: 30% overbuilt, completely halting Contruction/Growth, causing Arizona to have the highest number of lost Const. related jobs in the entire Country!
A wise French Historian said:
“America is great because it is good, when it ceases to be good it ceases to be great.”
The Deportaion/Starvation of good hard working Humans, including thousands of Citizen children, have been Far Less than good!
(108) Immigrants have died in custody, many have been beaten,Women and children have been held indefinitely in small jail cells with out windows!
Wake up America, we are Far Better than this!
All Stimulus Packages, Bail outs, Cash for Clunkers Programs, ect. have been since January 2008 when the Deportations began, and are only treating the symtoms!
Reform will begin the Healing process for our Economy, and our Good Principles!
I believe Prosperity naturally follows Good.
To those saying “No Amnesty”, I do not know what Religion you are, however I can only hope that your maker allows you a little “Amnesty”.
To: Good and Brotherhood.
One simple question that must be asked , HOW WOULD THE SENATORS VOTE ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM IF THEIR CONSTITUENTS WERE HISPANIC? YOU GOT IT.
What would you see yourself as if you were looking thru the Eyes of Almighty GOD ?
BECAUSE,
How you Treat others is how God TREATS You.
How you Forgive others is how god FORGIVES You.
How you See others is how God SEEs You.
When you show Empathy for the plight of another HUMAN BEING, God takes empathy in YOUR PLIGHT.
When others slight you and you ignore the call to Vengeance that burns inside, God erases all memory of your failures towards him.
When you SEE THE IMAGE OF GOD in ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, Then the IMAGE of GOD Becomes REVEALED WITHIN YOU.
The way You Judge other HUMANS is HOW GOD Judges You.
All Humans are EQUAL, ALL Humans are created and are the same in Almighty GODS VISION.
What You wish for the other is what GOD Gives YOU.
A just and comprehensive immigration reform is the civil rights battle of our life time. It won’t be easy, but it is inevitable. No human being is illegal. This is the last stand of the angry old white male who continues to blame his failures in life on “the other”. No more, Senators Sessions, DeMint and Vitter! Your time is over. Racism always loses in America!
“Truth”- Are you at all familiar with the seperation of church and state? I do not think “God” would want us to stand by and let our country be invaded by people who wish to treat it as a motel. Actions speak more then words and myself and most US citizens were outraged with what we have seen starting years back. Illegal immigrants flying foreign flags while DEMANDING citizenship in the USA.
Many of these flags were Mexican ones–you know the country they fled and left. The funny thing is how much they love Mexico a country they left. What is even more ironic is that Mexico has way more strict laws then the USA does. Illegal immigrants in Mexico are felons. So maybe we should adopt Mexcian immigration laws here in the USA word for word. That would make all illegal immigrants felons here in the USA.
To get to the point and to make this short. The USA was built by people who came here and did 2 things. They put the USA FIRST above all other countries. They understood also they had to learn the language as well. The USA is a country not a motel or boarding house.
I and most citizens also take issue with “demands”. If the USA wishes to take zero legal immigrants that is its business. It is not up to outside foreigners to determine or breakin the country when they do not agree with the numbers or immigration laws. Again it is something called sovereignty. Outside foreigners have no right at all to tell us who and how many we allow in.
It is a privilage to be allowed to come in the USA—its not a right. If ILLEGAL immigrants wish to become legal or be put on a path to citizenship they need to understand its a privilage and its not something taken lightly. They need to understand that if they want citizenship to the USA they need to begin acting like it and that includes putting down the foreign flags and picking up the flag of the country they are trying to be a part of. It includes learning the language.
I for one do not feel we should open the country to those that do not appreciate it.
I love to see the Immigration reform soon this year 2010 change
Because ICE keep deported legal immigrants just for felony and live all the kids without father and child supported were Barack Obama, can he see his daughters with out him or his finance support We have thousands parents separates from they children’s that is very sad American. children separated from the fathers special small kids they don’t understand why the father can come home anymore.
American is a country of freedom I don’t believe anymore This is a country of hate and discrimination .
I hope God Bless American with the right decision return the fathers and mothers thos children’s.
Thos little one with out parent they are feel lonely with no hope.Bless American GOD.
Clarification: Mexico recently modified its immigration laws and now being an undocumented immigrant is no longer considered a felony.
Most estimates say there’s a million American immigrants in Mexico, and many of them are undocumented.
Watch this report by American reporter Franc Contreras for Al Jazeera in English:
Feet in 2 Worlds
FI2W Web Editor- That has to be Mexico’s decision on what it does with its immigration policy. I understand there are many many MANY other things in Mexican immigration laws that most people would find to be outright discrimination. Legal immigrants in Mexico are not allowed to buy certain property for just one example. Again this is legal immigrants we are talking about.
But this is Mexico and if this is what they want to do–so be it. If US citizens are illegally in Mexico and they are deported they will get no sympathy from myself and most US citizens. Again it all comes down to the “sovereignty” issue.
In my personal opinion I think most citizens were willing to let these people become legal with the thought such as myself “they want to be a part of the USA”. But then we seen the ugliness at marches and protests and these people appear to think they have the right to come in the USA when its a privilage. I do not want anyone hurt or beat but I do want laws enforced which includes deportations and workplace enforcement.
Truth- I did find something to give you a “reply” on your argument on “god” and illegal immigration.
Romans 13:1-7 makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to obey the laws of the government. The ONLY exception to this is when a law of the government forces you to disobey a command of God (Acts 5:29). Illegal immigration is the breaking of a governmental law. There is nothing in Scripture that would prohibit obeying immigration laws. Therefore, it is a sin, rebellion against God, to illegally enter into another country. Romans 13:1-7 also gives the government the authority to punish lawbreakers, whether by deportation or imprisonment (in the cases of illegal immigration), or more severe penalties for greater crimes.
This will never happen until we have jobs to spare.
Obama j=knows this and that is why he is backing away. America’s Democrats have been letting their voiced be heard load and clear.
We need immigration enforcement and tight borders and until this happens American are just saying NO.