Obama Wasting Hispanics’ Patience and Votes, Warn Immigration Reform Proponents

Rep. Luis Gutierrez says Hispanics are "angry and disillusioned" at President Obama - Photo: luisgutierrez.house.gov

Rep. Luis Gutierrez says Hispanics are "angry and disillusioned" at President Obama - (Photo: luisgutierrez.house.gov)

The main Congressional supporter of progressive immigration reform apparently is fed up with President Barack Obama’s lack of action on the issue.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D.-Ill.), who last year introduced an immigration reform bill in the House, is even calling for Latinos to punish Democrats and Republicans alike at the polls this year, saying that if the issue sees no action before April’s Congressional recess, it won’t be addressed at all in 2010.

Gutierrez told the Mexican news service Notimex, the reform movement should set a March 21 deadline for the Democratic administration to get the issue started.

“If the issue is not broached by that date, the Hispanic vote will have to reflect on the idea of a punishment with a vote of absence in the next elections, so that our power and importance are felt,” he said, in a statement that was reported in Spanish by the wire service.

Gutierrez, who was in Los Angeles Monday for a series of pro-reform events, said there would be another round of demonstrations in Washington D.C. on March 21 to press for an overhaul. “It’s time to generate attention,” he said.

Also interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, the congressman said “people are angry and disillusioned” at Obama, after he dedicated a “throwaway line” to immigration during his State of the Union speech. He said this was the last straw for many activists who are disappointed by the president’s enforcement-mostly approach.

Gutierrez appears ready to break a pattern of “progressive patience” that has developed since Obama took office a year ago.

The pro-immigration camp that voted for Obama in both the Democratic primaries and the general election is still waiting for definitive action from the White House. And while the administration has provided some encouraging statements – phrased in the broadest possible way – advocates have continued to keep their fingers crossed that Obama may finally get the ball rolling.

The pattern repeated itself last week with the State of the Union address. Before it took place, the White House winked and nodded, with press secretary Robert Gibbs saying the issue would be broached in the speech. That night, immigrants and their supporters held their breath for over 45 minutes to finally get the most generic of statements, where the main verb phrase about immigration started with “should.”

Still, the following day, some optimistic reactions and promises to keep fighting could be found among the pro-reformists. This weekend, New York Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz urged the optimists “to take off the blindfold and face the harsh reality.”

It is almost incomprehensible – and frankly a little absurd – that after Obama’s address to Congress and the nation that some pro-immigration-reform groups continue to delude themselves and feed immigrants the Pablum of false hope.

Ruiz said the 36 words Obama dedicated to the issue “in passing near the end” of his speech were “at best an afterthought, at worse a bone thrown to the immigration community to keep it wagging its tail and hoping against all hope.”

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    • NO ILLEGALS

      Gutierrez is a tool for the illegal advocates and is a traitor to this country, as he only cares about illegals and Mexicans, not the Americans he was elected to represent. He is an embarrassment to the State of Illinois and he needs to be voted out of office.

      He is crazy if he thinks Obama will take up immigration. Americans are so against another amnesty that he will open another wave of anger as was seen in 2007 when they tried this. The Mexicans can march and protest all they want but Americans could care less what they think. The Mexicans think they have some power but they have none. They are not respected and never will be if they continue to live in violation of the many laws they break on a daily basis. We have millions of Americans out of work yet millions of illegals continue to keep their jobs. There is something definitely wrong with this.

      Obama needs to aggressively enforce all immigration laws, not just pick up 5 or 10 gangbangers here and there in various cities, like they have been doing. He needs to restart the workplace raids and deport those found.

    • sa

      Gutierrez assumes that all Latino-Americans agree with him and would support a voter boycott. Personally I think a lot of legal, voting Latino CITIZENS are just as offended as other Americans by the outrageous demands of the illegal immigrant community and don’t support Gutierrez at all. So go ahead Gutierrez and organize your little boycott – the country will call your bluff.

      If Latino voters do support a boycott and stay home in droves, all Gutierrez will have accomplished is the election of even more Republicans – hardly a winning formula for any sort of future amnesty bill.

    • AmericasHope

      America is shooting itself on the foot when a humane, smart, and pragmatic way to solve our broken immigration system is not put forward. Of course racists and other xenophobes will make up lies, be loud, and crazy as usual… (do you remember the birther movement???) The truth is that there are hard working, family oriented latinos who deserve a chance to become legal residents. Of course, there will be a few bad apples (as in everything) and those just deserve to be kicked out.

      Obama is showing his lack of spine by not supporting those who supported him. Those latinos and other undocumented aliens who went door by door, family by family, spreading the word and hoping for CHANGE. On the other hand, those who yell that are proud racists and want no immigration reform WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA ANYWAY!!

      Obama and the dems are losing a very important constituency.

    • Julie B

      Show us immigration ENFORCEMENT not amnesty.

      23 million Americans out of work and 20 million illegal workers, do you think he will push amnest?

    • gunther

      Everyone would admit that President Obama is intelligent. It’s hard to believe his short endorsement of immigration reform was not calculated. He’s taking the Latino vote for granted, and why not? Will Latinos sit on their hand come election day and let a Republican win? Obama has the Latino vote locked up and he knows it. How do you say “you’ve been taken” in Spanish?

    • Kolosochek

      There one thing that can be done now. We, the immigrants, first of all need to boycott the census. Everybody who supports the immigration reform should boycott the census. Everybody who has a family member in immigration limbo should boycott the census. For those Republicans and Democrats who are up for the reelection this November, it will mean than there might be no seat for them to run for. Even if Republicans will get the majority it will be very bad for Obama who promised a “change”. Republicans don’t want “change”. Republican majority will automatically mean that Obama is “done as a president and a political figure”. He will go in the history as a lamest president of them all and a lair. I am sure that Obama doesn’t want that. His dream will be destroyed. It will push him to the action.
      Immigrants, we have only one vote every 10 years. Use it wisely. Don’t listen those who is telling you that if you don’t get counted your community will not get enough findings. If you boycott the census your community will get less funding to terrorize immigrants and their children. And keep in mind that if you participate in census you might be deported and not be a part of the community that got funding.

    • stfu

      People are so full of hate and it is apparent in the previous posts. How can people live with so much hate? Articulate why reforming a broken system is bad. Polls overwhelmingly support immigration reform. It will happen as you spew foaming hate over on your monitor.

    • Brittancus

      Every Immigration law watered down by corrupt politicians.

      Will the politicians that we elect ever carry out the interests of the American people? I read today on the AMERICAN PATROL website that President Obama is in a discussion to cap government money such as cutting back on NASA appropriations the sending men back to the moon in 1020? Yet we are still spending–BILLIONS–on illegal immigrants who have managed to settle here? If we cannot afford to go back to the moon, how can we afford to pay for illegal immigration? Obama can find billions to Prop-up States like Sanctuary States as California to pay for illegal immigrants, but he cannot find the cash to pay for space exploration. How can we allow millions of poor people to continue to cross our borders? So why are taxpayers forced by pariah lawmakers to pay for education, health care and even now anticipating BILLIONS more dollars to enact a ominous Comprehensive Immigration Reform? We all know by now, that this is a very crafty way to pass another AMNESTY. These people who have entered this country without permission? Every time a new immigration enforcement is passed, the open border Liberal-Democrats-Republicans use their influence to water the law down. How many of us know, that the controversial border fence is by law supposed to be–TWO SEPARATE–FENCES? Senator Obama voted for it. more than three years ago, but only 35 miles of double-layered fencing is in place and much of the remaining 360 miles of the border fencing is badly constructed–without real barriers. The Truth is the government is lying to us.

      The Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Pub.L. 109-367) was enacted October 26, 2006 in the United States. The act allows for over 700 miles (1,100 km) of double-reinforced fence to be built along the border with Mexico across cities and deserts alike, in the U.S. states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in areas that have experienced illegal drug trafficking, human slavery, gun peddling, illegal immigration and the threat of terrorism. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California who was the originator of the double fence, has not seen this happen, nor the complete wall that is just open areas, with the old barbed wire strands. Underfunded from its inception, the border fence was compromised by the open border organization, that includes American business consortium’s. As in Washington today, a team of intelligence operatives stated to Speaker Pelosi that a El Queda attack was imminent within the next 6 months. This is the time to enforce our borders with the National Guard fully armed and obviously apparent along the whole 2000 feet length. The majority of our State economies are broke–with California leading the pack. Arizona lawmakers realizing the main cause of their financial dilemma, the support of illegal workers and their families.

      E-Verify is one of the most successful mechanisms to remove illegal workers, but as yet it is not mandatory. It costs nothing to use it and it has been demonized by every pro-illegal immigrant group, along with corrupt politicians and their financial clients in the business consortium’s. E-Verify must be national, with no exclusions. THIS SHOULD BECOME THE No.1 PRIORITY FOR EVERY SMALL AND LARGE COMPANY, THAT KNOWINGLY HIRING A FOREIGN WORKERS CARRIES PENALTIES SUCH AS HARSH FINES AND PRISON SENTENCES. THERE SHOULD BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE?

      Our GOVERNMENT HAS SOLD ITSELF TO WALL STREET AND BOTH WALL STREET AND THE UNITED STATES ARE DEBTORS TO COMMUNIST CHINA. We cannot afford to subsidize every illegal family member, every Mother with a child who becomes an instant citizen, when 15 million Americans and residents are jobless, when our own people live in poverty. Yes! We always need exceptional highly skilled engineers and scientists, but not the indigent and desperate that we must endlessly financially support. Not semi-skilled labor that will take less wages, than our own people, who themselves will end up in the unemployment benefits line. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Senator and Congressman and use the voting power of THE PEOPLE. Go to NUMBERSUSA AND JUDICIAL WATCH for more information about this catastrophe that could overwhelm this country in the coming months.
      Latest Immigration news: President cuts border security budget
      While telling the American people that national security is a priority in his administration, President Barack Obama submitted a 2011 budget proposal that includes cuts to U.S. border security. — The proposed budget cuts include a reduction in Border Patrol agents and a cut in the amount of money allocated for the so-called “virtual fence” on the U.S.-Mexico border..

    • http://sisepuedesd.wordpress.com/ Sí Se Puede San Diego

      San Diego responds with the upcoming Mobilization for Legalization, February 6th. For more info,
      Blog:
      http://sisepuedesd.wordpress.com/
      YouTube:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1ZhCCjdJn8
      Facebook:
      http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=437177095331

    • Chuckman

      The honorable Representative Luis Gutierrez, and those who support his critique of President Obama in regard to immigration reform are behaving like, sorry to say it, spoiled brats.

      The current political environment in Congress and in the nation will not support comprehensive immigration reform at this time. 17 million people are out of work. Helping them is the highest priority, and legalizing 20 million undocumented people does not help that goal.

      Yes, it is frustrating to see the issue put on the back burner. President Obama is not being dishonest with the Latino community’s pro-legalization faction, he is simply responding to political realities.

      To ask President Obama to push reform, right after Senator Brown took the most liberal seat in the Senate, largely on an anti-amnesty platform, means that the views advocated by Rep. Gutierrez are skating on thin ice.

      To ask President Obama to push reform right now is equal to asking the Democratic Party to punch a hole in its own political canoe, and allow itself to sink. It will not let that happen, nor should they.

      As a long-time advocate-in and friend-of the Latino community, I am sympathetic to the desire or millions of undocumented men, women and children to live a normal life. But now is not the time to push this issue.

      In my humble opinion, the Latino community and its organizers need to reflect upon what is happening, with the goal of working to change conditions so that legalization becomes a more attractive idea for the citizens of the United States.

      Issues that block American citizen consent for legalization include the following:

      1. The anger being expressed at President Obama shows a lack of patience in the Latino community. The African American community had to work for many decades just to achieve a basic level legally recognized respect for their human rights. The U.S. has other priorities right now. Reform is going to have to wait.

      2. As anyone who goes to Latin America, or who goes to a community event in a U.S. barrio knows, people ‘disrespect the line.’ That is, people cut in front of others, push each other, and bypass a line altogether and just walk up to a food vendor at a festival, for example, and ask for favoritism. And they get it. Coming over the U.S. border illegally is another form of disrespecting the line. Non-Latinos in the U.S. know this. Do you think that wins the community any friends? No.

      3. The Latino community cannot deny, nor can it hide the fact that millions of legal and undocumented immigrants from Latin America now receive some form of public assistance in the U.S. There is no such think as welfare in almost all Latin American nations. If you do not work, they will literally let a person die (as many do). It is OK to come to the U.S. to work. But seeking public assistance is highly offensive, because U.S. taxpayers have to pay for that, to the tune of billions of dollars. I personally know young Latina women who, due to machismo (Latin America’s infamous code of institutionalized sexism), have had 4 or 5 children who are U.S. citizens, through which they get food stamps, free healthcare, housing assistance at a level that really means that they never have to go out and work. Their children’s fathers, also true to Latino code of machismo, have long since abandoned them, and feel that it is their mandate to have as many children as possible, with as many women as possible, and then not to feel any remorse that they then take care of none of those children. Everyone who is Latino here knows what I’m talking about.

      4. In 1950, The U.S. and Canada, on the one hand, and all of Latin America, on the other hand, each had a population of about 170 million people.

      In the 60 years since 1950, the U.S. and Canada have doubled their population (even with waves of immigration). In those same 60years, Latin America has tripled its population to 560 million.

      I attended a recent pre-release screening of the CNN special program Latino in America. After the showing, a panel of Latino leaders and journalists talked with the public. One leader bragged by saying that Latino workers must be allowed into the corporate Board Room (that more Latinos should be running companies, which is fine), because, he said, white Americans have a rate of birth replacement of those who die of 2 to one, whereas Latinos had a ratio of 8 to 1. Sorry brother, that was nothing to brag about, and U.S. citizens don’t think its funny.

      By 2050 the population of the U.S. and Canada is projected to reach 400+ million. Also in 2050, the Latin American population is expected to reach 800 to 900 million.

      Hmmm…. In 2010 Latin America cannot feed, employ, cloth and house its population. It encourages as many people as possible to migrate to the U.S.

      How is Latin America going to support the additional 300 or so millions of people (equal to the U.S. population in right now in 2010)… in the year 2050?

      The only possible way to do that is to strip the U.S. for parts.

      In the meantime, Representative Gutierrez’s proposal for legalization will make perhaps 20 million undocumented residents of the U.S. citizens. They will then have the right not just to billions in social benefits, but also to bring their extended families to the U.S., totally, over time, perhaps 100 million people. And that population has, as everyone knows, a very high birth rate.
      What about the needy from the rest of the world? Would Representative Gutierrez support sending 3 million poor Africans and Asians to Mexico as immigrants, to compensate for the lopsided Latin immigration to the U.S.? Racist Mexico would not consider the proposal even for 2 seconds, despite the fact that their rural towns lay barren from so much migration to the U.S.

      Do blue collar Americans have an obligation to look their jobs, and do all Americans have an obligation to reduce the quality of life for their future generations because Latin America demands the religious right to overpopulate? No.

      Does President Obama and the Democratic Party have an obligation to go down in electoral defeat in 2010 and 2012 just to pursue an agenda that everyone knows is not going to work right now? No.

      Latino brothers and sisters, please take that angry energy that is now focused on President Obama, and redirect it at: 1) reducing the high birth rate in el Barrio; 2) working to reform the corrupt and misogynous PAN government in Mexico; 3) organizing to bring the explosive rates of homicide, rape and domestic abuse in el Barrio under control – because these facts are also visible to the U.S. public; and 4) start participating-in and adding your collective political weight to promoting programs that help all Americans, not just Latinos.

      If ‘mi gente’ (my people) change – to accomplish the above objectives, immigration reform will follow. Until then, you will be fighting a losing battle with an opposition that is not racist (except for a small lunatic fringe). They simply see the realities that I have laid-out here above.

      Peace.

    • Truth

      A study conducted last month by University of California, Los Angeles, Professor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, for example, finds that any deportation plan of America’s undocumented immigrants would cost our country’s gross domestic product a whopping $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years. Conversely, if we embrace comprehensive immigration reform, we add $1.5 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product over the next 10 years. Hinojosa-Ojeda also projected that the economy would benefit from a temporary worker program, which would raise the GDP by $792 billion.

      The economic case is clear. Immigrants who become citizens consistently pursue higher-paying jobs and higher education, spend more and provide higher tax revenue. Just imagine what 12 million newly documented Americans could do for the economy. The legalization process also brings economic benefits like the retention of remittances. Reform will reunite families separated by our immigration system and keep monies in the U.S., instead of having workers send substantial portions of their salary to their family members abroad. As an example of the potential, U.S. remittances to Latin America alone totaled almost $46 billion in 2008. Of that, Mexico received almost $24 billion. Reducing remittances offers an obvious potential cash infusion for our economy, as billions of dollars currently being sent overseas would instead be spent in American shops and restaurants, creating jobs and helping to get our economy going.

    • LATINOS ARE HUMAN NOT ALIENS

      Si se Puede! I agree with TRUTH!
      Cold harded people with no heart, if the tables were turned your mouths would be shut….and not spitting out the racism and hate you hold!

    • http://eb5central.com Green Card Visas

      It is so unfortunate that there is actually discourse about the term ‘alien.’ Nobody is saying these people are not human and do not deserve to be treated as humans. I think grasping at terminology is very silly and seems to actually devolve the whole issue. We are talking about giving rights to people who broke the law to get here, then broke it again while they were here. That should seem an obvious definition of people who do NOT deserve rights!