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Rolling Over on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Thursday, May 17 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Mark O’Brien, Denver

It has become clear in the past few weeks that president Bush and the Congress are rolling over on fair, just, and equitable immigration reform. The President is throwing immigrants under the bus as he seeks to appease his conservative base and create a significant domestic distraction from the failing War in Iraq. American citizens, the media and the religious community’s attitude on immigration ranges from indignant to apathetic.

Now that we are into the presidential election cycle, the probability of any meaningful comprehensive immigration reform legislation is doubtful. Talk with any influencer in Washington and they will tell you that the Democratic leadership is not going to take up this fight to do what is right. Indeed, Sen. Arlen Specter commented last week that if the Senate does not approve a bill next week that it is unlikely that there will be any legislation this year and certainly not in a national election year.

President Bush with a 28% approval rating and a quickly deteriorating situation in Iraq has abandoned the one issue that reflected his “compassionate conservatism". As someone who has provided some leadership on the matter, he has now flipped in favor of pandering to his conservative base.

No one knows what if any legislation will come from the Senate next week. They may begin with the Chairman’s Mark bill S. 2611 passed last year by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It may be that a revised Senate bill will reflect elements of the STRIVE ACT (HR 1645) introduced several weeks ago in the House by Rep’s Gutierrez (D-IL) and Rep. Flake (R-AZ). While putting forth many good provisions, this bill is also wrought with elements that are unworkable such as the “ touch-back” provision requiring immigrants to return to their home country in order to apply for residency. There are also no funding mechanisms to cover the billions in costs to implement to provisions of the legislation, it increases border militarization, requires local law enforcement to become immigration agents thereby breaking their vital trust with the immigrant community, it puts forth prohibitive fees that are a roadblock to legal permanent residency, creates an untenable employment verification system that according to the GAO suffers from a high failure rate, unfairly ties a worker permit to one employer making these workers highly susceptible to exploitation, it creates massive detention centers and a permanent underclass of workers not unlike the Bracero program of the 1940’-1960’s.

As of this week Sen. Kyle (R-AZ) is insisting on a zero increase in the worldwide ceiling on “green cards” in future years, elimination of family preference categories, elimination of current employment based categories and instead introducing a merit/point system scheme, elimination of any path to permanent residency for new essential nonimmigrant workers and make no effort to reduce family backlogs effecting a million families already in the waiting line.

One thing is certain, and that is that Congress will once again fail in their fiscal, legal and moral responsibility to lead, govern and legislate. This Congress that during wartime took more days off from work last year than any Congress in the past 60 years, a legislature that approved the Iraq war and has created the largest budget and trade account deficits in history, a governing body that has increased our national debt by $1.2 trillion dollars.

If the Congress of the United States can violate their oath of office and show such a dereliction of duty on these matters, how than can we expect them to pass responsible and just immigration legislation. How then can expect them to respect the will of the American people, a significant majority of whom favor a guest worker program and a pathway to earned citizenship.

The answer is, we can not.

Just because our government cannot get its act together, does not mean that we should project our misery, fear, frustration and anger on 12 million immigrants. We need not seek to make these human persons the source of our problems. We need not attempt to criminalize and demonize a hard working people who are caught up in a failed system that we created.

Mark O’Brien is an immigrant and human rights advocate and volunteer with Coloradans for Immigrant Rights. He resides in Denver.

READER COMMENTS

AMEN>>AMEN ..to Can I get an Amen. 7:26

Posted by on May 23, 2007 11:14 PM

AMEN>>AMEN ..to Can I get an Amen. 7:26

Posted by on May 23, 2007 11:14 PM

Amnest isn't going to happen overnight. May not happen soon. So you all illegals..don't prepare to line up and think ypu'll have documents on hand soon. America is not that orginized, they can't multi-task, we're in line for hours trying to vote,social service computers are all jacked up...Motor vehicle isn't prepared for an influx of people. We were'nt prepared for 9-11. Not prepared for Katrina..we watched bodies on roofs yelling for help for a week..we wached fema and the government pass the buck back and for for how long? And you want you're documents....when? It isn't going to happen
soon. Our polititions are still..kicking rocks.

Posted by on May 18, 2007 07:25 PM

Why WASTE all that time JUST ENFORCE the LAW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We allready have an immigration policy. Enforce the CURRENT policy, Then think about revising it. Once you enforce the current policy there will be no need to change it. GET MY DRIFT?

Posted by Chuck on May 18, 2007 07:52 AM

Anyone who believes that "this" time the immigration laws will be enforced, unlike the same promise in the 80's, is a fool.
I am, finally, completely disillusioned by the President.
This "reform" package is, IMO, a travesty.

Posted by Jim in Erie on May 18, 2007 06:06 AM

If the new US Senate immigration reform legislation gets any steam behind it and somehow gets through Congress, with the 12+ million illegals legalized into the work force and an additional 400,000 guest workers allowed to work in low income industries annually, the American citizens on the low end of the pay scales will be forced over the edge into poverty.

Pro-illegal advocates and anti-illegal patriots alike do not like this new immigration reform proposal.

Call your senators: 202-224-3121

Posted by DS on May 18, 2007 05:33 AM

The USA doesn't need "comprehensive immigration reform," which is nothing more than a frosted canine Twinkie called amnesty. We need comprehensive immigration enforcement!

President Mexishrub should be impeached and convicted for his traitorous acts against the American people he swore to protect.

The same goes for Senators Ken Mexizar (Salazar), John Mexicain (McCain), Ted Mexedy (Kennedy), et al who are sellouts to the open borders pro-illegal alien crowd.

Posted by QBT on May 17, 2007 10:47 PM

Burgi:
"if you are worried about "illegals taking your jobs" - as so many proclaim: why are you not all up in arms about all the multinational companies shipping all the high-paying jobs overseas to satisfy their greed? ... "

You are so right about that. And that may be exactly the reason why so many Americans are up in arms about illegals taking additional, low paying jobs away here - they don't have a say in where corporations can go for their labor.

America's workers are, in fact, losing far more jobs to corporations that move their operations into "free trade" countries where the business does not have to adhere to worker safety requirements (OSHA) or a minimum wage . American companies have taken the US citizen out of the equation by hiring workers in foreign countries for dollars a day, operating without the financial burdens of US sanctioned safety requirements, and without governmental mandated environmental demands. But those in the know still call in "free trade".

But: "Why is anybody worried about how much money is spent on social services for people who are illegally in this country"Why is anybody worried about how much money is spent on social services for people who are illegally in this country?"

Because the financial burdens of illegal immigation falls upon the citizens of local and state municipalities and communties.

Posted by Labas on May 17, 2007 08:00 PM

When you talk about securing the borders, what exactly do you propose? Gather up all the rocks Americans brought back as souvenirs when they applauded for taking down the Berlin Wall and putting them back together at the Mexican border?
I cannot believe how easily people are brain washed by the government to focus at one group of people, in a (very successful) effort to divide the masses so they won't unite and fight against the real culprits: Why is anybody worried about how much money is spent on social services for people who are illegally in this country, while the US government is violating the sovereinty of other Nations on a daily basis, wasting billions of our tax money. Compared to that, whatever might be spent on people from the South of the border is only a drop in the bucket.
And then there is the other issue, if you are worried about "illegals taking your jobs" - as so many proclaim: why are you not all up in arms about all the multinational companies shipping all the high-paying jobs overseas to satisfy their greed? ... Please start looking at the whole picture, even if you do not give a damn about other people and their plight - be consistant in your arguments!

Posted by Burgi on May 17, 2007 07:36 PM

O'Brien: "President Bush and the Congress are rolling over on fair, just, and equitable immigration reform."

equitable: implying justice dictated by reason, conscience, and a natural sense of what is fair to all.

How does the unenforcement of current immigration laws in order to create a "reform" granting automatic legalization to those who have entered the country illegally fair to all?

O'Brien: "President Bush with a 28% approval rating"

The newest poll shows Bush at 33%, slightly higher than our entire Democratically controlled Congress which has bottomed out at 29%.

O'Brien: "How then can we expect them (Congress) to respect the will of the American people, a significant majority of whom favor a guest worker program and a pathway to earned citizenship."

Most Americans are realist and understand the financial burden upon law enforcement to attempt to deport 12-20 million illegals. The majority, however, want strong enforcement against illegal employers so the illegal job market will dry up and illegals will migrate home out of necessity. As an empathetic society, however, the majority does support a proposal for illegals to have the ability to a "path to citizenship" if certain requirements are met.

If legislation is enacted to give illegals a "path to citizenship", and law enforcement and immigration agencies were funded to sufficiently and actively find and prosecute illegal employers, then we would have, for the first time, immigration reform. Any immigration laws actually enforced by our federal governement could be viewed as "reform".

Posted by Labas on May 17, 2007 07:32 PM

Mr. O'Brien states that the majority of Americans wants to give illegals amnesty. If that is the case, why are so many of the replies to your post saying they want our immigration laws enforced...not reformed?
It appears that the majority wants our current laws enforced. We do not need any "new reformed" immigration laws. As far as the Congress violating their oath. They have been doing it for many years by not enforcing the laws of our country that they swore to when they were sworn into office.

Posted by Citizen on May 17, 2007 07:21 PM

I'd rather have my taxes raised and go towards more jails for lawbreakers, not rewards.

Posted by Matt on May 17, 2007 04:20 PM

Wow. Mr. O'Brien writes a reasoned column, exhorting Congress to do something about immigration, while making arguments about specific points of reform. In response, there is maybe one reply (bjs), that isn't hysterical or filled with rhetorical slogans and phrases. And of course, we see the usual character assasinations of the writer following the usual attacks on immigrants.

Apparently Congress and the President have been listening to reason for they are making an actual attempt to do something. But true colors are revealed on this thread. We see Ben, for one, and Tancredo, for another, really don't want Congress to act. They have so much invested in hate that they can't let go. And their scary boo boo stories would surely lose some of their steam if actual reform were to pass. And maybe we could all act like humans again.

Posted by anderson on May 17, 2007 03:36 PM

ITS AMNESTY: BYE, BYE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California back to Mexico for starters...no borders...10 million new democrats, 10 million new union thugs, on its way to 50 million! Great leadership, George.

I wonder if today's deal will piss the cut-n-run libdems off because AMERICA WON'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO SURRENDER!

Posted by Hank on May 17, 2007 01:57 PM

Why is it that the illegal immigrants get better representation than actual U.S. citizens?

Because they have a bigger and louder lobbying group, including people such as the writer of this letter.

I'm disappointed in what is coming out. We haven't seen the actual bill that supposedly has been agreed on, but it is amnesty and will be irreversible.

The fight is not yet over, however. The Senate will still need to reconcile this with the House. Time to bombard them with phone calls and e-mails.

For those ready to unleash the bigot and racist card, this is not personal towards those who have come here illegally. This is a policy issue that may be the largest and most important item we've ever seen, in terms of what it may mean to the future of this country. Demographically, it may mean as much as 100 million additional people here in the next 30 years.

Yes the issue is complex but the Democrats are resisting efforts to secure the border first. To me that is simply a ridiculous stance for them to take.

Posted by RU Serious on May 17, 2007 12:31 PM

This is a very complex issue. While I lean towards the “send them all back home” crowd, I do understand that I will be paying a financial consequence, not only in increased prices of goods and services, but also home values etc. I also believe that it is not humane to tear families apart, even when some of the members are here illegally. (They really should have passed the alteration to the 14th amendment so that being born in the US would not automatically make one a US citizen!!!!)

I understand you frustration about there not being comprehensive reform, NOW. However, I’ve not hear what you would suggest as fair and equitable to ALL, not just illegal immigrants. That would include the legal citizens that have seen their pay decrease if not their job opportunities because of low illegal wages, those that have entered the country legally and followed the immigration rules, those of us that ARE also paying for the mandated services for illegals, and those that have seen the quality of our schools deteriorate as they struggle to teach those that do not speak English and whose parents do not demand that their children succeed in school. And in your answer, please be realistic, we cannot have open borders.

Posted by bjs on May 17, 2007 11:31 AM

Enforce current laws and deport illegal aliens.
Enforce current laws and fine employers who hire illegal aliens.
Enforce current laws and evict those who have 10, 15, or 20 or more people living in the same home. Enforce current laws regarding illegals without drivers licenses, valid insurance, and valid plates. Impound the vehicles.
Hound your elected officials into upholding the Constitution and enforcing current laws.
No Amnesty.

Posted by Jay on May 17, 2007 11:01 AM

Disappointed in Hispanics' U.S. senator. Salazar said, "I'm not the Hispanics' senator". A bigger lie was never told. He difinitely isn't the senator for Colorado's black disabled Vietnam veterans and their families. Salazar and Allard both cut and ran, when America called them to serve. "The Salazars" are amnesty drum-majors for criminal illegal aliens. They support pimping and exploiting "illegals" for the financial gain of the Vatican, Wal-Mart, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ag industry, Mexican gov't, construction work on Tancredo's home, GOP votes, etc.

Several Latino vets told me Salazar quickly solves their problems with their VA disability pay and social security disability pay. Most of the Denver social security admin law judges are Latino. I've waited for 7 years. I sought his help in these areas, and Salazar blew me off. Denver social security judge Antionette Martinez, all but threw me out of her courtroom, for me having the audacity to ask for disability pay, caused by my 3 deployments to Vietnam. Black vets should take inventory of the "dixiecrats". Congresswoman DeGette is cut from the same piece of cloth as K. Salazar. I complained to her that black vets were being denied their employment preferences at the Denver VA Hospital (her district). Lo and behold, she blew me off too, but at least she wrote me a letter. Lynnette Roff, director of this hospital is a Bush "Brownie" illegal political appointee. Bush violated federal laws when he gave this job to Roff, because the congress has clearly stated disbled vets are given 10 point preference. Roff is white and not a vet of any sorts. Bush also gave a cash-cow to Kathy Malin, Denver VA Customer Service Manager (disability compensation) and again in violation of federal law, Malin also stole an earmark from a disabled vet.

Boy-George, Tanny, Salazar, DeGette, and Allard, keep rewarding me and my family for services rendered, for the greater good of all Americans. Because I complained that black disabled Vietnam veterans are being excluded the VA's 6 figure jobs, I now find myself blackballed, blacklisted, and red-lined from all VA contracting and job opportunities.

I applied for the Denver VA Hospital directors job with "smoke and mirrors" 10 point preference. Didn't even get an interview. For this fraud, waste, and abuse of federal funds, Salazar, DeGette, and Boy-George should all be jailed.

JJ Tenant
Lt. Commander, USN, Ret.
Centennial, CO
Served as a steam propulsion engineering officer and shipboard CHIEF ENGINEERin 3 nuclear powered submarines, 4 surface combat ships, and 3 deployments to Vietnam. Earned MSM (Proj. Mgt.); MABA; BBA; and AAS college degrees.

Posted by jjtarheel on May 17, 2007 09:19 AM

8:06

The reason Salazar's number is listed is due to the fact that he is the only Colorado senator who is desparately trying to pass illegal immigrant amnesty.

Senator Allard is actually looking out for the best interests of citizens.

Posted by DS on May 17, 2007 08:46 AM

"Amen" to Can I get an Amen! Did you also notice the AMEN only puts senator Salazar's phone number? Hmmmm, I wonder why?
Mr. O'Brien is no Human rights advocate but he is an Illegal Alien apologist!
You do not want borders Mr. O'brien, you want to import another country's poverty and uneducated to continue to dumb down our society and wreck our system completely. You are another one of those you cannot see the forest for the trees. You should step back and look at the entiretry of this entire Illegal immigration issue.

Posted by on May 17, 2007 08:06 AM

Why does Mr.O'Brien consider it "pandering" when Congress and the President actually listen to the citizenry? Aren't they SUPPOSED to represent our views (as opposed to the views of people who come here thumbing their noses at our laws)?

As a lawyer, Mr. O'Brien should understand better than most that our country was founded under the rule of law and it is exactly the rule of law that makes our country great and exceptional compared to all the rest of the world. These illegal aliens want the services our country provides while ignoring our rule of law. Their employers are raping this country by unjustly enriching themselves through the use of illegal employment. You cannot sustain the benevolence of this great country without its rule of law. Mr O'Brien's legal talents would better serve his country if he worked to see that the laws of this country were enforced.

Posted by Marie on May 17, 2007 07:50 AM

AMEN!

Call!!!

Senator Salazar local:(303) 455-7600
Washington DC: (202) 224-5852

Posted by DS on May 17, 2007 07:33 AM

Mr O'Brian With all due respect ,America cannot possibly take care of all the illegals here. If given amnesty our social services system will break down.They are already sticking many fingers in the dike.
You claim you are a human rights advocate. What about my human right to live in a country that is not over run by people who think it is okay to break law after law after law.? Is it my right to live in peace without being invaded by people who have no respect for my country.? Do I have the right to send my children to school without my yax money going to children who's parents do not want to assimilate and are draining resources from American children?
What about my right to drive on our roads not having to worry if I'm going to be hit by a driver with no license and no insurance?A major accident could wipe out my family's savings. How much insurance do we need to cover these driver's?
What about my human right to live in a neighborhood without it starting to look like a third world country? What about my human right as a citizen who has health insurance to get medical treatment in an emergency room without waiting for hours while illegals get their minor health issues treated for free?
What about my right to visit businesses with employees that speak english?What about my right to someone here illegally stealing my identity?What about my right to have my taxes go to citizen services and schools and not having to keep paying more and more ,because the drain from illegals?What about my right to have a closed border? What about my right to have our more border patrols to stop the huge influx of drugs coming from Mexico?

You see Mr. O'Brien you and others like you claim you are human rights advocates.Your not human rights for all though,just the illegals.American citizens are not protected by human rights organizations like yours.You seem to think we have no rights and should give all that we have worked hard for and died for to illegal immigrants coming here illegally and taking our human rights away.

You are not a human rights advocate you are a illegal law breaking rights advocate.
Let's call a spade a spade.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on May 17, 2007 07:26 AM

The President is the illegal immigrant's best friend.

He is throwing citizens under the bus, not illegals.

Even though there have been over 90 different state and local ordinances proposed nationally over the past year to combat this massive illegal invasion, our federal government refuses to accept their constituents concerns over the fiscal drain and social degeneration from the continuing invasion of illegals from the south.

These communties have not been proposing such legislation because these "illegal immigrants" are here after breaking federal law, but because they are damaging the infrastructure and safety of the communities,

And, contrary to what Mr O'Brien thinks, according to NumbersUSA.Com, citizens are about to lose the battle in congress as of the morning of 05/17 because there have not been enough phone calls to congress opposing this new amnesty proposal.

It is reported there are only 12 senators still holding out against these new amnesty proposals, Colorado Senator Allard being one of the few.

However, Colorado Senator Salazar is one of the major proponents.

Call!!!

Posted by DS on May 17, 2007 06:58 AM

This lip-sticked pig call "comprehensive immigration reform" should be swiftly killed. Amnesty in any manifestation towards illegal aliens is unacceptable. The immigration system isn't broken, the enforcement of immigration laws is though.
Why speak of any type of concession on illegal immigration and illegal aliens when we don't control or secure our own borders. Pure madness and conspiracy. Time to hit the phones and the streets.

Posted by Ben on May 17, 2007 06:12 AM

The only part of the O’Brien article one can agree with is “...If the Congress of the United States can violate their oath of office and show such a dereliction of duty on these matters…."

Congress and the President have failed to enforce the immigration laws . It was a breach of faith when the Government granted amnesty in 1986 . We were assured that the border would be secured and the flow of illegal immigrantswould be stopped. The Government failed to do what it promised.

Today the only solution the President and Congress can come up with is amnesty which has failed to stop the flow of Illegal Immigrants.

Open borders is the surrender of sovereignty – and places an unfair financial burden on the citizens of the country.

Amnesty in any form or fashion should be opposed!

Posted by Steve on May 17, 2007 05:59 AM