Obama Readying Immigration Overhaul Despite Political Risks

[alienlovechild 75]

WASHINGTON - The punishing battle over healthcare is still unresolved, but the Obama administration is quietly laying plans to take up another issue that could generate even more controversy and political division--a major overhaul of the nation's immigration system.

Already, senior White House aides have privately assured Latino activists that the president will back legislation in 2010 to provide a road to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented workers now living in the United States.

In addition to the citizenship provision, the emerging plan will stress increased efforts to harden borders to make illegal entry more difficult. But that two-track approach has been rejected in the past by Republicans and other critics who insisted a border crackdown demonstrate its effectiveness before any action on citizenship could be considered.

As recently as the George W. Bush administration, efforts to win congressional approval for coupling the two issues were repeatedly stymied. And whatever proposal Obama eventually puts forward is likely to trigger equally determined opposition, especially with next November's congressional elections looming.

That makes embracing an immigration bill a significant gamble for the White House, which already has job creation, global warming curbs, and new regulations for financial institutions on the agenda for 2010.

Adding to the difficulty, polls show that the public is far more worried about the 10% unemployment rate and the fragile economy than anything else. By pushing an immigration bill, Obama risks appearing out of step with the everyday worries of the typical voter.

Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster, said the issue is difficult in virtually any environment.

"We know from a lot of experience that immigration reform has been and can be a very polarizing issue. There are heated differences about whether there ought to be some kind of pathway to citizenship for people who entered the country illegally," he said.

"And my sense from the public opinion research is people care more about vindicating their position than they do about getting the issue solved.'' But the White House has apparently decided to press ahead, with Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano designated to lead the effort. She has begun talking privately with lawmakers in an effort to hash out a strategy.

In an effort to enlist the kind of support from business groups that helped drive its healthcare initiative, the White House has also reached out to the National Restaurant Association, which represents an industry that employs thousands of immigrants, asking if they could be counted on as an ally.

Earlier this year, the new head of the association, Dawn Sweeney, met with Cecilia Munoz, a White House aide involved in the issue, and expressed interest in cooperating.

"It's an extremely important issue for our members," Sweeney said. Her association could be a force in exerting grassroots pressure on lawmakers.

As a presidential candidate, Obama vowed to take up immigration in his first year in office. It's now too late to make good on that commitment.

If they delay once more, Obama and congressional Democrats could anger the Latino voters who came out in force for them in 2008. Exit polls show Obama won two-thirds of the Latino vote in the 2008 election compared to 31% for his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.

No one anticipates that a core element of the Democratic base will defect to the Republican Party next November. But even a significant drop in turnout – which often happens anyway in non-presidential elections--could frustrate Democratic efforts to preserve their congressional majority.

"The bulk of the people needing immigration reform are Latino,'' said U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). "It was a major motivating issue during the election. … There's a level of disenchantment about where we're going. There's some frustration and disappointment, and if you don't give the Latino community a reason to participate (in the elections) you weaken your base even more.''

Unlike healthcare, which has played out over most of a year, an immigration bill would be constrained by a tight deadline next year. For a bill to have a realistic shot of passing, political analysts say, the particulars would have to be hashed out and agreed upon by next spring.

Delay would increase the likelihood of the issue getting derailed by the November elections.

Democrats may not have a lock on one prominent Republican who wanted to revamp the immigration system in the past: McCain, who backed George W. Bush's failed attempt to overhaul immigration in the second term. The Arizona senator has not committed to supporting the Obama bill, saying he worries that the president will not endorse a temporary guest worker program.

Organized labor, an important part of the Democratic base, has voiced opposition to a guest worker program under which more immigrant workers could enter the country on a temporary basis. Critics argue that there is no effective system for assuring that such workers leave the country when their entry permits expire.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-dc-...4314,full.story

[Danno 1,228]

This is the one I have been waiting on.

The interesting thing about this is, people from differing political bases are against this.

Now it's possible many on the left opposed it because Bush had his name all over it last time and this time it will be Obama...... so maybe they will hear his "cool steady voice" and gather into his camp but I suspect many more will loose confidence in him, especially from the Middle.

BUt Obama is Clever, and certainly the "powers to be" in business and Government WANT THIS>!

So with that kind of money dedicated to buying votes, endorsements and creative marketing it will have support especially those who are manipulated by emotional tugs and a misplaced sense of justice.

Certainly the whole thing will be wrapped in a "Promise to the American People" convincing the masses that A) we MUST do this for "our benefit", B) The border WILL BE secure for now on.

and C) This is the last amnesty (and we mean it this time).

Obama pledges to fundamentally change this country......I believe him.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Immigration "Reform" - the popular pc phrase for just another shamnesty - ain't going to happen in 2010. Not a chance. Members of Congress do have enough of a sense of self-preservation.

[The_Dude 1,142]

People's unmitigated fear of immigrants needs to be checked in order to have a logical and clear headed debate about this. Something needs to be done, but what can you really do short of putting up walls at our border and sending the military to patrol it? ICE does not have the resources to do it's job, even when they are gift wrapped for them. Putting up a 700 mile wall to cover a 2000 mile border is simply asinine. We don't have the resources or the capacity to keep people out. So people should just drop that fantasy. But w hat to do? I surely don't know, but I hope someone comes up with a plausible plan.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

People's unmitigated fear of immigrants needs to be checked in order to have a logical and clear headed debate about this. Something needs to be done, but what can you really do short of putting up walls at our border and sending the military to patrol it? ICE does not have the resources to do it's job, even when they are gift wrapped for them. Putting up a 700 mile wall to cover a 2000 mile border is simply asinine. We don't have the resources or the capacity to keep people out. So people should just drop that fantasy. But w hat to do? I surely don't know, but I hope someone comes up with a plausible plan.

making this mandatory would be a step in the right direction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-verify

[Danno 1,228]

People's unmitigated fear of immigrants needs to be checked in order to have a logical and clear headed debate about this. Something needs to be done, but what can you really do short of putting up walls at our border and sending the military to patrol it? ICE does not have the resources to do it's job, even when they are gift wrapped for them. Putting up a 700 mile wall to cover a 2000 mile border is simply asinine. We don't have the resources or the capacity to keep people out. So people should just drop that fantasy. But w hat to do? I surely don't know, but I hope someone comes up with a plausible plan.

When you say "fear" what exactly do you mean?

[The_Dude 1,142]

making this mandatory would be a step in the right direction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-verify

E-Verify is a great tool, and I wholeheartedly agree that it should be mandatory. But that is just one step. The government needs to make the consequences of hiring someone who is not a legal resident/citizen prohibitive. If you fine the companies that hire illegal aliens, it would be a big step towards properly funding ICE and other immigration departments (without increasing taxes).

[alienlovechild 75]

People's unmitigated fear of immigrants needs to be checked in order to have a logical and clear headed debate about this.

You lost it when you couldn't distinguish the difference between illegal and legal immigration. In case you didn't notice, a lot Americans voted for guy whose father wasn't an American and his opponent wasn't born in the continental U.S. either.

Few people are really afraid of legal immigration but they don't want our immigration policy decided in Mexico City which has called the shots at least since 1982. If can show us the number of bills and votes in Congress to restrict legal immigation maybe you'd have a point until then get yourself educated on this subject as it has some relationship to everyone on this forum.

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

E-Verify is a great tool, and I wholeheartedly agree that it should be mandatory. But that is just one step. The government needs to make the consequences of hiring someone who is not a legal resident/citizen prohibitive. If you fine the companies that hire illegal aliens, it would be a big step towards properly funding ICE and other immigration departments (without increasing taxes).

ita

[The_Dude 1,142]

When you say "fear" what exactly do you mean?

I mean exactly what I said. Far too many have an irrational fear of immigrants. In my personal experiences, i've seen people express their fear that immigrants are coming to steal their jobs, etc..

[Ban Hammer 13,491]

I mean exactly what I said. Far too many have an irrational fear of immigrants. In my personal experiences, i've seen people express their fear that immigrants are coming to steal their jobs, etc..

i fear one immigrant in particular. nessa's scary when she's mad at me!

[Danno 1,228]

I mean exactly what I said. Far too many have an irrational fear of immigrants. In my personal experiences, i've seen people express their fear that immigrants are coming to steal their jobs, etc..

I don't think people fear them in a safety issues sense, I know I certainly don't despite the crime stats.

Immigrants are coming to get a job not "steal" a job.

Net result.. Americans have lost jobs.

while I have not been effected by it, I have seen whole sectors wiped out in the last decade.

Blacks have been hit especially hard.

why would many wage workers NOT fear illegals taking their job or lowing the prevailing wage?

[SMOKE 1,426]

I mean exactly what I said. Far too many have an irrational fear of immigrants. In my personal experiences, i've seen people express their fear that immigrants are coming to steal their jobs, etc..

tell that to the people that can't find construction or low skilled factory work right now. tell them they are irrational.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

People's unmitigated fear of immigrants needs to be checked in order to have a logical and clear headed debate about this. Something needs to be done, but what can you really do short of putting up walls at our border and sending the military to patrol it? ICE does not have the resources to do it's job, even when they are gift wrapped for them. Putting up a 700 mile wall to cover a 2000 mile border is simply asinine. We don't have the resources or the capacity to keep people out. So people should just drop that fantasy. But w hat to do? I surely don't know, but I hope someone comes up with a plausible plan.

Fear of immigrants? What a joke. How is wanting to enforce immigration law a 'fear of immigrants'?

Is this the same as disagreeing with Obama is racist?

Edited January 5, 2010 by John Galt

[The_Dude 1,142]

I don't think people fear them in a safety issues sense, I know I certainly don't despite the crime stats.

Immigrants are coming to get a job not "steal" a job.

Net result.. Americans have lost jobs.

while I have not been effected by it, I have seen whole sectors wiped out in the last decade.

Blacks have been hit especially hard.

why would many wage workers NOT fear illegals taking their job or lowing the prevailing wage?

This isn't the workers fault, illegal or legal. This is companies manipulating people to lower wages and increase their profits. They are seldom caught and even less frequently punished for their illegal actions.

tell that to the people that can't find construction or low skilled factory work right now. tell them they are irrational.

Then, as I said, the companies exploiting the illegal immigrants should be fined so that this practice becomes prohibitively expensive. Without it, it is simply cheaper for them to do business this way.

Fear of immigrants? What a joke. How is wanting to enforce immigration law a 'fear of immigrants'?

Is this the same as disagreeing with Obama is racist?

Gonna use logic one of these posts? People do have a fear of immigrants. I probably should clarify that as a "fear of illegal immigrants", not to lump all together.