By all objective measures unauthorized immigration is down. Another burst of federal money was just sent to the Southwest for border security. Violence along the U.S.-Mexico border is at its lowest in years (despite what some fear-mongers on the right have claimed). These are the conditions that the Right has demanded before talking comprehensive reform.
Well, now is the time to talk. With the economy still sputtering, fewer and fewer undocumented workers are coming to find work. With border enforcement up, those who left because of the recession aren’t coming back. Deportations have gone up. Republicans have an opportunity now to claim a victory and come to the bargaining table.
And some traditional right wing allies are pushing for just that:
Says Galen Carey of the National Association of Evangelicals: “There’s a good argument for this being a good time to address immigration reform — precisely because crossings appear to be down.”
“After all,” Carey says, “you don’t try to fix a bridge during rush hour.”
But there does not seem to be anyone in the halls of Congress paying attention to objective facts. Instead, we have Sen. John McCain, formerly a comprehensive immigration reform supporter, continuing to accuse President Obama of ignoring border violence — despite FBI reports that border violence has decreased. Senator Lindsey Graham, another former supporter, has called for a Constitutional amendment to strip birthright citizenship away. And what does that mean, according to Edward Allen at the Council on Foreign Relations?
Delaying overhauls to the national immigration quota system means that, for example, “we’re driving away thousands of skilled Chinese and Indians,” he says. There has been no action on the “Dream Act,” legislation proposed last year that would allow undocumented immigrant students who have been in the country since childhood to enlist in the military, go to college, and earn citizenship.
Let’s hope our elected officials get the message on September 15th, when we demand relief, reform and respect in Washington, DC.
Categories: Faith, Relief Reform Respect, comprehensive immigration reform, dream act, economy
