Republican Intransigence Exacerbating Crisis, President Must Do More

Washington D.C. – Today President Obama joined Senate Republicans at their weekly caucus lunch. Touching on a number of items in his legislative agenda, the administration sought the meeting with Senate Republicans in an attempt to forge better working relations with Republican Senators. The White House made clear that the door is “wide-open” to Republicans on immigration reform. The following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum and Chair of the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign.

“So far, Republicans have refused to return to the immigration reform negotiating table despite all their tough talk about the necessity of a federal fix to the broken immigration system. Republicans know that Arizona has triggered a national crisis, and at least 16 other states are considering band-aid, patchwork, discriminatory fixes to the broken immigration system. By refusing to work either with the President, or with Senate Democrats to move immigration reform legislation forward, Republicans have abdicated their responsibilities in favor of shrill political opportunism. Instead of serious immigration reform, Republicans have offered only window dressing ‘border first’ proposals that wont solve our broken immigration system. Despite polling data that shows Americans of all political persuasions – including those who favor the new Arizona immigration law — strongly favor national action on immigration reform and overwhelmingly support comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans have refused to lead.

The President made clear that he is willing to work with Republicans on the issue. That is not enough, however. This issue requires relentless presidential leadership and a more personal and prominent role from President Obama. Today could be a start, but he left the meeting without securing commitments from Republicans, and reports suggest he may make more of the same failed policy concessions on border issues without first bringing Republicans to the negotiating table. Half-hearted leadership has betrayed the White House’s true level of commitment. It is important to realize that under a Democratic Administration and a Democratic controlled Congress we have seen billions of dollars poured into more border enforcement, more deportations than ever before, and an AZ law that has – to date – gone unchallenged by the Attorney General.  Republicans may be the obstacle, but Democrats are in charge.

Today’s exercise in political theatre really does beg the question of politicians in Washington: Exactly how bad does the immigration crisis need to get before they intervene and do their jobs? Where is the bill?  How many states must pass or attempt patchwork discriminatory fixes before they can summon the political courage to act? How many families must be torn apart? How many promises will they break before they decide it’s appropriate to finally keep their word?

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