Alas, even the heroic efforts of Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) – arguably the two most influential political operators in America – could not save the highly contentious immigration reform bill from a slow and agonizing death. Recall, after all, that only days before it was finally pronounced dead a week ago today, McCain and Kennedy resurrected it from premature death with all of the hope for long life that attended Christ’s resurrection of Lazarus.
I actively supported this bill (here, here, here, here and elsewhere) because it constituted the most comprehensive and sustainable plan to assimilate the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants currently living in America. And, despite dogged mischaracterizations by its opponents to the contrary, it contained provisions to secure the (US/Mexico) border to avoid having to contend with millions more a decade from now.
Therefore, I mourn its demise. And in so doing I commiserate with all who recognize and appreciate the contributions illegal immigrants make to America’s thriving economy and evolving culture. But no one mourns the death of this bill more than President George W Bush who – given the terminal mess he’s created in Iraq – was clearly hoping against hope that it would be enacted to give his presidential legacy at least one redeeming feature.
I hasten to clarify, however, that I harbor none of the irrational fears that many despairing supporters have expressed about illegal immigrants now being rounded up and deported summarily. In fact, I have no doubt that 99.9% of them will continue to live in plain sight – as unaffected as ever by current US laws.
But I am as disappointed by the fecklessness this bill’s enlightened supporters demonstrated as I am outraged by the bigotry its atavistic opponents expressed. After all, no legislation considered by this Congress held more promise not only for the sustained growth of the US economy but also for the improvement of its national security.
Yet, in a strained but convenient alliance, conservative talk radio (represented by the jingoistic and bombastic voice of Rush Limbaugh) and labor unions (represented by the overweening and selfish arm-twisting of the AFL-CIO) succeeded in demagoguing and distorting this bill to such degree that poll after poll showed Americans being more fearful of its passage than they are of another terrorist attack.
Moreover, Limbaugh and others exhibited no compunctions about proselytizing the specious notion that – far from being good for America – Mexicans crossing the border illegally to mow your lawn could be al Qaeda terrorists crossing it to chop off your head….
It’s not surprising therefore that by the time a final vote on this bill was taken last week, many erstwhile and would-be supporters voted against it merely out of fear of being accused of undermining the US economy (with cheap labor), destroying its national character (i.e. challenging the predominant white race by naturalizing so many brown Mexicans) and jeopardizing national security (by voting for an “open borders” policy which grants unfettered access to everyone from law-breaking Mexican squatters to Islamic jihadists). And their political opportunism (if not cowardice) was such that it mattered little to them that they were cowering in fear from rhetorical bullying borne of rank jingoism laced with racism….
Little by little, the number of people who lose their appreciation of [the United States] will grow….With what happened yesterday, everyone loses, sooner rather than later, and there are fewer possibilities of healing that wound. [Guatemala’s national newspaper Prensa Libre lamenting the death of the immigration reform bill]
That said, I feel obliged to inform illegal immigrants (especially those of Hispanic origin with whom I marched in support of this bill) that where their disappointment over the bill’s failure is understandable, their indignation at the US Congress is not. In fact, this debate on immigration reform has made it self-evident that tens of millions of people in Central and South America must be disabused of the presumption that the US government is more responsible for their welfare than their respective national governments are….
Nevertheless, this issue remains in the vital and strategic interest of the US. Therefore, let us hope that in the next session, Congressional leaders will make comprehensive immigration reform as much a national priority as Bush has made his war on terror. And, in this regard, the admonition I gave this Congress in May bears reiterating:
Now that the Democrats have won control of Congress (in part by denying Republicans the ability to take credit for passing comprehensive immigration reform), it will be interesting to see how immigration reform fares on their legislative agenda. But if this Democratic Congress neglects to pass immigration reform this year [2007], one of the organizing principles of our march next year should be a clarion call to oust its leaders from power as well.
Therefore, here’s to electing a clean slate of more enlightened and less partisan Democrats and Republicans in next year’s elections to finally enact this legislation.
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Immigrant kid says
It fits our needs perfectly the advantage of immigration reform on the country: Greater supply of unskilled workers, a younger workforce, and skilled workers in needed sectors. But there is also a disadvantage of immigration reform like Greater poverty, more educational cost, lower unskilled wage levels, and increased danger of terrorism. Thanks to the post!