The Audacity of Immigration Reform: Hope Delayed would be Hope Denied (2008)

Written in Mexico City, where I lived from 2007 to 2009.
Published in 'Selective Echo' on November 12, 2008.
Reposted by permission.

“Like millions of Americans, the immigrant story is also my story.”

--Senator Barack Obama in a Floor Statement on April 3, 2006

“The time to fix our broken immigration system is now.”

--Senator Barack Obama in a Floor Statement on May 23, 2007

“Barack Obama and Joe Biden: Fighting for Comprehensive Immigration Reform”

--from the website for the Barack Obama Presidential campaign

“I will make comprehensive immigration reform a top priority in my first year as President.”
--Candidate Barack Obama in speeches before the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and National Council of La Raza (NCLR) in July 2008

President Barack Obama should bring people together, deliver on hope and fulfill his promise.

Comprehensive immigration reform is the right thing to do.  The right time to do it is now.

Numerous bloggers and commentators claim immigration reform has died and that President Barack Obama will not revive it, certainly not in his first term.  They make a logical case.

Candidate Obama shied away from immigration reform during much of the campaign.  While his position resembled those of Candidates Clinton and McCain, Candidate Obama mostly pointed out the changes and inconsistencies of his opponents.  He spoke little about his own plan.

President-elect Obama named Rahm Emanuel Chief of Staff.  As a Congressman, Mr. Emanuel cast numerous votes in favor of comprehensive immigration reform.  Nevertheless, in July 2007, Rep. Emanuel said that comprehensive immigration reform would not happen in the Democratic House, in the Democratic Senate or in the first term of the Democratic Presidency.

Ruben Navarette has written that in considering immigration reform, Obama will have to balance the competing interests of unions and Latinos, both critical constituencies in the Democratic Party.  The clash represents a difficult challenge for reformers, yet it need not be insurmountable.

The basics of comprehensive immigration reform are plain.  The U.S. government must update an antiquated visa system to match 21st-century social and economic realities.  Employment verification must be strengthened.  U.S. borders must be secure to deter criminal activity but smart to allow an orderly flow of people and commerce.  An undocumented population of 12 million people should be brought out of the shadows and given the opportunity to join the open society of the U.S.

Pragmatists shudder at the difficulty of passing comprehensive immigration reform, yet they acknowledge the proper moral course.  In late September, 20 U.S. Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel, signed a statement entitled, “Beginning of Jewish New Year Signals Time to Redouble Efforts for Fair and Humane Immigration Policy.”  The statement read in part, “As Jews and Hispanics, we are called to welcome the stranger in our midst.”  In policy terms, this referred to the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.  To welcome means to offer a path to citizenship.

President Obama’s advisors will calculate the political costs and benefits of fulfilling the promise of comprehensive immigration reform.  While logical, that represents old Washington, not change we can believe in.  Candidate Obama advocated a new politics that focused on real solutions to real problems.

The immigration system broke down years ago.  Pusillanimous politicians avoided the issue and likened it to an electrified third rail.  The American society has suffered the strain of an unsolved problem.

President Obama has said, “the system isn’t working when 12 million people live in hiding.”  President Obama has also said comprehensive immigration must include a path to citizenship for those 12 million undocumented immigrants.

The challenge of comprehensive immigration reform could help President Obama to bring people together by bringing all people together to join the common cause of strengthening America together.

Comprehensive immigration reform: Economically wise.  Morally right.  Long overdue.

The requirement: Audacity.