The President spoke about Immigration last Thursday. Since then, I've been thinking about how I feel about what he said. For the most part, I agree with him. We do need secure borders. We do need a way to hold employers accountable. We do need a "make-sense" way of resolving the issue of the 11M here.
While I understand many in the ANTI community will accept nothing but Mass Deportation and therefore dismissed the President's words, some folks in the PRO community have two issues with what he said:
1. No commitment to when a CIR bill will be passed: Will it be 2010? 2011? 2012? Or is this political pandering to obtain Latino votes in November.
2. Too many military on the border even though crime is actually down: The good news was he exposed the "crime is up on the border" rhetoric (lies). However is he pandering to the extremists by putting so many military on the border.
I'm still thinking about these two issues. I don't know if I agree or disagree. This is why I've taken so long in writing about his speech. I am mostly grateful that he has spoken out about the issue in such a caring and compassionate way. I believe his heart is in the right place. He clearly believes in a secure, prosperous and united America, a Land of Immigrants, a multi-cultural society with hope and dreams for all of our futures.
Happy July 4th!
Here is my Summary:
The President acknowledged we are a country of immigrants and our country was founded on Freedom, Equality and place where anyone can realize their dreams. We can't forget the resentment and xenophobia we have experienced in our past when many new groups took years/generations to assimilate.
Our borders have been porous for decades due to those seeking the American Dream and those seeking to hire and exploit cheap labor. He admitted our current Immigration processes are broken and our country is in dire need of Immigration reform at the National level. We need to secure our borders, hold employers accountable and do something about the 11M (yes he said 11M vs 12M since the numbers have gone down) here. He admitted there is a severe backlog in processing new admissions making it difficult for those escaping from dire circumstances to wait the required years. The system is not well automated and needs correction. He admitted there are severe backlogs in Immigration Courts so it is extremely difficult to resolve Immigration issues.
With our policies so broken and with our inability to pass Immigration reform in the past, states like Arizona decided to take matters into their own hands with an ill-conceived bill. They have fanned the flames in an already contentious debate. Laws like Arizona's put huge pressures on local law enforcement to enforce rules that are ultimately unenforceable. Many law enforcement in AZ and across the country have stepped forward and said so. He said these laws also have the potential of violating rights of innocent American citizens and legal residents. Additionally, if each state applies their own patchwork of immigration laws, we have the potential of different immigration rules applied differently for different parts of the country.
It is the Federal Government's responsibility to make our national laws actually work -- to shape our national immigration laws that actually work -- to shape a system that reflects our values as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. He said that doesn't mean the 11M here should be able to be immediately granted legal status. That would send the wrong message to those thinking about coming here in the future and to those already waiting in line. He said the majority of Americans are skeptical of a blanket amnesty. However he also said, the majority of Americans are also skeptical of rounding up and deporting 11M people. They know that's not possible. Such an effort would be logistically impossible and wildly expensive. Moreover it would tear at the very fabric of this nation -- because the 11M are intricately woven into our fabric. (eg: married to citizens; citizen children, some brought here as children; working AgJobs, etc.) Now, however, since we have the two poles of the debate, (e.g. No Amnesty vs No Mass Deportation) it becomes possible to form a solution that is practical and reflects our heritage and values; a solution we can all accept.
The President reiterated his support for secure borders and said "we have more boots on the ground along the border than any other time in American history." (and as I've long said) "Contrary to some of the reports (political rhetoric) that you see, crime along the border is down. And statistics collected by Customs and Border Protection reflect a significant reduction in the number of people trying to cross the border illegally." He reiterated we must hold Business accountable if they illegally hire. He is committed to giving employers a reliable system to verify legal status and punish those who bypass the system.
He will demand responsibility of those living here illegally. They will be required to admit they broke the law, required to register, pay their taxes, a fine and learn English. They must get right with the law before they get in line and apply for citizenship. He said they (Feds) are clearing the Immigration backlogs both in entry and in courts and automating the processes.
Our laws should respect families following the rules, not split them apart, provide farms a legal way to hire workers, a path for those to earn legal status, and stop punishing innocent young people for the actions of their parents by denying them the chance to earn an education and contribute to the country where they've grown up. (Dream Act)
This needs to be a bipartisan bill but with the volatility of the current debate, many Republicans have backed off their previous support. He asked that we put politics aside and pass CIR.
He closed with Emma Lazarus' poem:
“Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand,” she wrote,
A mighty woman with a torch…
From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome…
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!”…
“Give me your tired, and your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to be free…
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Let us remember these words. For it falls on each generation to ensure that that lamp -– that beacon -– continues to shine as a source of hope around the world, and a source of our prosperity here at home.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
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5 comments:
11 million illegals? Most sources say at least 12 million and it is probably more like 20 million.
Too many military on the border? What military? There is no military on the border. Obama promised 1200 NG to Arizona and only produced 524 and they will be unarmed at that. So WTH are you talking about.
How many times do you have to be told that most anti's aren't for MASS deportations? Do you think if you repeat that lie in here often enough it will become truth? We are for taking away any incentives to remain here or to come here. Why do you continue to lie about that?
We are no longer a "land of immigrants" but a land of Americans. Most every country in the world takes in immigrants. Does that make them the "land of immigrants"? What does multi-culterism (not what we are anyway) but multi-racial and ethnic have to do with illegal immigration? My God, have you no common sense at all? We aren't multi whatever unless we allow our borders to be run over by illegal aliens? WTH?
Oh, I see Obama and others are pandering to anti's? How does that make them extremists anyway? If they were really pandering to the majority who are anti then why does he and rest of the Democrats keep promising amnesty. Sounds like hispandering to me not the other way around.
Xenophobia nor the past plays any role in our right to have and to enforce our immigration laws today. Equality? Doesn't sound like equality to me when citizens are locked up for their crimes but you expect illegal aliens to gain our precious citizenship for theirs. It isn't EQUALITY when most who would benefit from an amnesty would be Latinos. So much for your wet dream of multi-culterism. How are we to remain multi anything if Latinos are allowed to take over this country via illegal immigration?
Are immigration laws are already shaped in the best interests of this country and its citizens. So you want to shape them so that the world's poor can come here for a better life while ours deteriorates into a third world country from the uncontrolled population growth and all of the demands on our jobs, healthcare, education and resources that would occur?
The poem on that statue is outdated for today's world. We can no longer take in every poor and destitute person in the world. What is wrong with you? The "Golen Door" is not coming through the back door or the basement window. Anyone with common sense would know that the only way one should come here is through the front door and if they don't do so our laws say go back home and do it the right way.
You have your words screwed up. We shouldn't be REWARDING children brought here illegally or born here by the abuse of the 14th with citizenship for the sinful actions of their parents. Look at it that way rather than your punishment scenario.
In short you are an anti-American traitor with your bottom line agenda of ethnocentricm and racism just hiding below the surface. Those of us who know you though know that you hate all white people and Republicans who aren't up for your "brown" agenda and that is why you demonize them all day long in here. It isn't going to work though. The American people will never allow another amnesty and Obama and congress know it. I suggest you move to Mexico where your real Latino paradise is. That is where all you traitors need to go. You may be American on paper but you are Mexican in your heart. We have no need for divided loyalties in this country.
Bad Anon,
You are not getting it. The numbers have GONE DOWN. He was reading the latest reports. This means YOU should not believe the reports by the right wing extremist rags that you reference.
The President promised 1200 NG to THE US/Mexico BORDER, NOT to AZ alone. So what the heck are YOU talking about.
Most ANTI supporters of sb1070 ARE for Mass Deportation. What do you think Attrition by Enforcement means. It means DEPORTING all 11M here plus that means taking their citizen children with them, for a total of 20M (en MASSE). = MASS DEPORTATION. To DENY that is the intent is a LIE!
When asked the question, most Americans DO NOT SUPPORT MASS DEPORTATION! Only the racist, extremist supporters of sb1070 support Mass Deportation!
We ARE a Land of Immigrants. We are multi-cultural. To deny it is to live in Never Never Land. You may as well crawl in bed and put your covers over your head. Wake up and Smell the Coffee!
Your xenophobia, restrictionism, racism and hate have "fanned the flames in this already contentious debate." Get over it.
Bad Anon, all my readers know what a profanity laced racist you are and continue to be. It is sad you spend 24/7 locked to my blog each day and night. Last night you sent me a total of 16 emails in the wee hours of the night and morning of which I only posted 2, the two without as vulgar language.
Additionally it would help if you READ what the President said. No Amnesty, but instead a disciplined process of accountability and acknowledgement of their actions, penalties paid, actions to be taken before being allowed to get in line and apply for citizenship which may take up to 10 years. This is no amnesty.
Try READING and UNDERSTANDING what he said before making such biased and inaccurate judgements.
God Bless America
God Bless OUR President Obama
star-telegram may 26, 2010
Obama sending 1,200 National Guard troops to U.S.-Mexico border
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/05/25/2216827/obama-sending-1200-national-guard.html#ixzz0sp81t11f
For a different perspective on the Obama immigration speech seem my
commentary here or on Newsvine.
no comment not puttin words on a little screen so bunch people can figure out just how i still tick I TRUST NO ONE
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