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Immigration Reform This Year: Let's Get to Work

by Allison Johnson 06-26-2009 | 1:15pm
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Yesterday, President Obama met with key legislators to discuss the details of moving comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year. We are grateful the conversation has begun and are pleased to see the formation of an immigration task force headed by Secretary Napolitano to achieve solid and practical solutions alongside members of Congress.

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With the economy, health care, and climate change already on the president's plate, many reporters and pundits are dismissing the notion that President Obama can pass immigration reform this year.

But the American public thinks otherwise. One of several recent polls shows that public opinion is strongly in favor of practical solutions to fixing the broken system -- even during an economic recession. The American people elected a new president and Congress who were willing to tackle the tough issues.

And true to his word, President Obama stepped up and took leadership in Thursday's bipartisan summit at the White House. He stated,

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by: WaveTossed

06-26-2009 @ 1:28pm

I noted the poll and its conclusion:

"A new poll shows that 71 percent of likely voters think undocumented immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers."

I don't think that too many people would disagree with this. Especially the undocumented ("illegal") immigrants themselves. I doubt that any of them say, "hey, let's stay illegal, let's break the law. That way we can work onerous hours at substandard pay with no labor protection." I don't think so. Most "illegal" immigrants would love to be legal immigrants.

The main problem is the logjam at INS. It takes months, months, many times years and years for a prospective immigrant to get a green card or a legal work visa.

One of the problems behind this INS logjam is the complete lack of political will to lessen this logjam: many in the anti-"illegal" immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well. They want the logjams to stay or else become even more strenuous logjams. Some of the anti-immigrant rhetoric has been tinged with racism and xenophobia i.e. "those lazy Mexicans don't want to work, they only want welfare; they want to take over the U.S. and force everyone to speak Spanish," blah, blah, blah.

by: Cav1

06-26-2009 @ 2:20pm

WavedTossed, Do you have any support for your assertion that "many in the anti-'illegal' immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well?"

Sounds like hyperbole and bluster to me.

by: GlenPeterson

06-26-2009 @ 11:43pm

Among other things, a few of us are planning an educational meeting with a UCLA professor and Jenny Hwang, co-author of Welcoming the Stranger at a rather conservative church in south-east Los Angeles and North Orange Counties to help educate Christians and the community at-large about what they can do to understand the issues from a biblical perspective and think about possible solutions like comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform this year. I think the president for his bold leadership and support on this issue. I will continue to educate myself and others.

I think it is out of a relationship with people who happen to be immigrants that my understanding has grown the most.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 3:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 3:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: WaveTossed

06-26-2009 @ 1:28pm

I noted the poll and its conclusion:

"A new poll shows that 71 percent of likely voters think undocumented immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers."

I don't think that too many people would disagree with this. Especially the undocumented ("illegal") immigrants themselves. I doubt that any of them say, "hey, let's stay illegal, let's break the law. That way we can work onerous hours at substandard pay with no labor protection." I don't think so. Most "illegal" immigrants would love to be legal immigrants.

The main problem is the logjam at INS. It takes months, months, many times years and years for a prospective immigrant to get a green card or a legal work visa.

One of the problems behind this INS logjam is the complete lack of political will to lessen this logjam: many in the anti-"illegal" immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well. They want the logjams to stay or else become even more strenuous logjams. Some of the anti-immigrant rhetoric has been tinged with racism and xenophobia i.e. "those lazy Mexicans don't want to work, they only want welfare; they want to take over the U.S. and force everyone to speak Spanish," blah, blah, blah.

by: Cav1

06-26-2009 @ 2:20pm

WavedTossed, Do you have any support for your assertion that "many in the anti-'illegal' immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well?"

Sounds like hyperbole and bluster to me.

by: WaveTossed

06-27-2009 @ 3:51pm

Read this site here. You will find all the proof of my assertion right here.

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer

This site even manages to include some of the racism as well. One of the articles talked about "La Raza" wanting more benefits from Medicare for "illegal immigrants." Which fits right into the "they don't want work, they want welfare and Medicare" stereotype.

For a fair and balanced view about immigration, check out;

www.catoinstitute.org

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 1:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 1:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: GlenPeterson

06-26-2009 @ 11:43pm

Among other things, a few of us are planning an educational meeting with a UCLA professor and Jenny Hwang, co-author of Welcoming the Stranger at a rather conservative church in south-east Los Angeles and North Orange Counties to help educate Christians and the community at-large about what they can do to understand the issues from a biblical perspective and think about possible solutions like comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform this year. I think the president for his bold leadership and support on this issue. I will continue to educate myself and others.

I think it is out of a relationship with people who happen to be immigrants that my understanding has grown the most.

by: WaveTossed

06-27-2009 @ 3:51pm

Read this site here. You will find all the proof of my assertion right here.

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer

This site even manages to include some of the racism as well. One of the articles talked about "La Raza" wanting more benefits from Medicare for "illegal immigrants." Which fits right into the "they don't want work, they want welfare and Medicare" stereotype.

For a fair and balanced view about immigration, check out;

www.catoinstitute.org

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 1:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 1:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 3:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 3:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: WaveTossed

06-26-2009 @ 1:28pm

I noted the poll and its conclusion:

"A new poll shows that 71 percent of likely voters think undocumented immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers."

I don't think that too many people would disagree with this. Especially the undocumented ("illegal") immigrants themselves. I doubt that any of them say, "hey, let's stay illegal, let's break the law. That way we can work onerous hours at substandard pay with no labor protection." I don't think so. Most "illegal" immigrants would love to be legal immigrants.

The main problem is the logjam at INS. It takes months, months, many times years and years for a prospective immigrant to get a green card or a legal work visa.

One of the problems behind this INS logjam is the complete lack of political will to lessen this logjam: many in the anti-"illegal" immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well. They want the logjams to stay or else become even more strenuous logjams. Some of the anti-immigrant rhetoric has been tinged with racism and xenophobia i.e. "those lazy Mexicans don't want to work, they only want welfare; they want to take over the U.S. and force everyone to speak Spanish," blah, blah, blah.

by: WaveTossed

06-26-2009 @ 1:28pm

I noted the poll and its conclusion:

"A new poll shows that 71 percent of likely voters think undocumented immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers."

I don't think that too many people would disagree with this. Especially the undocumented ("illegal") immigrants themselves. I doubt that any of them say, "hey, let's stay illegal, let's break the law. That way we can work onerous hours at substandard pay with no labor protection." I don't think so. Most "illegal" immigrants would love to be legal immigrants.

The main problem is the logjam at INS. It takes months, months, many times years and years for a prospective immigrant to get a green card or a legal work visa.

One of the problems behind this INS logjam is the complete lack of political will to lessen this logjam: many in the anti-"illegal" immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well. They want the logjams to stay or else become even more strenuous logjams. Some of the anti-immigrant rhetoric has been tinged with racism and xenophobia i.e. "those lazy Mexicans don't want to work, they only want welfare; they want to take over the U.S. and force everyone to speak Spanish," blah, blah, blah.

by: Cav1

06-26-2009 @ 2:20pm

WavedTossed, Do you have any support for your assertion that "many in the anti-'illegal' immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well?"

Sounds like hyperbole and bluster to me.

by: Cav1

06-26-2009 @ 2:20pm

WavedTossed, Do you have any support for your assertion that "many in the anti-'illegal' immigrant camp are actually against legal immigration as well?"

Sounds like hyperbole and bluster to me.

by: GlenPeterson

06-26-2009 @ 11:43pm

Among other things, a few of us are planning an educational meeting with a UCLA professor and Jenny Hwang, co-author of Welcoming the Stranger at a rather conservative church in south-east Los Angeles and North Orange Counties to help educate Christians and the community at-large about what they can do to understand the issues from a biblical perspective and think about possible solutions like comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform this year. I think the president for his bold leadership and support on this issue. I will continue to educate myself and others.

I think it is out of a relationship with people who happen to be immigrants that my understanding has grown the most.

by: GlenPeterson

06-26-2009 @ 11:43pm

Among other things, a few of us are planning an educational meeting with a UCLA professor and Jenny Hwang, co-author of Welcoming the Stranger at a rather conservative church in south-east Los Angeles and North Orange Counties to help educate Christians and the community at-large about what they can do to understand the issues from a biblical perspective and think about possible solutions like comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform this year. I think the president for his bold leadership and support on this issue. I will continue to educate myself and others.

I think it is out of a relationship with people who happen to be immigrants that my understanding has grown the most.

by: WaveTossed

06-27-2009 @ 3:51pm

Read this site here. You will find all the proof of my assertion right here.

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer

This site even manages to include some of the racism as well. One of the articles talked about "La Raza" wanting more benefits from Medicare for "illegal immigrants." Which fits right into the "they don't want work, they want welfare and Medicare" stereotype.

For a fair and balanced view about immigration, check out;

www.catoinstitute.org

by: WaveTossed

06-27-2009 @ 3:51pm

Read this site here. You will find all the proof of my assertion right here.

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer

This site even manages to include some of the racism as well. One of the articles talked about "La Raza" wanting more benefits from Medicare for "illegal immigrants." Which fits right into the "they don't want work, they want welfare and Medicare" stereotype.

For a fair and balanced view about immigration, check out;

www.catoinstitute.org

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 1:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 1:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 1:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 1:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 3:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: Cav1

06-28-2009 @ 3:25am

I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status.

I find the SOJO position on immigration issue perplexing on several levels,
but I will focus on one right now. How does the New Testament call for
individuals to love their neighbor and the Old Testament proscription to be
kind to immigrants mean that the United States, as a national policy must do
so also? A follower of Christ can love their neighbor and be kind to
immigrants irrespective of the national policy on immigration.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 3:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.

by: WaveTossed

06-28-2009 @ 3:43am

"I read the FAIR posting entitled "La Raza Demands Obama's Health Reform Plan
Cover Illegal Aliens" I did not read anything about illegal immigrants not
wanting to work, or wanting welfare. The FAIR posting does discuss an
alleged position by La Raza about the persons whom any reform of the health
care system will cover.

"Is it racist to exclude from a government run health care system persons who
either (a) entered the country illegally, or (b) entered the country
legally, but later through their actions lost their legal status."

What is racist about the article is the strongly-implied assumption that "illegal" immigrants and their supporters care mainly about what benefits the government provides.

Most immigrants who come to the U.S. come here for jobs, not to qualify for Medicare or other government programs. Read what the Cato Institute says about this sort of myth.