Immigration reform now on back burner
By Perla Trevizo ptrevizo@timesfreepress.com
Online: Read a Pew Hispanic Center repor t on unauthorized immigrants. Comment. Area lawmakers agree something should be done about illegal immigration, but they say reform needs to start with border security and enforcement of current immigration laws. “I believe those individuals who come to our country legally and obey our laws should be welcomed,” said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. “But at the same time I believe we must secure our borders and end the opportunity of illegal entry.” He said the nation’s legal immigration system should be calibrated to the economy, and the number of guest worker visas available should be cut when the unemployment rate is high and increased when it’s low. President Barack Obama campaigned on the promise of comprehensive immigration overhaul, and during his recent visit to Mexico he said he expected legislators to have a draft for an immigration bill this
year but that the matter would not get priority attention until 2010. That approach is the sensitive thing to do, said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. “The Obama administration is now struggling with their second controversial issue in a row, with this government-run health care plan and cap and trade,” he said. “For a third controversial issue to be on an agenda, it would probably make it the most volatile political cycle in generations.” Rep. Wamp said a solution is stricter enforcement of immigration laws and wider use of the E-verify system through which employers can verify the legal status of their workers. Aaron Moore, president of the Latin American Community Alliance in Dalton, Ga., said immigration reform should make the process to migrate to the United States more accessible. “The average person in Latin America simply doesn’t have the resources available to access legal immigration when, for example, just the paperwork and physicals can run $5,000 or more, when the person’s annual salary is $700,” he said. In 2007, an immigration reform bill supported by President George W. Bush that failed to pass the Senate included many of the provisions favored by President Obama, including a path to eventual citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants now in the country. All area U.S. senators voted against the measure. Local community leaders and Hispanic residents say not only is immigration reform overdue, but it needs to include an option for people to legalize their status. “Right now the focus is enforcement only, and this creates risks of not complying with the due process, brings more fear, abuses and increases division and hatred,” said America Gruner, founder of Dalton’s Coalition of Latino Leaders. “The longer it takes to approve immigration reform, we’re allowing more families to suffer unfairly, more detentions of noncriminals will occur and more racial profiling cases will happen,” she said. Jose Garcia, a Chattanooga pastor who came to the United States 29 years ago from Guatemala, said a lot of Hispanics voted for Mr. Obama for president because of his promise of change. “We were really hoping and praying that something was going to be resolved this year, because it’s tearing families apart,” he said. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, RGa., said it is imperative for the president and Congress to work together, but “we need to have time for a thoughtful, thorough debate on comprehensive immigration reform, and Congress does not need to rush to fulfill an arbitrary deadline without getting this right.” Juan Trejo, a Chattanooga resident and native of Mexico, said ideally Congress could pass comprehensive immigration reform that helps illegal immigrants, but he understands the nation has other priorities, such as health care reform and the economy. “I think (immigrants) should instead use the time right now to learn English and save the most money they can to prepare themselves for when there is immigration reform,” Mr. Trejo said. REJECTED IMMIGRATION BILL In 2007, former President George W. Bush pushed for an immigration reform bill that was defeated in the Senate. It would have: Provided a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country if they returned to their home countries briefly Appropriated $4.4 billion for border security measures. Instituted a guest-worker program. Set criteria for residency applications that place more emphasis on education and skills than family ties. Created a new system for workplace immigration enforcement. Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press archives
