Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Practical, humanitarian immigration reform needed
Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Practical, humanitarian immigration reform needed
April 19, 2006. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
No issue in recent times has played upon the mixed emotions of Americans more than illegal immigration. We're a compassionate people and, mindful of the hardships that drive people to seek low-skill jobs here and the contribution they make to our economy (experts differ over just how much that is), a third of U.S. citizens favor allowing unpapered immigrants to stay here permanently. This according to a recent Pew poll.
But we're also a nation of laws, including ones that protect our economic well-being. Concerned about the flouting of those laws, and the adverse effect illegal immigration may have on wages here, 27 percent of Americans say unlawful residents should be sent home. A majority of the House of Representatives, via the Sensenbrenner bill, wanted to criminalize illegal immigrants and employers who knowingly hire or help them.
A bipartisan measure that seemed headed for approval in the Senate -- one that would tighten border controls while allowing those millions of illegal immigrants already here to follow a multiple-step path to citizenship -- fell apart at the 11th hour. "Procedural obstacles" were blamed. "I think politics got in front of policy on this issue," said Sen. Ted Kennedy, a sponsor of the bill, after his fellow Democrats blocked the measure by refusing to take up amendments proposed by Republican opponents even though there seemed to be the votes needed to block any crippling amendment. After Congress adjourned for its two-week Easter recess, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist advanced the cause by agreeing to reduce unlawful immigration from a felony to a misdemeanor.
The threat of criminalization has spurred mass demonstrations around the country. While spotlighting the pressing need for reform, some protests featured defiant waving of Mexican flags -- raising the dander even of some reform supporters by seeming to express an entitlement to the rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship. With the political and emotional temperature rising on this issue, Congress, when it returns to Washington next week, must quickly rally to do what is both practical, considering the vast number of illegal immigrants living here, and humanitarian.
The top priority is normalizing immigration -- by toughening border controls while offering a path to citizenship for the hardworking and industrious. Admittedly the Senate compromise, which breaks down the 11 million illegal immigrants into three categories based on time in the United States, looks to be a bureaucratic nightmare, but it also may be the best that can be achieved. No bill will be perfect. But the United States must make it clear it will determine its own open-door policies, not have them determined for it by others, whatever flag they're waving.
This represents the consensus of the Sun-Times News Group of 100 papers in the metro Chicago area.
April 19, 2006. Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
No issue in recent times has played upon the mixed emotions of Americans more than illegal immigration. We're a compassionate people and, mindful of the hardships that drive people to seek low-skill jobs here and the contribution they make to our economy (experts differ over just how much that is), a third of U.S. citizens favor allowing unpapered immigrants to stay here permanently. This according to a recent Pew poll.
But we're also a nation of laws, including ones that protect our economic well-being. Concerned about the flouting of those laws, and the adverse effect illegal immigration may have on wages here, 27 percent of Americans say unlawful residents should be sent home. A majority of the House of Representatives, via the Sensenbrenner bill, wanted to criminalize illegal immigrants and employers who knowingly hire or help them.
A bipartisan measure that seemed headed for approval in the Senate -- one that would tighten border controls while allowing those millions of illegal immigrants already here to follow a multiple-step path to citizenship -- fell apart at the 11th hour. "Procedural obstacles" were blamed. "I think politics got in front of policy on this issue," said Sen. Ted Kennedy, a sponsor of the bill, after his fellow Democrats blocked the measure by refusing to take up amendments proposed by Republican opponents even though there seemed to be the votes needed to block any crippling amendment. After Congress adjourned for its two-week Easter recess, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist advanced the cause by agreeing to reduce unlawful immigration from a felony to a misdemeanor.
The threat of criminalization has spurred mass demonstrations around the country. While spotlighting the pressing need for reform, some protests featured defiant waving of Mexican flags -- raising the dander even of some reform supporters by seeming to express an entitlement to the rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship. With the political and emotional temperature rising on this issue, Congress, when it returns to Washington next week, must quickly rally to do what is both practical, considering the vast number of illegal immigrants living here, and humanitarian.
The top priority is normalizing immigration -- by toughening border controls while offering a path to citizenship for the hardworking and industrious. Admittedly the Senate compromise, which breaks down the 11 million illegal immigrants into three categories based on time in the United States, looks to be a bureaucratic nightmare, but it also may be the best that can be achieved. No bill will be perfect. But the United States must make it clear it will determine its own open-door policies, not have them determined for it by others, whatever flag they're waving.
This represents the consensus of the Sun-Times News Group of 100 papers in the metro Chicago area.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 5:27 PM
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