Immigration Reform Dead in 2010? - Newsweek

JyArete · 01-28-2010, 11:45 PM

I wonder why he would even put a question mark, when we all know the truth of the matter...

Quote:

Immigration Reform Dead in 2010?

As I noted yesterday, the chances of getting an immigration-reform bill passed this year dimmed dramatically in the wake of Scott Brown's victory in the Massachusetts special election. Last night President Obama's SOTU speech pretty much snuffed out any remaining possibility. He waited until roughly word 6,300 of a 7,000-word speech to address the issue. He devoted all of one sentence to it ("And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system," etc. etc.). And he offered no specifics for a potential measure or timeline to get it done. That fleeting reference was "a crumb that was placed on the domestic-policy-agenda table to really satisfy the hunger of the immigrant and Latino communities," says the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which has pushed for a reform package. "It was the death knell of immigration reform in 2010."

This is no surprise. Given that much of last year was squandered on a health-care debate that has yet to produce an agreement, and given that Americans are clamoring for the administration to focus on jobs and the economy, immigration has fallen far down the priority list, for both the president and Congress. "I don't think there's been a diminution in the desire to do it," says Simon Rosenberg of the New Democrat Network, which has also pressed for an overhaul. "But there's a greater recognition that the pipeline got backed up in 2009." The top two priorities now, he says, are a jobs bill and financial-services reform. "If those get done, and Washington is working better, then I think other things will be possible this year." Even, perhaps, immigration reform, though he says it may well get pushed to 2011.

The pro-reform forces, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and advocacy organizations, are mostly striking a measured and realistic tone. They realize that Obama has his hands full, that he's rightly focused on jobs, and that it's perhaps time to regroup on the immigration front. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who introduced a reform proposal in the House in December and has often expressed impatience with the administration's handling of the issue, had mostly supportive words for Obama in a blog posting this morning. Though he lamented the president's cursory mention of immigration in last night's speech, he argued that ultimately it was up to Congress to seize the reins. Lawmakers "cannot wait for the President to lay out our timeline for comprehensive reform," he wrote.

For now, Hispanic voters appear to be cutting Obama some slack. "From the perspective of the Latino community, the most pressing issue is the economy and job creation," says Clarissa Martinez of the National Council of La Raza, just as it is for Americans generally. Even in good economic times, immigration usually ranks as only a midlevel concern for Hispanic voters. The problem, however, is if they perceive that the president has betrayed them on the issue. At this point, that's not the prevailing sentiment. "We know that he's committed, that he's opened the door to make progress on the issue," says Martinez. But there's "definitely an expectation that there will be movement [on an immigration overhaul], and there will be disappointment if that doesn't happen." My guess is he's safe not dealing with it this year. But if he waits beyond 2011, Hispanics' patience may wear out.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thega...d-in-2010.aspx

in_the_shadow · 01-29-2010, 12:29 AM

I feel so naive now for believing in immigration reform in 2010. Less than 6 months ago I purchased a one way plane ticket out of the country and was ready to leave forever, but my mother and the rest of the family begged me to stay a little longer and wait for the reform. They truly believed it would pass since everybody was saying it would pass. Now, it seems that all hope is gone yet again. I will have to buy another plane ticket soon, this time I will not make the same mistake and believe the lies spewed by politicians and newspapers. This country doesn't care about us and our lives. The Americans see us as criminals and less than human. There will never be any immigration reform in this country, at least I don't believe in it anymore.

I hate my life and this country so much right now. Why did my parents bring me here in the first place? To ruin my life I guess.

dtrt09 · 01-29-2010, 01:20 AM

2011 is very convenient as the re-election campaign for the presidency will start full swing. Then he will promise desperate people flying pigs and money grown on trees. I found an article a few months ago quoting Rahm Emmanuel saying that the plan was for immigration reform to be approached in 2011 before the 2012 election.

Even more disheartening is the news everywhere on the web that the Obama administration has relegated Healthcare Reform - Healthcare Reform; the reason the last 12 months were squandered politically - to the backburner in order to save their assess in November.

lemony · 01-29-2010, 02:30 AM

I think the fact of the matter right now is that Healthcare had to be done to try and alleviate the country's recession. Then he has to deal with banks and lack of jobs. So why would Obama bring immigration up until he's at least got the ball rolling in a positive manner on either when you KNOW most of America will then think 'gee more legal immigrants means taking jobs away from actual citizens' when WE know that immigrants make up the grunt of the work force doing labor that citizens don't want to do. I think give it some time. I don't think we should be defeatist in this matter, I mean 4 people from Florida are walking to D.C. just to prove they're not losing hope on this.

It makes sense that right now Immigration isn't a hot button issue.

ibrahim · 01-29-2010, 05:09 AM

i feel like doing the same this as "in the shadow" i'm not gonna say i hate America cause i learned a lot from here but im ready to use what i learned somewhere else, i guess Europe here i come.

Novela · 05:21 AM

You guys frustrate me when you wanna throw in the towel before the war is over. All of you. Seriously.

http://americasvoiceonline.org/blog/..._action_faith/

What are you thinking, that good things will come easy?
No, they won't. Good things that last are hard to get - but not just hard, FUCKING DAMN HARD. It just depends on how much you want it.

Edit: I say this from experience... most people don't realize the true meaning of the word "hard", when being told that if they want something, it'll be "hard" to get. They tell themselves they'll go through it, yea ok, how hard can it be, right?
But that's when you need to realize that, if you commit to fighting for something, you need to understand that hard means HARD, as in, the things that are the most difficult for you, as an individual, to go through. You'll cry. You'll want to give up. You'll be angry and you'll blame anything and everything for making you go through this, like it would solve it. But in the end, you gotta accept that you WILL do those things, but the ONE thing you must always do is get off of your knees, back up on your feet, and keep on walking. It'll repeat, it'll get harder, but you gotta complete the cycle and continue walking... and continue fighting.
That's the true meaning of strength and willpower. That's the only way you'll reach your goal, and feel like you DID it. You'll only understand the concept of the phrase 'I DID it' when you get there, and when it comes out of your mouth. When you say those words, you'll remember what I'm saying, and you'll feel the difference...
Ugh I'm not good at explaining these things. You just KNOW.

Good night! >_<

withchemicals · 01-29-2010, 02:41 PM

My main worry is getting back to school. I was to be a sophomore last September but had to take a year off due to financial difficulty. If the DA doesn't pass before next September, it's starting all over for me. >_>

If only student loans could be granted to undocumented students as well....

Mona Lisa · 01-29-2010, 03:09 PM

I wish I had a Bachelors degree to take back home. I am going to be done with my transfer studies by the end of April. A associates degree in transfer studies and Speech Communication is not going to get me anywhereeeee in Mexico. I wish I could have finished my studies here but I cant even transfer because of the money.

I am so with "In The Shadow." However, I am really scared because I really don't know anything about Mexico lol

I'm eager to start life elsewhere though. I am tired of being all of 2011 and when that comes you guys will be saying oh 2o13 is our year.

stillaround · 05:04 PM

I wanted to delete this post....

nevfo · 08:28 PM

I concur.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

April

Immigration Reform Dead in 2010? - Newsweek