Reform Is Coming on Immigration, but Problems Remain

Ianus · 02:46 AM

I don't have a roll call subscription to see the entire article,but here is a quote of the parts that can be seen.

Quote:

Given last year’s election results, major immigration reform ought to pass in 2009 — but first, the incoming Obama administration has to decide what to do about some draconian policies put into place by the Bush administration.

Realclearpolitics has the entire article posted here.The only thing new in the article is that the Obama transition team has recommended some sort of commission to recommend solutions to Obama.

Quote:

The election results have encouraged reform advocates to expect that Obama will push for comprehensive reform this fall. He's declared it a "top priority" of his administration and it was the focus of one of his transition task forces.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and various immigration groups are holding events this week to press the cause.

Precisely what a reform package should contain, however, is uncertain. Hispanic Members of Congress and most pro-immigration groups definitely want it to include a certain path to citizenship for illegal residents who have clean records and pay a fine.

Others, like Rick Swartz, founder of the National Immigration Forum, thinks that - in spite of Democratic domination of the government and the party's promises - "amnesty" for up to 12 million illegal immigrants could still derail reform in Congress.

He advocates an incremental policy of "Ag Jobs-Plus" - passage of a widely supported bill, sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), to admit agricultural workers seasonally and let them earn green cards over a period of years, plus measures to reduce the years-long backlog of people waiting to join family members in the United States. Swartz's agenda also would include passing the DREAM Act, allowing 1 million students brought into the U.S. illegally as children to become citizens, and giving green cards to 600,000 or so holders of high-skill H-1B visas.

Because of massive job losses by American workers and opposition from the AFL-CIO, most reformers this year are willing to drop a provision in previous legislation allowing non-agricultural workers to enter the United States and eventually become legal residents.

The Obama transition team reportedly has recommended creation of a commission to recommend solutions to any issues not included in legislation the administration backs in the fall.

Matters covered in legislation and left to the commission might depend on how strong 2010 election prospects are for Democrats from conservative states and districts.

Even though they were trounced in 2008, anti-immigration forces are still ready to agitate for expulsion - not legalization - of illegal immigrants.

And they have high U.S. unemployment operating in their favor.

So, in spite of his promises and the vote in November, it will still take courage and political skill for Obama to figure out how to do the right thing, and do it.

lilbawler2001 · 01-09-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

He advocates an incremental policy of "Ag Jobs-Plus" - passage of a widely supported bill, sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), to admit agricultural workers seasonally and let them earn green cards over a period of years, plus measures to reduce the years-long backlog of people waiting to join family members in the United States. Swartz's agenda also would include passing the DREAM Act, allowing 1 million students brought into the U.S. illegally as children to become citizens, and giving green cards to 600,000 or so holders of high-skill H-1B visas.

I hope the big national groups really support this idea.

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Reform Is Coming on Immigration, but Problems Remain