Immigration Reform, back to the front of the line!

Immigration reform is an issue that has been discussed and debated about for years now yet no national consensus has been reached.  Unfortunately, like many other important issues facing the nation, party politics has reared its ugly head and where there should be resolution there is only conflict.  Perhaps even more bothersome is the fact that some individuals and interest groups seem to think political grandstanding on immigration is preferable than sitting down and coming up with a real and effective immigration policy.

Timing is everything in politics.  Aa recent newspaper ad showed that fifteen California Republican legislators signed a letter addressed to the members of California’s Republican Congressional delegation.  The letter requests that the delegation ask for a vote on comprehensive immigration reform.  There are no details on what the contents of the immigration reform should be, just simply that there should be a vote on it.  Paschal Roth, the public relations firm that placed the ad, claims that a coalition of business, agricultural and labor organizations paid for the advertisement.  In fact, some of those fifteen named legislators were unaware of the ad and may not even agree with its spirit.  While Assemblyman Donald Wagner (R-Irvine) would like to see action take place on immigration reform, he voiced concern that readers may misconstrue the ad’s sense of finality: “Those of us who signed the letter, we may have some different ideas and want to see some different things.”

Individual representatives meanwhile, are offering their own suggestions.  Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) is reportedly working on a proposal to offer temporary legal status to certain undocumented immigrants.  Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla) is working on another proposal stressing tough border security and enforcement but could also grant legal status to some of the millions people currently in this country illegally.  These various proposals from many different corners come from various motivations, perhaps not all of them simply altruistic.

Evelyn Miller, of the Orange County-based California Coalition for Immigration Reform, a group which opposes illegal immigration, had some unkind words toward some Republicans who have offered their own immigration reform plans.  She stated, “They are groveling for votes because they want to get re-elected, and they want the illegal aliens, who are seeking permanent status, to vote for them”.

Recently, more than 600 conservative groups and individuals visited the Capitol to push House Republicans to step up action on immigration legislation.  These groups included Orange County religious and agricultural organizations, many of whom vary on which specific issues they’d like to see be put into practice.  Tommy Nixon, of the Christian-based group Solidarity, would like to eventually see full citizenship for undocumented immigrants.  Skip Lanfried, the global freedom pastor of Friends Church in Yorba Linda, voiced support for legal statuses of varying degrees.

Clearly there is a desire in this nation for immigration reform but rather than representatives attempting to individually float their own plans for political gain, a better course of action may be for further discussion resulting in a complete, comprehensive and bi-partisan plan that focuses on our nation’s security and best interest first and foremost. It’s up to our elected politicians to craft a policy that both accept those who will contribute positively to the freedoms of the United States and has a safeguard against those who are here to do us harm.