As the senate revisits a revised immigration reform bill, everyone is showing their claws. I’ve compiled here a list of interesting articles that grapple with this debate. In order for the bill to pass, an over-whelming majority of the democrats need to vote for it. This bill is an intense mix of politics and alliances. Bush is pushing for his republicans to support it, because, as one author state, he is sympathetic towards Mexican immigrants: The NY Times: Texas Town, Now Divided, Forged Bush’s Stand on Immigration
At stake, in this bill, is the potential citizenship of 12 million illegal immigrants. However, it is the 200,000 person “guest-worker” program that divides the senate along multiple lines. Al Giordano of Narco News outlines this issue simply as ridiculous. He states:
To keep twelve million people “illegal” out of spite, however legitimate, toward the Court-Appointed President, is also a consequence of bigotry. Such a stance concludes that twelve million “aliens” (that’s what they called our ancestors, too, as if they had come from the moon) and their freedom do no count, do not matter, and are expendable. Excuse me: there is no other word for that than racism.
Others argue that the issue is more complicated–in particular the labor unions. Steven Greenhouse of the NY Times argues that it is the labor unions that may decide this bill.
The threat that labor poses to the bill has gone largely unrecognized in part because three prominent unions — the service employees, the farm workers, and the hotel, restaurant and apparel workers — have backed the legislation. But that support, advocates say, has been outweighed by opposition from the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and virtually all other unions, including auto workers, Teamsters, food and commercial workers, and construction unions.
The unions that are in support of the bill see the 12m workers as a priority…and worth the sacrifice. The others, on the other hand, feel betrayed by senators such as Kennedy who support a bill that could threaten the wages and way of life that they have grown accustomed.
This bill is an amazing case study of negotiation, distraction, and racism. This is obviously not the best possible scenario for immigrants (paying $5,000 among other things) so is it still worth it? As deals are made under the table to get enough senators on board, will we even understand all of the fine points of the final bill…probably not.
Here are a couple more interesting articles on the subject:
Story from BBC NEWS: US Senate revives migration plan
This one discusses the economics of the immigration debate:
Story from BBC NEWS: US immigrants spark growth debate
More on the debates between senators:
Immigration Bill Advances in Senate
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVI, SF Gate
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