Stepping stones

"America needs to secure our borders -- and with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We're increasing worksite enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings. We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border, and by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents. Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy. This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm. We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved. And it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.”
President George W. Bush January 28, 2008

In my last blog I spoke of the economic crisis delaying any real effort of immigration reform. However, maybe the upcoming president could help set up some deal for the next president that comes along. I may have jumped the gun on that idea. It seems that President George Bush has tried to put some more effort into immigration reform. Over the whole of the Bush administration funding for border security and immigration enforcement has increased by 159%, the number of border control officers has increased from 9,000 in 2001 to nearly 15,000 in 2008 with an estimated 3,000 more to join them by the end of 2008. The policy of "catch and release" has been eliminated. No longer will illegal immigrants who are caught be release in the U.S. to appear at a later court date. Most of the immigrants that were release just never showed up for their court date. The new policy is called "catch and return". Illegal immigrants caught trying to cross the border are held until they can be removed.

The crack down on those employers who hire illegal immigrants has increase as well. More than 48,000 companies now use the software E-verify to make sure that the employees they hire are legal citizens. This new software is now starting to be enforced by local companies and has seen a considerable decrease in those illegal immigrants who are trying to get jobs. Local law enforcement is also starting to be trained in the proper ways to enforce immigration laws. All of these facts can be found on http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/ . It seems that President Bush has finally started to take steps towards enforcing immigration reform. It may have come a little late but hopefully the next president will be able to keep up this new reform and maybe add some of their own ideas.

With all of these facts it seems that all the pieces have been put in place for the next president. Maybe that is why the immigration issue has taken a back seat to everything else. But it seems that the public has not taken notice of this new reform. Instead they reprimand the candidates for not doing anything. In the 3 presidential debates that have been held there has not been one mention of immigration reform. This has been disheartening for the immigrants, legal and illegal. For the legal ones there is a deep desire to help their "brothers and sisters" live the dream they have already. This idea has been the backbone for all hispanic voters. I have this one quote from a hispanic voter that really struck me.

"Hispanics are one cultural family and owe allegiance to one country or another. I, my family and friends owe ours to the good old USA. Many of us are vets and taxpayers.
Per the above, we are one big family and when someone picks on one, he/she picks on all. When the Republicans pass cruel and punitive laws regarding our "brothers and sisters", we feel the snubs, the slights and insinuations. Plainly, the ultra-conservative GOP is saying we do not want any more of you people. You are lazy, criminals, dirty and use up our tax monies. The Republicans have been broadcasting that message for years and we are sick of it. Our way of taking care of this problem will be by voting Democratic in 11/2008 and getting rid of those lawmakers who demonize Hispanics."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2008/06/obama-and-mccai.html

In his attempt to gain the Republican candidancy, John McCain has lost the support of both sides. It seems that he no longer has the support of the immigrants which he had supported in the past and he no longer has the support of his fellow Republicans because of his moderate views on illegal immigration.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14444.html

So let me go back in a time a little. The original crisis with McCain has been that he is shifty along his alliance to either side of immigration reform. No one knows whether to trust him or not. He cannot seem to pick a side. Maybe he cannot see which is right. I say that the choice has been put before him. Every statistic says that McCain voted 95% of the time with President Bush. Why not keep it the same. President Bush, as of late, has been doing quite a lot for immigrants even if all he has done has gone under the radar.

Oh and one last thing. One of the questions that was asked of me was how much influence immigrants really have in the election of the next president. I would have to say that immigrants play a huge role in the election. Four of the biggest influential states are full of immigrants. Florida, California, and Texas are three of the states that are full of immigrants who are eligible to vote. In the 2004 election, 2.1 million immigrants voted in California. That number may increase to 2.8 million in this election.