By: Daniel Nardini
The new immigration reform package voted on by the U.S. Senate has yet to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. Since the Republicans dominate the House, the fighting lines are being drawn. To add to the fight, powerful anti-immigration organizations like the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR) are calling on House representatives to reject the Senate legislation. In a statement put out by FAIR President Dan Stein, the organization said that U.S. President Barack Obama should be enforcing existing immigration laws in kicking out all those who come here illegally, and that Obama has put “illegals” above the interests of Americans. There is no question that FAIR will be fighting this new immigration reform measure any way possible.
One interesting thing about the statement released by FAIR is that they made it clear that if such legislation was passed, American workers would be the biggest losers. In a tactic commonly used before, Stein said that if “illegals” are allowed to stay, then this will drive down workers’ wages and cause American workers to compete for scarce jobs. This argument has been used before to scare American workers to not only reject but work towards trying to kick out the undocumented. The statement further goes on the attack against Obama. Obama is accused of having been “friendly” to the undocumented, and that he has undermined border security. Never mind the fact that Obama kicked out more undocumented from this country than former U.S. President George W. Bush did. Never mind the fact that Obama has spent more money to “secure” the border between the U.S. States and Mexico.
These facts have little meaning to anti-immigration organizations like FAIR. It is amazing the lengths these people will go to try and defeat any meaningful reform of an immigration system that is unwieldy, complicated, and in too many ways is inconsistent. In too many ways we are coming back to 2007 when the anti-immigration forces managed to defeat what was then the last meaningful attempt at immigration reform. Will they be successful this time around?
The Immigration Reform Fight Line
By: Daniel Nardini
One interesting thing about the statement released by FAIR is that they made it clear that if such legislation was passed, American workers would be the biggest losers. In a tactic commonly used before, Stein said that if “illegals” are allowed to stay, then this will drive down workers’ wages and cause American workers to compete for scarce jobs. This argument has been used before to scare American workers to not only reject but work towards trying to kick out the undocumented. The statement further goes on the attack against Obama. Obama is accused of having been “friendly” to the undocumented, and that he has undermined border security. Never mind the fact that Obama kicked out more undocumented from this country than former U.S. President George W. Bush did. Never mind the fact that Obama has spent more money to “secure” the border between the U.S. States and Mexico.
These facts have little meaning to anti-immigration organizations like FAIR. It is amazing the lengths these people will go to try and defeat any meaningful reform of an immigration system that is unwieldy, complicated, and in too many ways is inconsistent. In too many ways we are coming back to 2007 when the anti-immigration forces managed to defeat what was then the last meaningful attempt at immigration reform. Will they be successful this time around?