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While many Americans do not agree on the solution, the majority of Americans, for compassionate

reasons, agree that some type of immigration reform must be passed by Congress.

If there is one area that brings controversy and ignites many emotions in different people, it

is the topic of immigration reform. Many do not agree on “illegal immigration” claiming that

illegal immigrants take jobs from American citizens, and all other sorts of arguments. On the

other side of the spectrum, many people believe that illegal immigrants are noble people who

cross the border for a chance at a better life, that they do not harm the countries economy, and

that they do not deface America’s culture. The different opinions about illegal immigration are

the source of all of the chaos, which is yet to be resolved. The real issue at hand is to focus on

creating a reasonable and justified solution to this controversial and pressing debate that has

divided the nation into pro-immigration and anti-immigration beliefs.

President Obama promised that Hispanic community an immigration reform in his first one

hundred days in office. During his campaign in 2008, in many of his speeches, Obama said he

believed that the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and policies needed to be fixed. Some

of his reasons were humanitarian. He wanted to keep families together and meet the demand for

jobs that employers cannot fill. However, Mr. Obama has been in office for over 14 months and

has not made a push, other than statements here and there to pass a comprehensive immigration

reform like he promised the Hispanic community. Many believe he is playing politics to favor

the mid term elections. According to an article on the Americano, “Mr. Obama’s public focus on

the issue appeared aimed at framing the debate for the approaching midterm elections, when the

Hispanic vote could be critical in several important states,” the NYT said in its story. 1.”The

president’s attention is a favor to Senator Harry M. Reid, the Democratic majority leader, who
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faces a tough re-election battle in Nevada and promised to pursue immigration legislation in an

appeal to his state’s growing Hispanic population.”

Immigration reform is an important policy in politics today, because many want the Hispanic

vote, but still want to continue pleasing the other side of the spectrum. It shows in the several

attempts have been made by a coalition of top Senate Democrats to propose an overhaul of

immigration laws, and they have invited Republicans to join them in pursuing it. But many

Republicans are still not joining in. However many Democrats ran for office promising the

Hispanic community an immigration reform; they continue to shift blame on the Republicans,

but it seems like that tactic will not work anymore, since they did not need any Republicans to

pass the Health Reform. Instead of bickering on what should be done, congressional and senate

leaders need to get the job done and come up with a comprehensive, flexible and workable

reform to immigration.

Many Americans expect “illegal” Aliens to get in line like all the legal aliens that have come

in legally. However, for people wanting to immigrate to the United States for employment

purposes, attaining a work visa is generally a lengthy and convoluted process.

Many, in their desperation after trying the “legal” way, become disenchanted and prefer to

risk their lives crossing the border by dangerous means

According to the Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000 Democrats support reforming the

INS to provide better services, and investing the resources needed to reduce the backlog of

citizenship applications from nearly two years to three months.

News every where show that these are rough times for immigrants; profiling, racism, and

violation of human rights are brought about due to antiquated immigration policies. One example
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is the law in Arizona many start their own laws and begin to abuse power and begin to make

assumptions based solely on the way a person looks.

As the federal government, state governments and Hispanic advocacy groups for and against

illegal immigrant’s battle over immigration reform, the one paying the price for are the hard

working illegal immigrants that only seek a better way of living for their families. The

majorities come with good intentions, but the ones that come and do harm and injustice are

giving all illegal immigrants a bad name and therefore give way to hostile and persecution style

laws like the ones enacted in Arizona.

Critics of the Arizona law, however, said its enforcement will open a window on the huge

social, economic and government costs of removing 11 million people, as well as the

constitutional challenges of doing so without racial profiling or expanding police powers. Most

Americans do not want that, they say, but firm and fair policies that uphold the law, bolster U.S.

workers and the economy, and respect the nation's immigrant heritage. This according to the

Washington Post Article By Spencer S. Hsu Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, May 2, 2010

It seems like the view ahead is not good for immigration reform there are not only no jobs,

but the new controls and restrictions on immigration make it look as if blame is being cast on the

wrong people. The contribution of immigrants to the nation's economy is becoming

overshadowed by the lack of jobs and by the sluggish economy. The fact of how important they

really are, and how to understand the issue better check out " immigrant workers and the Great

American Job Machine", a report released in December 2002 by the Center for Labor Market

Studies at Northeastern University. The study shows that immigrants accounted for at least half

the growth in the nations labor force in the past ten years. They filled openings in the

manufacturing and service industries that otherwise would have remained unfilled. he lower
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level maintenance jobs that do not require special skills, such as, messenger, building laborers,

plantation workers and factory workers. According to the report, without immigrants, male

shortages would have become a daily economy reality and nightmare in many areas of the

country. However, it seems like they only used the illegal immigrant’s services and now they just

want to throw them out. If an immigration reform is not passed families will continue to be

separated, children will continue to be left with out a father or a mother, because of the

deportations.

Reinforcing the borders, establishing clear immigration and deportation policies and doing

something with those who are already illegally here but are law abiding citizens should be the

aim for Congress on a new immigration policy. Eric Garland (2007) stated “The United States,

as a cultural laboratory, could lead the world in learning to manage immigration and meet the

challenge of integrating many nationalities

Refrences:
1. http://theamericano.com/2010/07/02/obama-plays-politics-immigration-reform/

2. Washington Post Article By Spencer S. Hsu Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, May 2,
2010

3. December 2002 by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University