Congress has been dragging its heels on comprehensive immigration reform for more than a year, preferring instead to play political games to stir up voters.
However, with a new Congress convening next month, there’s a glimmer of hope that a workable package of immigration laws will be approved and signed by President Bush.
A bipartisan bill being crafted this month appears to take a few positive steps forward from where Congress left off, judging from details revealed earlier this week in The New York Times. The bill, expected to be unveiled next month, again will be championed by Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz. House members Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., will lead the charge in the other chamber.
Lawmakers are considering dropping this year’s Senate provision that required several million illegal immigrants to leave the United States before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. While it may help tamp down criticism that reform equates to amnesty for illegals, it’s an unrealistic expectation.
Not only would mass deportations be costly and difficult, the provision would have ratcheted up an already booming business for fraudulent documents. The bill divided the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already here into three groups: those living here for five years or more, those here for two to five years and those here for less than two.
All but those here for five years or more would have to leave the U.S. to be eligible to return legally. The most recent comers wouldn’t be guaranteed a slot in a guest- worker plan.
It’s not hard to imagine that provision driving many illegal immigrants even further into the shadows of society. It also would have produced a mad scramble for fake documents, too many of which already end up in the hands of employers. Congress shouldn’t create an opportunity for illegal immigrants to forge their way to government benefits.
Lawmakers also may deny financing for 700 miles of fencing along the Mexico border, according to The Times. Congress approved the fence this year but so far hasn’t doled out money to build it.
The fence was supposed to be a Republican rallying point with voters, but it fell flat. Voters handed control of Congress to Democrats, and this idea should be cast aside as well.
A window of opportunity to enact bipartisan, reasonable immigration reform will open next year before the politics of the 2008 election interferes with policy-making. Congress needs to act.
