Immigration Matters: Progressives Fight Back on Immigration

[AlphaCentauri]

Editor’s Note: “Anti-immigrant” measures aren’t the only immigration laws taking effect in states across the country. They may not make the headlines, but some important work is being done across the country by progressives. NAM contributor Wendy Sefsaf reports from Washington, D.C.


WASHINGTON, D.C. – With punitive, enforcement-only immigration measures dominating the headlines around the country, the Center for American Progress brought together a panel last week to discuss what progressive work is being done in state capitols to fight these measures and encourage a constructive dialogue on immigration.

Ten states have already passed the DREAM Act (a bill that gives immigrant children access to college), according to Nathan Newman of the Progressive States Network. Numerous local law enforcement agencies have also refused to give their police officers the power to enforce immigration laws.

In 2006, many so-called “anti-immigrant” politicians did not win re-election. And the Republican presidential nomination of moderate John McCain reflects a different view by the Republican mainstream on immigration, Newman argues. McCain has worked with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., to push through legalization proposals in broad-ranging legislation.

States are also expanding laws that enforce fair wages and positive “New American” policies, Newman says. A Virginia bill, for example, protects witnesses and victims of crimes from being asked about their immigration status.

Frank Sharry, longtime director of the National Immigration Forum and founder of America’s Voice, says a new narrative on immigration is emerging as the characterizations of immigrants as “lawbreakers” and a “drain” on the economy is falling apart due to little proof.

Sharry believes Democrats must learn to use immigration as a wedge issue to their advantage. Fourteen million voters in 2008 will be Latino, he explains, and “when you insult the fastest-growing sector of voters in the country, you will lose.”

He also warns that politicians must wake up to the fact that Latino and other immigrant families are a mix of documented and undocumented – and it doesn’t work play one group against the other. Efforts by Prince William County, Va., police officers, who now ask for proof of legal status during routine traffic stops, are terrorizing an entire community, says Sharry. America has a fundamental misunderstanding of the way immigration works, Sharry says. “There is no line to get into…you can’t just go to the post office and pick up your green card.”

Texas Representative Garnet Coleman says legislators are attempting to stop punitive laws in Texas, where the Mexican-American legislative caucus in Austin was able to successfully defeat a measure that would have denied public school access to immigrant children.

Anti-illegal immigration groups have tried to divide African-Americans and Latinos over the immigration issue, adds Coleman. But in Texas, he says, these efforts have largely failed.
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=ee9ce3228ccecda76e5531ba03ee2cf1

[Mountainman]

1. I work for a county alcohol, drug and mental health services dept in administration.

The other day I was in a meeting involved in planning for a grant that involves helping low income women and children. One of the topics was how to make sure a client is a citizen and is eligible for services. In my head I heard the words of xenophobes telling me how illegal aliens get free services using our tax dollars. The two did not compute and I was getting a brain freeze.

[AlphaCentauri]

4. There are many regulations that make it almost impossible for a non citizen to get free services

that is one of the realities the xenophobes don't want us to know. In their little world anybody can get services without passing a revision in their case.

[ihavenobias]

2. As brilliant progressive talk show host and author Thom Hartmann says

This is not an illegal immigrant problem, it's an illegal employer problem.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0705-23.htm

I'm tired of being stuck between racists and xenophobes on the right and people on the left that refuse to acknowledge that there is ANY problem (other than people who think it's a problem). It's incredibly aggravating. I've seen far too many progressives get shot down for pointing out that drastically increasing the labor supply (through outsourcing and insourcing) *does* depress wages and benefits.

There's also the fact that undocumented workers are exploited! Why is that ok? Of course we shouldn't blame honest, hard working people for wanting something better than they have (NAFTA made Mexico's economy worse on balance BTW), but at the same time that shouldn't mean they should be happy to be paid less and have little or no benefits or safe working conditions. Not to mention inability to report these things for fear of deportation.

I also resent the line that goes "they do the jobs Americans won't do". That is absolutely RIDICULOUS.

Americans will gladly pick up your maggot and rat filled garbage, unclog your overflowing toilets and even toil in the sewers *if* they are paid properly and have some decent benefits (as they should). Hell, I would even argue that cleaning hotel rooms (or even picking fruit in some cases) is far more appealing than what I've just described, and would be even more-so if the pay were better.

[OhioChick]

3. Damn Good Post, ihavenobias!

I wish that one could recommend a post. Very well said. :thumbsup:

[AlphaCentauri]

5. Tom has a balance point of view

thanks for article