"Progressive Activists React to Grim Diagnoses on Immigration Reform"

[pampango]

http://news.feetintwoworlds.org/2010/01/22/progressive-activists-react-to-grim-diagnoses-on-immigration-reform/

"Pro-reform activists acted quickly to tamp down gloomy predictions about the future of immigration reform in Congress after Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special Senate election. In a lightning round of conference calls and press releases, they argued that unlike the health care overhaul, this is an initiative that enjoys bipartisan support and that the new Senate math created by Brown’s victory “doesn’t change our fight.”"

"“That will make our job more difficult—but not impossible,” said Eliseo Medina, vice president of the Service Employees International Union during the conference. “We never thought of immigration reform as a partisan issue—we always knew we would need the support of both parties in order to pass comprehensive legislation.” One issue remains unshaken — immigration reform

"President Barack Obama had promised to deal with immigration reform during his first year in office. While Mr. Obama’s self-imposed deadline expired this very week, Becerra said “the president remembers his promise well and I think that there’s an understanding of the political and social circumstances… that he faces at the moment, while he struggles with the immigration issue.”

The RI4A also emphasized a 2009 poll by the Pew Research Center, which said that 63 percent of the population supported a reform package including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The stunning Democratic loss of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat spurred yet another conference in the pro-reform camp, this one organized by the Center for American Progress, featuring blogger Markos Moulitsas, union leader María Elena Durazo and Think Progress researcher Andrea Nill. (You can watch it here)"

[Imajika]

1. Not going to happen...

Immigration Reform is not going anywhere with 10% unemployment.

This issue may circle back around in 2011, but it isn't going anywhere this year.

[Biker13]

2. I agree...

Wrong time.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Talk About A Third Rail...

If our weak-kneed and inept politicians can't pass affordable healtcare with needed insurance regulations and reforms or Cap and Trade, there's no way they're going near this puppy. The rushpublicans would love to seize on this issue to energize their already biggoted base that could become trouble in areas where there aren't enough Hispanic votes to counteract any backlash. And you know the corporate media would also jump on this thing waving the flag against those "illegal aliens".

The problem with those numbers is how those 63 percent want reform. While most of us would favor a clear path to citizenship and a more open policy to this issue (what causes the immigration) as well as to our neighbors. But there's also a good number who want to box up anyone who has a Spanish accent and ship them across the border.