Laura Flanders: Courage for IMMIGRATION REFORM

[Bluebear]

While House members were grandstanding on the floor over health care reform Sunday, and the news networks largely focused on tea party anti-healthcare protests, tens of thousands of immigrants and allies flooded the Washington Mall, chanting "Si Se Puede" -- "Yes We Can."

Immigration is shaping up to be one of the next big fights, and it has the potential to be far, far messier--and more violent--than the health care battle. While health care scare tactics revolved around some nebulous idea of "socialism," immigration hits the xenophobic streak in the tea party movement right in the gut.

But the current system, as those vibrant activists on the Mall pointed out, cannot hold. Millions of undocumented workers struggle to pay their bills in a system that often exploits them, and families are splintered by deportations. All of them live in fear of a system that allows people like Sheriff Joe Arpaio to abuse their power and use racial profiling to target entire communities.

Obama reaffirmed his pledge to the protesters in a videotaped message, but avoided specific commitments. We saw how well that worked out with the health care bill that passed late Sunday night--women's right to choose and those very same immigrants were thrown under the bus to court the votes of conservative Democrats.

To really fix our broken immigration system, we're going to need more than vague declarations from the White House. We'll need real leadership, and the stomach to take on viciousness from protesters the likes of which we haven't seen before.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/laura_flanders/27640/the_f_word_courage_for_immigration_reform

[Renegades of Funk]

1. My made up bill

This would be my made up bill
I recognize we don't have the manpower/ability to send undocumented aliens back to their respective countries.
So I say those here in the country already must pass a citizenship test within five years. If they fail to take the teat or commit a crime before the five years. I say deport them.
At the same time strengthen boarder security as a matter of national defense.
I find this solution practical and respectful toward human rights.

[Bluebear]

2. From your myspace page: Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are Racist and they get away with it!

http://www.myspace.com/jgsportsfan

can you explain?

[Renegades of Funk]

3. Way to dig up info on me

Honestly, that was a long time ago.
Everyone says stupid this like in those cases and in my cases.
At that point I was upset over the whole Imus fiasco. I didn't think the guy should have been fired but that's a whole other debate. I also believed the police officers innocence (as I still do) in the Sean Bell case.
However I've gone and reconciled my hatred of both Sharpton and Jackson.
When I saw them at Obama's victory speech at Grant park on TV. I actually started to cry and realize what these men, and men and women who are longer with us did for civil rights.
If you dug up my facebook you would have seen that I am not some neo-con troll. lol

[Bluebear]

4. Sorry, it was absolutely the first thing I learned about you!

I am glad you have reconciled the hatred, best to you and welcome to DU.

[DCKit]

5. We sent the criminals back to Central America and they gave us international gangs...

of incredibly violent drug runners. MS13 is one of several such gangs.

Sure it's expensive, but less so than what happens when they're deported and continue on their chosen career path. And, since they seem to travel in and out of the U.S. with some degree of impunity, I would sleep a lot better with them in federal custody.

[Renegades of Funk]

6. Other Issue IMHO

I think the main reason Mexican/Central America/South American gangs are still relevant in this country is ,because of the drug war. I say if the states regulate drug sales and production. Gang influences will probably decrease.
I think for certain crimes deportation, but for others I agree federal jail might be a better option.