Immigration On Hold

[ziasudra]

Old-ish news: the U.S. immigration bill Resolution 4437 back in December, and the current bill in the Senate, which didn't pass. Immigration reform is on hold. One of the main concerns is that when the bill gets to the House of Representatives, many of the stipulations agreed upon in the Senate might be taken out by House Republicans. If that happens, then the Senate Democrats will be caught between a rock and a hard place—to vote (effectively saying it's okay to not have all the stipulation they fought hard for) or not to vote (voting agaisnt this bill = damage to their political careers)? *sighs* Complicated issue.

This article gives a good overview of what's at stake for the Senators:
Time: Deal or No Deal?

"Senators forged a bipartisan immigration-reform deal last week, only to see it fall apart, scuttling plans, for now, for worker visas and possible citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. Here's what happened"

On the other hand, do we really want the immigration bill to be passed? While a large number of immigrants will be able to apply for a green card (given that they entered the U.S. before a to-be-determined date and agree to learn English), those who came to the U.S. more recently will become criminalized. The solution that Bush favors—guest-working program—isn't as sound as it appears either. Implication of that reaches far and wide, but the gist of it is: guest-working programs can be arbitrary and can lead to punishing the rule-abiding guest-workers.

The New York Coalition Immigration Coalition calls for comprehensive immigration reform, which the Resolution 4437 isn't. If you're in the NYC area tomorrow (or look up your local town/city's rally):

A National Day of Action Rally for Immigration Rights!

Recognizing that the USA is a nation of immigrants, join the A-10 NYC Mobilization Network for Immgirant Rights* in a massive rally to:

- Stop the anti-immigrant House resolution 4437
- Stop all attacks against all immigrants
- Stop criminalization of immigrant communites

We demand comprehensive immigration reform, including:

- A path to citizenship, not a temporary guest worker program
- Family reunification measures
- Worker protections
- Full rights for all immigrants!

Converge at City Hall/Broadway
Monday, April 10, 2006
3 pm to 7 pm

Support all activities leading up to April 10th rally!

*The A-10 NYC Mobilization Network for Immigrant Rights is comprised of many community, religious and immigrant rights' groups and labor unions.

For more information, contact Avideh Moussavian at (212) 627-2227 ext. 244, or Angela Lee at (212) 627-2227 ext. 229 at The New York Immigration Coalition.

I know I pimp my class' Web project a lot, but a couple of my classmates' articles are handy resources (as is the rest of the site):
♦ NYC Confidential, how New York City laws affect illegal immigrants seeking city services, by Melanie Brooks
♦ Drawing the Line, as the public debate on illegal immigration and national security heats up, some Americans are confronting the issue by policing the border on their own, by Michele Schwartz

Comments

[methegirl3.livejournal.com]

why is immigration bad?

[ziasudra.livejournal.com]

The rally's not against immigration, but against the House Resolution 4437 that was passed back in December, and also the bill that the Senate recently rejected. The stipulations of the bill sound like they'll help solve America's "immigration problem" (itself a loaded term), but a closer look at the fine lines show that if approved as law, the bill will result in things like criminalizing undocumented workers and those who offer them any assistance (including physical nourishment and spiritual help).

This (http://www.nyunews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/10/4439d7185f3e0) is a school article about some of the possible ramifications of the bill. I don't usually recomment school articles, but this one isn't bad for what's behind the pretty phrasing of the bill.

What the bill doesn't talk about also is the fact that Mexico is also having its own border control problems. Instead of working with Mexico, the bill is basically ignoring the idea that, maybe, Mexico wants to deal with its illegal immigration problems too. It's making "illegal immigrants" as a monolithic social construct varied only by length of stay in America, not exactly a comprehensive change in America's immigration policy, which the New York Immigration Coalition is calling for.