rssBarnes: Status Quo on Immigration is Unsustainable
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 2:29 pm
- 14 Comments
American people do not want amnesty for illegal immigrants or mass deportation, Melody Barnes, Obama’s chief domestic policy adviser, told the crowd at an event hosted by Brookings’ Hamilton Project this morning. She framed the need for comprehensiveness immigration reform around economic and national security interests.
“The status quo is unsustainable whether we look at it from an economic perspective or a matter of national security,” she said. “Obama is fiercely determined to stop kicking this down the road and get this moving.”
It’s a promise administration officials have made before — and that Republican inaction has made next to impossible. Still, Barnes said the White House would continue to push for immigration reform and the DREAM Act, which would help some illegal immigrant students and military service members gain legal status.
Barnes seemed to be trying to establish the administration’s position on immigration near the center, arguing the White House wants immigration reform, but not amnesty for illegal immigrants. Of course, most immigrants rights advocates don’t argue for blanket amnesty either, but it’s common for the Obama administration to use this debate tactic: Argue both sides of a debate are too extreme and situate the administration position in the middle.
Barnes rejected claims that DREAM Act provisions amounted to amnesty, and argued that any reform bill would have to include back taxes, learning English and background checks for current illegal immigrants to gain legal status. It would also include increased enforcement measures to ensure the U.S. does not allow more illegal immigrants into the country, she said.
While some immigrants rights groups argue comprehensive immigration reform should not have “excessive fees, endless and discriminatory background checks, and grinding bureaucracy,” most don’t advocate blanket amnesty, either — even though conservatives often argue anything but deportation can be considered amnesty.
If the main problem facing immigration is finding a compromise both camps might accept, it makes sense for the Obama administration to try to stake out this place in the middle. It remains to be seen whether conservatives will take the bait.
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Comment posted September 28, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
Perfect! We need a compreenssive immigration reform, the Dream Act is a very importyant for all, but, is important too take 11000000peoples from sharow and install under umbrela's american laws…that is…This is the deal. Go ahed America, we CAN'T STOP!!!!
Comment posted September 28, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
Why doesn't anyone ever mention SEALING the border!
Comment posted September 28, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
Comprehensive Immigration is just amnesty no matter how you look at it. We complain that the Mosques are coming to get us, the taliban, and every other group in the book, yet refuse to close or control our borders. On 9/12 GWB should have shut the borders so quick we should have heard a sphincter smack all across the US. We have millions unemployed, send them to the borders.
Give Mexico a bill for every baby we have paid for. Send back everyone here less that 5 years. Create a work force deal between Mexico and thew US to let in workers on an as needed basis then send them home to spend their(our) money.
Comment posted September 28, 2010 @ 11:00 pm
O'duma and his double dealing crap The dream act is unbelievably stupid, as are all of his repressive “achievements”.
We must be aware that this “ACT” will grant free college scholarships to about 2,000,000 age 35 and under illegals, most of who are at large felons, by virtue of the fact that they stole social security numbers, and falsified drivers licenses, among their best accomplishments. Recognize this fact!!! There will then be 2,000,000 true American upstanding citizens who will be deprived of their earned scholarships. This is one of the many reasons why the house and senate must be purged of these misguided, crooked democrats. Remember this on November 3rd!!!!!!.
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