FIX FEDERAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEM NOW

Hilbert Morales, EL OBSERVADOR

In the wake of no federal comprehensive immigration legislation, states such as Arizona are opting to pass their own laws dealing with illegal immigrants. The most recent example is the SB1070 legislation passed by Arizona’s State House of Representatives.
Fortunately, this measure must first be considered by Arizona’s State Senate before it can go to Governor Jan Brewer for signature into law or receive her veto. There are many issues connected with this sort of state legislation comparable to Proposition 187 promoted by California’s Governor Pete Wilson.
            The first and foremost issue is that immigration legislation is the rightful jurisdiction of Congress according to our constitution. The Obama Administration and Congress must take immediate steps to begin to deal with the crafting of federal legislation concerning a comprehensive approach of all immigration issues. More than 13 million ‘undocumented’ individuals now reside in America and have done so for many years because the current system of immigration laws and regulations simply is not a system that is effective and reasonable. These immigrants all have social and economic impact. They pay their taxes and are productive residents. Congressman Mike Honda said, ”Our immigration system is simply broken very badly and does not work at all” to a group in San Jose some months ago.
            Arizona’s SB 1070 requires the local law enforcement officers to question anyone who looks like an ‘undocumented immigrant’ to determine their current legal residency status. Can you imagine the potential for abuse? This mandate is unfunded and raises much anxiety about diverting legitimate police law enforcement from public safety issues. These sort of activities were rampant in Nazi Germany regime that systematically sought out Jews for assignment to labor camps or extermination centers. What is being asked of local law enforcement is simply wrong from every perspective one may apply: Constitutional, moral, ethical, and religious.
            These sorts of laws erode the American ideal that every resident has a right to privacy and to the right not to self-incriminate. If law enforcement officers try to use ‘racial profiling’ then it will increase the number of successful lawsuits by legal residents who have been wrongfully categorized and questioned. It will drive the targeted Latinos towards the Democratic Party which may help the Democratic party to gain ascendancy in Arizona which is currently a state dominated by conservative Republican elected officials.
            There are many costs being incurred by the current state of immigration law and regulation. The impact on domestic economic activity is negative. Wherever immigrants have been removed by ICE, a negative economic result has occurred. The creation of an second class resident status which can be exploited by a variety of business interests; the existence of a group that can be blamed for the failings of our own economy; and the lack of public safety and security are all factors in the present impetus to do something. The gravest issue is the distraction of legislators from facing and resolving the substantial body of economic (budget deficits, enhancing business and job creation), social, and education issues. The current state of federal immigration law results in much waste of current law enforcement resources. When has the use of ‘scapegoats’ been moral, ethical, and religiously acceptable? Simple acceptance, friendship and hospitality are better approaches to resolution of the many immigration issues. Resolution requires transparent communication delivered with integrity and good faith. Confrontational approaches only lead to driving the ‘illegal immigrant’ deeper into the shadows of our society where criminal abuse and exploitation is facilitated.
            President Obama and the Congress must face their responsibility by expediting the establishment of an equitable comprehensive immigration system that facilitates becoming citizens or provides for the legalization of residency despite current ‘illegal standing’. If that were to happen soon, advocacy organizations such as SIREN, Immigration Policy Center, America’s Voice, and many other advocacy groups would be able to divert their current resources towards efforts that maximize public safety, our economy, and human dignity. The federal level must approach immigration issues and get it right in terms of moral, ethical, and religious ideals for the sake of taking a step towards inclusive diversity in our nation. Fix the federal immigration system now.