The politics of immigration debate

[shaxami]

The stakes are very high with the debate of illegal immigration and the temporary worker program. Based on a very recent poll shown on the CNN website the country seems to be divided on this issue and for about 57% of likely voters this issue is very important - they will base their voting decision based on the outcome of immigration debate. The question that is haunting a lot of political strategists and advisors would be to figure out the stronger side. The two obvious sides of the equation are one who supports the staying of illegal immigration and the other that feverishly opposes it. On one side we have the John McCain's of the senate and other we have Tom Tancredo's of house - both republicans and both very passionate about their stands. Americans do have to realize that at the end it's all about politics and the reality is that this is an election year. Everything that comes out of the politicians' mouth is geared towards their political ambition. McCain is perceived to be a presidential candidate, so he is going after the Latino block. He is hawk on defense and Iraq but is liberal on immigration. Whereas the likes of Tancredo are going after the more conservative base of republican party hoping to galvanize them on the issue of illegal immigration - similar to the "American Values" pundancy.

When we hear these politicians are we hearing the fact or spins? Most of the political discussions that we hear are spins geared towards getting more votes. Sadly that makes our job more difficult, deciphering true issues out of any political debate can be very difficult. The ground reality in this matter is very clear and simple - if we are willing to look at it, we will very easily find what is on stake. It's the economy - plain and simple. Economy needs labor and these illegal immigrants are providing it. We need to realize this and we need to tackle it sanely rather then emotionally. One can be very emotional about the whole issue that these people have broken immigration laws and all. Of course we don't want to encourage people breaking any laws - we don't want people breaking traffic laws but we don't put people behind bars if someone is speeding. We do put them behind bar if they have done a capital crime. Is breaking immigration law a capital crime? House bill is trying to make it one.

In my humble opinion the house has stirred up this mess by having a very simplistic approach to the issue of illegal immigration. You have to be a good cop / bad cop here, using a stick and a carrot.

At the end, I would like to emphasize the need to look at the immigration in a broader scale, not in a very narrow way in which the likes of Tom Tancredo are looking at it. The fact is plain and simple, economy needs labor - if Americans are willing to provide it then its well and good, otherwise there would always be on influx of labor from other countries. Can we make them come here legally - through some guest worker program, or are we going to keep the status quo? Are we going to uproot 11 Million people out of American society or should we provide them AMNESITY. Surely we need to have a debate - but as President Bush has stated this has to be a 'civil' debate.