Finding common ground on immigration

If you felt a disturbance in the Force yesterday, this story might explain the reason for it.

The Texas Association of Business and the Texas House Mexican American Legislative Caucus contend that an orderly immigration system is needed that matches employer needs and the desires of immigrants for work.

[...]

Bill Hammond, president and CEO of the TAB, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus agreed that immigration reform must include:

• Tougher enforcement of border security


• Allowing an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to earn citizenship


• Creating legal ways for immigrants to enter the country to fill low-skills jobs

House Republicans, including Texas members, prefer an immigration reform plan that emphasizes border security.

"I think unfortunately for a lot of different reasons, they've got it wrong," said Hammond, whose group is the state's largest business organization.

That's the Texas Association of Business, the group whose illegal campaign money "blew the doors off" the 2002 election by helping a boatload of Republicans get elected to the State House. They go with Democrats like mustard goes with chocolate. I can't think of a similar joint effort by them in the recent past.

Having said that, for the first and possibly only time in my life, I say Good Luck to Bill Hammond. He's going to need it, and in this specific case he deserves it.

The status of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants is one of the controversial parts of any immigration reform plan.

"You can't ignore them," Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chairman Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, said. "It's unrealistic to try to round up 12 million people. ... And there's no one to take their place in the American economy."

Hammond was equally emphatic: "They should be allowed to stay and be given a path to citizenship plain and simple."

But those unauthorized workers should be required to learn English and American civics in addition to paying any back taxes and fines for breaking the law when they crossed illegally, said Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas.

"We are not for amnesty. That's the first thing you hear from opponents of comprehensive immigration reform," Anchia said. "Amnesty is automatic, no questions asked. We don't want that."

The need for secure borders is undeniable, Gallego said. "We need protection from drug dealers," he said. "We need protection from terrorists, but we don't need protection from dish washers and maids and baby-sitters and gardeners."

"We have the push from Mexico and the pull from America," Hammond said. "If we don't meet the demands of the marketplace, we will never have control of our borders. It cannot be done."

Not much else to say here but "Amen". I just hope the people who need to hear it are listening.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 24, 2006 to National news | TrackBack