New York Times Editorial: Immigration: It’s Time

New York Times Editorial: Immigration: It’s Time
Copyright by The New York Times
Published: June 18, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/opinion/19fri2.html?th&emc=th


President Obama keeps saying he is serious about fixing immigration. You can expect him to say it again at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Friday morning. He will likely say it again next week, if his twice-postponed meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform finally takes place.

This profusion of promises has not led to any results. Inaction and the passing of time have only increased the frustration of those who have been counting on Mr. Obama to deliver something on immigration reform — a plan, a timetable, the outlines of a bill.

Mr. Obama needs to break the stalemate on immigration. And he needs to do it soon.

He owes it to the Hispanic voters whose overwhelming support helped push him into the White House, and to the undocumented immigrants whose lives have been made miserable under a cruel, ill-conceived enforcement crusade that was concocted in the last administration and survives into this one.

The president can’t do it alone. Democrats in Congress, especially in the House, need to stop being bullied by anti-immigrant bullies. They need to be joined by moderate Republicans, most importantly by Senator John McCain, who must once again defy his party’s zealots to support sensible immigration reform.

Of the many messes President George W. Bush left behind, the failure to fix immigration is one of the few he ever expressed any regret about. There is a lot to regret.

There was wide agreement — in the country and in Washington — on the elements of sensible, comprehensive reform: tighter border and workplace enforcement; a path to assimilation instead of deportation for 12 million illegal immigrants; and an improved future flow of workers and families. It all fell apart in the heat of right-wing politics.

Now it’s Mr. Obama’s turn to lead the country to a different result. No one is expecting a huge bill to pass in a matter of weeks or even months. But there are things he can do right now that will underscore his seriousness.

It boils down to a simple question: If you accept legalization for the undocumented as desirable and inevitable, then why continue to put them through hell?

As they wait for a legalization bill, they are suffering under unjust laws, corrupt policing and a detention and deportation system that routinely suppresses their rights. American citizens who are Hispanic, and are all too frequently victims of racially-driven sweeps, are also suffering. Mr. Obama and his Homeland Security secretary, Janet Napolitano, must do much more to curb those excesses.

Republicans must also do their part. Will they knuckle under once again to the anti-amnesty posses, the Minutemen and nativist dead-enders? Or will they help revive and pass a realistic and desperately needed reform — teaming up with an engaged president and a re-energized John McCain?

The American people have been far out front of the politicians on this issue, overwhelmingly supporting comprehensive reform. Washington can still catch up. There’s still time. And the country is waiting.