Obama and McCain on Immigration: Life vs. Death
New America Media, News Analysis, Roberto Lovato, Posted: Jun 13, 2008
Editor's Note: When it comes to immigration reform, what's the real difference between Barack Obama and John McCain? Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión provides the most comprehensive analysis, writes NAM contributor Roberto Lovato.
A recent story by Maribel Hastings of La Opinión provides the most comprehensive analysis yet of the similarities and differences between John McCain and Barack Obama around immigration policy. According to Hastings, "Both candidates support construction of a wall at the southern U.S. border. But the most important differences are less obvious and have more to do with what kind of reform the candidates advocate for and try to get approved, according to Cecilia Muñoz, vice president of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR)."
Among those revealing details, says Hastings, are small but important differences that may make a major difference in what will surely be an intense fight for the Latino vote. Hastings continues, "McCain, for example, is opposed to the DREAM Act, which would benefit undocumented students and Obama supports it;" adding that "McCain opposes the idea of giving driver's licenses to the undocumented, while Obama favors the proposal."
Reading Hastings' article, one can't help but think of how many other opportunities for differentiation the seemingly endless maze of migration law and policy offers the candidates – and the immigrant rights movement - this election year.
If only the political will to bring greater attention to these often life-saving details existed.
The most strategic and important opportunity to turn the page on the immigration debate via the elections does not orbit around the twin axes of legalization and border security favored by the liberal-conservative consensus of some Democrats, some Republicans and their allies. This is the approach of the McCain-Kennedy bill still favored by both candidates.
Much has changed for immigrants since that bill failed in 2006-2007. What is, without a doubt, the most significant change since backers of the various versions of the McCain-Kennedy bill failed to reform immigration policy in 2006-2007 is how rancid and radically bad - detention deaths, thousands of raids, massive deportations, traumatized children, steadily growing streams of hate media and hate crimes, etc. - the anti-immigrant climate has become thanks to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and others. In such a climate, "immigration reform" focusing primarily on legalization and "border security" seems out-of-touch, if not dangerous.
A more strategic, urgent and powerful immigration reform strategy has to center around the colossal tragedy caused by ICE, the colossal tragedy that is ICE. The greatest good Obama, McCain or anyone else can do to aid current and future immigrants is to put radically re-organizing, if not dismantling, ICE at the center of any discussion about "immigration reform" in the United States. Asking McCain and Obama to lead calls for either Congressional investigations or the establishment of a special investigative committee of some sort (as happened with detention facilities in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo) seems like a good place to start. So would calls for the immediate resignation of ICE chief Julie Myers, who has overseen an agency that has sexually abused, physically beaten, drugged, used dogs against and even killed immigrant detainees in a manner not unlike that seen in offshore military detention centers. With increasing frequency since 2006, Hastings and other Spanish language reporters in print and electronic media outlets have filled pages and airwaves with tear-inspiring, almost daily reports of numerous forms of abuse, death and fear experienced by immigrants at the hands of ICE.
In their efforts to differentiate themselves among voters, especially Latino voters, Senators McCain and Obama might also want these voters to see and hear them lead the fight to pass the Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act (SSDS), which was reintroduced last Wednesday by Senators Lieberman, Brownback, Kennedy, and Hagel. The SSDS addresses some of the more serious problems faced by immigrants in detention, problems recently brought to light by major news reports. The detention-focused legislation includes provisions for improved conditions and medical care, reporting of deaths, judicial review of detention for asylum seekers and other detainees, expansion of alternatives to detention and, most importantly, more oversight.
So, in the netherworld of the immigrant gulag growing on our shores, the small differences around the minutiae of immigration law can mean the difference between life and death, a difference that can win the hearts and minds of many voters this year.
Related Articles:
Immigration Reform Defines Candidates' Positions
Ethnic Media Cautiously Laud Obama's Nomination
NAM Immigration coverage
Articles by Roberto Lovato
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User Comments
RichardKane on Jun 21, 2008 at 16:58:53 said:
It’s amazing that information can be staring in everyone face, yet but both the writers and comments that follow manage to ignore it.
McCain is systematically appealing to certain immigrants, calling Raul Castro’s reforms meaningless tidbits, promising to restore democracy to Cuba. There is no guarantee that young Cubans will welcome their returning elders more than the Iraqi Congress in Exile was welcomed back to Iraq. Meanwhile McCain is also making slightly disguise threats against Venezuela and Bolivia the first native American led country since Christopher Colombus began changing the equation. Meanwhile he praises the ever increasing numbers of Hispanic soldiers in the services.
So McCain appeals to the most conservative of immigrants while encouraging the joining of the armed services to become legal.
If McCain becomes President and his threats against Iran and Venezuela doesn’t cause those nations to back down there may be massive prison reform as inmates are let go early in exchange for joining up, and immigrants paid to come to America providing every able-bodied member of the household serves as long as they are able.
It is possible that the rest of the world will back down and McCain will be remembered as a great President the way Reagan was. But it’s also possible that there may be a McCain depression and if a majority of immigrants vote for him, immigrants will be blamed the way the very religious are blamed for the Bush Jr. years.
The powers at be, I don’t dare say ruling class, don’t want a united movement of the less well off Americans, so if it seems that Hispanics won’t vote for McCain they will stop supporting McCain, knowing that they will be blamed if Jingoism doesn’t get in the way.
See, capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/8391
capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/6045
capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/8841
RichardKanePA
Pree Glenn-Graves on Jun 16, 2008 at 08:12:03 said:
American citizens are the most generous people in the world. We are not haters, racist, or any of the things people want to call us. We are sick and tired of you wanting to "feed your families" on our backs, we will not give you a path to citizenship. Please stop blurring the lines and trying to mix legal immigrant with illegal immigrant. If you have come to this country illegally, I am so sorry, but you really need to go home now. Corporate America under this administration has done a very, very bad thing, by using illegal immigrants without the knowledge of the American citizen. Now we know that this Administration and the previous one have been slowly giving our country away. We mean people no harm when we ask you to leave, we mean you no harm when we ask you to come in the front door, not sneak int he back. We do no believe in "Anchor" babies so all of these children you have had in our country illegally will one day go too. This is America, and if you think we are racist, lazy or anything else, then in America you are free to go! GOD Bless Country, GOD Bless America.
-- edited by the publisher.
Ralph D on Jun 15, 2008 at 17:02:02 said:
So, those who think our immigration laws should be enforced and that mass legalization did not work last time and will not work this time are racist? I got a few questions for you.
What is the treatment of illegals found in Mexico called?
If someone thinks that we should abide by our traffic laws what derogatory term should we come up with for him?
What should we call someone who thinks that laws against theft, rape, and murder are good and people caught doing these things should pay a price, even if they have children at home?
The laws have been ignored by all sides since the 80's. It is time to enforce them. Those who want to become citizens have a pass to citizenship. It is called waiting in line, in their own country. If you want to make the line move faster, I am all for that. I really, really hate people who think the rules do not apply to them and they cut to the front of the line. I hate when they do it at the movie theater, when they do at the amusement parks and yes, at the immigration centers.
Go home and get in line.
nativessayno on Jun 15, 2008 at 13:42:42 said:
Again, citizens that are demanding illegal immigrants deport through attrition or force are not hater or monsters because you don't like their position.
Spend a day in LA and see how our mayor has tacitly invited illegals to "TAKE" jobs in: retail(all sectors); county municipal; security; grocery; bus drivers, truck drivers, construction, etc.
The two weak and despicable arguments cited: *Americans are lazy, *illegal immigrants do jobs we "loser" americans don't want is: A. Ignorant B. Misinformed C. Rhetoric to permit fraudulent/illegal "worker" to come here and make up there own agenda. D. It does cost taxpayers plenty-25MM illegal here! We pay for their: births, WIC, food stamps, Section 8 housing, medical & education....how is that not "taking"? How is that a bargain to taxpayer?
Please present one...just one illegal immigrant mother that paid her own way and made remittance for total medical expenses etc. of her child or children. Citizens paid for her and her family. This is an irrefutable fact.
Objective realities of this pressing issue do not make so-called haters, lazy, racists lay down and hand over our precious laws rights and country just because you say so! No!
wiro_sableng on Jun 15, 2008 at 06:15:22 said:
Amerika serikat menurut sejarah adalah negara yang dibangun dari para pendatang (imigran). Kita tahu bahwa penduduk asli amerika adalah suku indian. Sudah seharusnya warga amerika serikat menyadari hal itu. Amerika menjadi negara yang besar dan kuat karena penduduknya berbagai bangsa dan ras yang masing people bring keahlian yang satu sama lain berbeda dan saling melengkapi, so amerika mendapatkan apa yang ada di belahan dunia. Oleh karena itu kebijakan memusuhi imigran adalah salah. Yang penting adalah perlu kontrol yang baik, tidak perlu memusuhi tapi bersahabat. Obama adalah orangnya, yang akan membawa Amerika menjadi maju dan dihormati oleh bangsa-bangsa di dunia. Percayalah/ true. Dihormati karena Obama akan menggunakan pendehatan humanis/ pendekatan perdamaian. Salut dengan kaum muda amerika yang banyak condong ke Obama, yang memprihatinkan pada kaum tua yang memilih lawan Obama, apa yang diharapkan dari lawan Obama yang hanya menawarkan otot bukan otak untuk membawa Amerika Serikat di hormati bangsa-bangsa di dunia.
Saran saya pilihlah Obama, negara anda akan damai dan anak bangsa tidak menjadi korban atas kesalahan kebijakan.
wiro
CarlosnLA on Jun 14, 2008 at 21:56:37 said:
On Immigration and the Economy; Democratic Clinton Supporters For McCain !!!
Michelle G. on Jun 14, 2008 at 11:28:50 said:
Those who hate on immigrants are uneducated, ignorant people. Maybe taking a history class in college would help them understand the problem better.
Diddy Tseng on Jun 14, 2008 at 10:45:43 said:
All you haters stop hating on immigrants who are just trying to make a living and feed their families. they are not taking anything away from you because they work for it. If you think someone is taking something away from you, you\'re probably a loser to begin with. If you work hard and go to college and have a big house, no one is taking anything away from you. If you\'re a loser and struggle to feed your family, it\'s cause you didn\'t try hard enough and you are resentful and use the immigrants as a scape goat excuse to make yourselves feel better.
Siri Cummings on Jun 14, 2008 at 00:49:20 said:
Who is doing all the labor work that Americans do not want to do? A lot of them even pay taxes that they cannot claim it back each year. Where does all that money go? Good chunk of the money goes to help lazy drug addicts "Americans" that live of food stamp money, getting all the benefits they can from the government. There are a lot of jobs out there but they just do not want to do it.
Not all illegal immigrants are bad. There are a lot of them out there that just here to work for a living.
Not all "Americans" are decent. There are a lot of them out there that just been born here, never worked for a living but getting all kinds of benefit funded from tax money.
Shouldn't there be a way to compromise good illegal immigrants at least for a lower labor jobs? I believe that with the system this day, if you documented everybody, it will not be too hard to keep an eye on them.
Tenya Manny on Jun 13, 2008 at 21:38:29 said:
what do you expect when you come to a country illegally a welcome mat? Illegal immigrants all need to go back to where they came from or they will be deported that's the way ICE works it's the job the citizen's of the U.S. charged them with.
nativessayno on Jun 13, 2008 at 15:02:58 said:
What is rancid, Roberto is the idea that you can make a case for illegal immigration....meaning come here and make up your own authority and cry like a baby if citizens decide, No, enough,not your decision to make!
Congress has not passed amnesty because "WE" don't want it, simple.
Throwing in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo into the mix to make a case about the meanie ICE officers and dentention of illegal and criminal immigrants is a real STRETCH! Don't want to be deported? Ok, leave on your own accord...Whatever blows your hair back....
We so-called "racist monsters" a. Don't appreciate being referred to in perjoritive terms because we want a closed border. b. You don't traipse into our country and call all of the shots!
Seriously, hate has so little to do with this except to expose the feebleness of your rhetoric or argument. Citizens vote on what happens...Not a demanding, whiney bunch of "reconquerers" and squatters. Get another cause and leave us out of it. I know, do it in your home country- even better!
Mary Smith on Jun 13, 2008 at 13:53:03 said:
I've been here a long time, have a house, kids, roots... I never got a chance to be legal. I was an honor student but couldn't go to college. I never committed a "crime". I'm honest and hardworking person. If “they” ever deport me, where am I going to go? I'm not rich, I have people that depend on me, it would be devastating for my family, and this is all I know! People out there should really try to see our side and put themselves in our shoes before making their minds up about immigrants. I didn't choose to come here, I was just a kid. Now this is my home, and I can’t even have an ID, life became very hard for all of us. The US Government is making impossible to live here, what am I doing so wrong that make me not welcome here? Or that I have to leave??? I try, but I just don't understand.
ToddN on Jun 13, 2008 at 13:30:22 said:
This article was written by a person of Hispanic origin. And he supports illegal immigration. I wonder if these two facts are connected. Of course a hispanic writer is going to oppose raids on illegal immigrants. Because he is bias toward his ethnicity. That\'s stupid. When we see that your name is a Hispanic name, all of your arguments become null, because we know why you are in favor of illegal immigration. It has nothing to do with your arguments, and everything to do with your ethnicity. Do you know what it\'s called when you make up your mind on an issue based on ethnicity/race? I\'ll let you figure that one out.
John Dimitre on Jun 13, 2008 at 11:51:58 said:
Bottom line: a comprehensive immigration reform with path to citizneship for illegals must occur in 2009. No buts, no ifs, no more excuses, and listening to racist monsters such as Dobbs, Senator Sessions, Tancredo, Buchanan. That is a list of who's who in racism in this country.
-->Say no to hatred. Put a moratorium to ICE raids, give a chance to millions who are hardworking people to get a shot at the American dream.
And read your history books, dear KKK/FAIR/NumbersUSA monsters: racism always loses in America!
Keep up the good fight!