by Fr. Michael Leonard
Watch this space! The moves towards comprehensive immigration reform are growing stronger by the day. All indications are that the ground is being set for reform of our broken immigration system.
The first week of May saw a Schumer-led Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, which followed on the heels of the President’s press conference. Both events placed immigration squarely on the map.A key take-away from the Senate Hearing was the credibility and authority with which a distinguished panel of witnesses, including Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan and Pastor Joel Hunter, spoke in favor of real, comprehensive reform. Their views were in stark contrast to the one markedly anti-immigrant witness Kris Kobach, Professor at the University of Missouri School of Law and representative of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). It was however encouraging for proponents of reform that his calls for mass deportations did not hold much sway with the assembly. Instead much more weight was given to testimony by Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, who stated:
“There is little doubt that unauthorized, that is, illegal, immigration has made a significant contribution to the growth of our economy”, he went on to state that “our immigration laws must be reformed and brought up to date.”
Another clear sign that immigration reform is moving forward was the new ABC/Washington Post poll that shows a whopping sixty-one percent of Americans now favoring a “pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.” Given the recent anti-immigrant backlash in some corners of the media and the strong campaign of mistruths purported by some right wing elements, it is encouraging that the American public is choosing common sense over kneejerk reactions.
Testimony was also given by Montgomery County, MD Police Chief Thomas Manger, also the Chairman of the Major Cities Chiefs Association’s Legislative Committee. He noted the community safety benefits of the federal government taking back the reins of leadership on immigration policy. He referred specifically to a recent program that called for City Police Departments to act as immigration law enforcers: the 287(g) Program.
Manger argued:
“The overwhelming majority of major-city police agencies have elected not to participate in 287(g) training. In fact, the last figures I’ve seen indicate that over 95% of police and sheriffs departments in the U.S. have elected not to participate in the 287(g) training- primarily because it undermines the trust and cooperation with immigrant communities that are essential elements of community policing. We need to have strong policies that take into full account the realities of local law enforcement. One of those realities is that public safety increases when people have trust and confidence in their police department. Delivering fair and consistent police service to all crime victims has to be a priority.”
Pastor Joel Hunter, a prominent evangelical leader, made a compelling moral case for immigration reform, saying:
“The hope of any religion is that those who have been on the wrong path can be set upon the right path. The need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform is to create a path that will help people do the right thing. A broken system produces a dysfunctional society, fractured families, and it increases the vulnerability of both legal and illegal residents. It helps criminals who thrive in the shadows and it harms decent people, consigning them to a life of insecurity, hiding, and minimal contribution to the general welfare. A broken system produces both broken and crooked people. The cost to our nation in terms of productivity, national unity, and national security is depressing. But it does not compare to the damage being done to individuals and families.”
Another clear sign that immigration reform is moving forward was the new ABC/Washington Post poll that shows a whopping sixty-one percent of Americans now favoring a “pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.” Given the recent anti immigrant backlash in some corners of the media and the strong campaign of mistruths purported by some right wing elements, it is encouraging that the American public is choosing common sense over kneejerk reactions
With the release of the new polling, President Obama’s renewed pledge on immigration, and this week’s hearing, it’s clear that the American people want action and solutions on the big issues before us, not excuses for inaction and mere finger-pointing. The work ahead is still daunting but we remain committed to the men, women and children who live with the daily burden of a broken immigration system.
One day, a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided since the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel dirt into the well.
All the other farm animals were very upset about this, because the donkey was their friend. But they discovered there was nothing they could do to help him. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt as it piled up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, and trotted off!
MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be a stepping stone. What happens to you isn’t nearly as important as how you react to it. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!
