In order to begin a "path to
citizenship" program, which will take about a decade for qualified
immigrants once it takes effect, Democrats had to agree to fund $40 billion in border
security. Those of us who believe undocumented immigrants who are living,
working and contributing to society here in the United States should be awarded
citizenship, just as our Anglo ancestors did for more than two centuries,
generally don't believe all of that money should be spent for
"security."
Some immigration advocates now oppose the
legislation. Leaders of Presente.org,
the nation’s largest online Latino advocacy organization, took the step of opposing
the broader immigration bill altogether, saying in a statement they could not “in
good conscience” stand by it if it is also “guaranteed to increase death and
destruction through increased militarization of the border.”
However, the legislation now stands a much
better chance of passage than ever. And, if it doesn't become law now, it will
likely be a minimum of four yours and very possibly longer before Democrats and
Republicans come this close to agreeing about immigration reform.
Let's take what we can get now, including
the $40 billion to "militarize" the border, and fix it later.
What everyone seems to be overlooking is
that Republicans forced the government to not pay it's bills for a time,
allowed government to go over the "fiscal cliff," and forced
implementation of mandatory across-the-board cuts to government programs
through the sequester.
The Republican rationale for these
economically damaging efforts that harmed the entire middle class was that they
would not support spending unless an amount equal to that being spent was cut
from the budget.
Have you heard any similar opposition to
spending $40 billion on border security? Of course not.
Republicans are climbing over each other
to see who can spend the most money for fences and border guards and other
ridiculous "security" measures to show their base voters how tough on
immigrants – especially brown ones from the south – they can be.
As of June 24th, Republicans in
congress had a 26% approval rating. Last week, Speaker John Boehner lost
control of the Tea Party wing of the Republican Caucus and was unable to
prevent them from killing the farm bill, which mostly benefits Republican
farmers in the nation's heartland – and in many states that will be home to
contested congressional campaigns in 2014.
The farm bill is just one of the many
missteps Republicans have made this session that have ended up going against
the interests of their own constituencies. Now, with Republicans throwing
billions at the border without any concern for offsetting cuts, how can they
legitimately make the same argument the next time the Democrats or the
President put forward a spending plan? They are in the process of giving away
their leverage when it comes to offsetting spending with cuts.
The 2014 congressional campaigns have
already begun. The Republicans have bungled relationships with their
traditional constituencies, including those who fund their campaigns. Their
approval ratings are eight to ten points lower than Democrats and seventeen to
twenty points below those of the President. And, there is almost a year for the
Republicans can continue to dig themselves a deeper hole before congressional
primary elections.
In short, the Republicans are in the
process of imploding. They are giving away their credibility on balancing
spending with cutting. It's entirely possible that the Democrats in congress
can pick up seats in 2014. When that happens, Democrats can cut funding and
"demilitarize" the border, while freeing up about $20 billion or so
to fill gaps in social programs the Republicans have made over the last two
years.
Let's hold our noses and work to get the
current immigration bill through the congress. The dividends down the road are
enormous.
