PrernaLal.com

The need for federal action on Immigration

// April 29th, 2008 // Uncategorized

The federal political deadlock over immigration has spurred local counties and states into taking matters into their own hands. In 2007, 1562 immigration bills were introduced in 50 states and 240 enacted in 46 states, compared to 570 pieces of legislation introduced and 84 enacted in 32 states in 2006.

On one hand, we have Prince William County that is paying heavily for cracking down on illegal immigrants, and on the other, Mayor Newsom is spending $83000 advertising San Francisco as a sanctuary city–a symbolic gesture against the likes of Operation Endgame. On the college front, while 9 states are granting instate-tuition to undocumented students, states like Missouri and Virginia have tried to ban the children of illegal immigrants from attending colleges and most just follow a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. But providing sanctuary or instate tuition and eligibility for scholarships and grants is simply a bandaid — with all the haphazard irregularities in state, local, and federal laws, undocumented students still face uncertain futures and are at risk for deportation.

Federal inaction is simply prolonging the in-limbo status of 1.8 milliom students and inviting a plethora of ill-conceived bills against immigrants. Tam Tran, Juan Gomez, Tope Awe, Maria Gonzalez and countless others are in-limbo with uncertain futures. What use is DREAM or CIR if it passes after the deportation of our student leaders and unneccessary detentions? While efforts like the California DREAM Act are praiseworthy, they also feed into a misperception of the federal DREAM Act, inciting more hatred and jealousy towards undocumented students instead of empathy and action to find a resolution for our in-limbo lives. Why try and pass progressive immigration bills that anger voters only to have them be struck down by the Governor? States and local counties are simply making a mess of the illegal immigration issue–no better than what the federal government has done in decades.

Immigration is a federal matter–unfortunately or fortunately. Congress must show more leadership (less talk, more work) and start immigration reforms. Then, we wouldn't be bogged down in irrelevant debates about instate tuition and drivers licenses for the undocumented for a long while. 

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!