Immigration activists muddy their case
A lot of Americans can’t get their head around the concept of illegal immigrants demanding civil rights from a country whose laws they’ve broken. After all, these are people who have chosen to live outside our system. And now they want to come inside.
First of all, many of those who marched last week in demonstrations aren’t illegal immigrants. They’re U.S. citizens and legal residents who think the immigration debate has been too one-sided. People like Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights organization in Milwaukee. As one of the organizers of a May Day march that drew an estimated 30,000 protesters, Neumann-Ortiz told me there is “a lot of enthusiasm and desire for this kind of public expression” in the immigrant community.
For 364 days a year, we have a volatile debate over illegal immigrants. This is one day a year when they talk back — if not directly, then through their actions.
Because immigrants and their supporters put so much emphasis on work, it was predictable that — sooner or later — this movement would morph into a broader crusade for all workers.
This year, the major demands are an end to workplace raids by federal authorities and a commitment from whomever is elected president that he or she will support comprehensive immigration reform in the first 100 days of the new administration.
Immigration reform is essential, but workplace raids are a part of it. We need more deportations to show the country that we’re serious about enforcing our laws. This will help generate enough good will so that more Americans will go along with something that now seems out of reach: a conditional path to legalization for millions of illegal immigrants.
The new round of demands also includes, according to Neumann-Ortiz,“access to health care for all and good jobs.” And, oh yes, an end to the war in Iraq.
It’s understandable that immigration activists would want to reach outside their comfort zone and broaden their base of support.
But it’s also a mistake. The conflicting goals will catch up with them. In fact, they already have.
Neumann-Ortiz acknowledged that guest workers were not on her list of demands, in part because of legitimate concerns over possible exploitation and in part because organized labor has trouble with the concept.
Those on the far left want legalization but they’re not willing to go along with guest workers to get it, while those on the far right want guest workers but not if it means supporting legalization.
So expect nothing to happen in Congress on immigration for a while, no matter who gets elected president.
Contact Ruben Navarrette at ruben.navarrette@uniontrib.com