Immigrant issue tugs two ways
Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 21, 2008

Why Won’t Juan Come to the Phone?
Jessica Ramirez and Holly Bailey, Newsweek, July 19, 2008

With the rise of globalization, the management of migration and diversity is considered one of the great challenges of the 21st century. It is a cross-cutting policy issue that affects the economy, security and questions of social cohesion. In the United States, immigration reform has become part of a broader policy debate, including questions of homeland security, employment and social security. Some analysts and observers claim that the immigration issue has been overshadowed in this election by more alluring and urgent issues; however, the candidates are finding they have a lot to lose by ignoring the issue in the final months of debate.

Both candidates have proposed a comprehensive approach to illegal immigration which U.S. restrictionist groups strongly oppose. Although their plans differentiate themselves on degrees of emphasis, their positions largely encompass the provisions of the failed 2007 Senate effort to enact major changes in the nation’s immigration policies. Both presidential candidates supported Bush-backed legislation for tighter border control, stricter employer sanctions, and a conditional path towards citizenship. Their current immigration reform plans similarly favor a path toward legalization for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the country. Their proposals require those applying for legal status to pay fines, clear criminal background checks and pay back taxes owed to federal and state authorities. They also include provisions which encourage immigrants to learn English. Both senators support the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act of 2007, which will allow states to extend in-state tuition to illegal immigrant students for public colleges and universities. While in the past immigration has provided one of the clearest contrasts between the parties, this election’s candidates are making immigration reform a less defined partisan issue.

John McCain (R)

As a senior senator from the border state of Arizona, Senator McCain has continually emphasized his enhanced experience with immigration policy and his Arizona origin “where we know about building walls, and vehicle barriers, and sensors, and all of the things necessary. I will have the border state governors certify the borders are secured. Then we will move onto the other aspects of this issue, as importantly as tamper-proof biometric documents, which then, unless an employer hires someone with those documents, that employer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That will cause a lot of people to leave voluntarily.”

During the 2008 CPAC, Senator McCain made these comments about his immigration policy:  “On the issue of illegal immigration, a position which provoked the outspoken opposition of many conservatives, I stood my ground aware that my position would imperil my campaign….And while I and other Republican supporters of the bill were genuine in our intention to restore control of our borders, we failed, for various and understandable reasons, to convince Americans that we were. I accept that, and have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.  The aforementioned legislation was the “McCain-Kennedy Bill” on immigration reform that Senator McCain co-sponsored in 2005 and which led to two subsequent immigration bills in 2006 and 2007.  Senator McCain has consistently voted in favor of such legislation, aimed at regularizing the situation of illegal immigrants by allowing them to become legal residents under firm conditions including payment of back taxes and fines.  McCain has been known as a moderate voice for Republicans in immigration reform, distancing himself from immigration hard-liners by being the only member of the GOP to support the immigration bill in 2006.  Based on his voting record, Senator McCain is as progressive on immigration as Mr. Obama, and he has been accused of supporting amnesty by more the conservative members of his party.  In his defense, the Senator argues: “What do you do with the 11 million people who are already here? Make them earn citizenship because they have broken our laws.  My friends, that’s not amnesty.  Amnesty is forgiveness.  We’re not forgiving anything.”

Leading a failed push for immigration reform that included a path to citizenship resulted in an overwhelming public outcry, particularly among his fellow Republicans.  McCain has since toughened his stance on the issue, essentially backing away from the legislation he helped to create, and saying he would not vote for his immigration reform measure today because the American people made it clear that border security was a greater priority.  Failure of his legislation and mounting pressure from the GOP led McCain to campaign with a “security-first” approach to immigration.  Senator McCain claims that, “As president, I will secure the border […] a secure border will contribute to addressing our immigration problem most effectively“.  While he has not backed off on the idea that a path toward citizenship is a basic requirement of comprehensive reform, he is much more likely to emphasize the need for border security than to raise the issue of providing illegal immigrants with citizenship.  By formulating his policy this way, McCain hopes to reassure conservatives without alienating Hispanic-Americans.  Once his most popular constituency, McCain has fallen substantially behind Senator Obama in securing the Hispanic vote.  While still favoring a mix of enforcement and legalization similar to Senator Obama, McCain’s immigration reform rhetoric is expected to remain much more reserved and security focused.

Barack Obama (D)

IIn a Senate floor statement in 2007, Barack Obama declared: “The time to fix our broken immigration system is now. … We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace. … But for reform to work, we also must respond to what pulls people to America. … Where we can reunite families, we should. Where we can bring in more foreign-born workers with the skills our economy needs, we should.”  Senator Obama claims that “the immigration issue has been exploited by politicians” and “can only be fixed by putting politics aside and offering a complete solution that secures our border, enforces our laws and reaffirms our heritage as a nation of immigrants”.  According to the Senator’s official website, Obama’s plan for immigration reform has five basic aims: to create secure borders, improve our immigration system, remove incentives for illegal entrance, bring people out of the shadows, and include Mexico in the discourse. 

Senator Obama supported an immigration reform bill in 2006 that would have offered legal status to illegal immigrants.  The immigration reform agenda he has proposed during his campaign would boost border controls while conditionally legalizing illegal immigrants.  The Senator has stated: “We live in a global economy, and I do believe that America will be strengthened if we welcome more immigrants who have mastered science and engineering.  But, we cannot weaken the very essence of what America is by turning our backs on immigrants who want to reunite with their family members, or immigrants who have a willingness to work hard but who may not have the right graduate degrees.”  Senator Obama is co-sponsor to the Citizenship Promotion Act which will insure the reasonability of immigration application fees.  He also supports issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and has mentioned suspending work site immigration raids until Congress passes immigration reform legislation.  For the Democratic Party, the most unpopular aspect of Senator Obama’s immigration policy has been his support for a border fence. During the Democratic Debate at the University of Texas, Senator Obama defended his position saying:  “The key is to consult with local communities, whether it's on the commercial interests or the environmental stakes of creating any kind of barrier. The Bush administration is not real good at listening. I will reverse that policy. There may be areas where it makes sense to have some fencing. Having border patrolled, surveillance, deploying effective technology, that's going to be the better approach.” 

During the primaries, Senator Obama had difficulty attracting Hispanic voters who flocked to Senator Clinton.  Now, the Obama campaign is relying heavily on accusations of McCain doubletalk and criticism from Republican conservative activists to bolster Hispanic support.  Obama contends that "Sen. McCain used to buck his party on immigration in fighting for comprehensive reform, and I admired him for it - and joined him in it, but when he was running for his party's nomination, he abandoned that courageous stand and said that he wouldn't even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote."  Obama is now enjoying mounting popularity from the Hispanic voter bloc, who seems to feel betrayed by the shifting rhetoric of Senator McCain.

Read More

Reforming U.S. Immigration Policy: Open New Pathways to Integration Audrey Singer, Brookings Institution, 2008

McCain's Test Against the Anti-Immigration Right Jennifer Rubin, New York Observer, July 15, 2008

Immigration Issue Doesn't Divide McCain, Obama Jennifer Luden, NPR, June 10, 2008

Both parties duck on immigration Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press, June 8, 2008

McCain Walks Tightrope On Immigration                     Carrie Kahn, NPR, July 16, 2008