Immigration issue, political hot potato
03 November 2008 à 18h22
| Aucun commentaire
During three presidential debates, the word "immigration" was mentioned only once, and there was no further discussion. We could say that “immigration” has been largely ignored in the presidential race this time. The immigration issue which was a hot topic last year has turned to be a political hot potato that no one wants to talk about.
The immigration issue has existed as long as the country itself. Nearly 12 million people live in the US illegally, most of them work in low-paid jobs in agriculture, construction, domestic help or food sectors. They came to the US in order to take the jobs that the US people didn’t want. Immigration permeates almost every domestic problem that the country has today, such as health care, education, jobs and even environment.
The reasons that the candidates don’t want to talk about this issue are multiple. We have noticed that when the economy is going well, immigrants can get nice pay. The only time that a president made an amnesty program was in 1986, when the economy of the US was thriving and prosperous, President Ronald Reagan put in place a general amnesty program, and nearly 2.7 million illegal aliens got legal status.
The USA is now heading for a period of reduced trade and business activity, American citizens are losing their jobs, the unemployment rate is up so immigrants would be the “blacksheep” of the economic crises -and it is not a good moment to talk about this issue.
What’s more, for several years immigrants tried to defend their interests, but there was not always a clear response of the government. So even immigrants themselves are tired of asking for their proper rights.
Indeed, immigration is now what keeps America growing, Obama "realises the need to increase the number of people we allow into the country legally”. Obama would increase the number of legal immigrants in order to do the jobs that Americans do not want. He wants to establish a program under which illegal immigrants register with the government, learn English and get the chance to earn citizenship. He supports immigration reform which boosts border controls while legalising under certain conditions the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.
In the past, both candidates have opposed draconian measures and supported moderate immigration initiatives. In 2006, McCain sponsored a bill which offered undocumented immigrants legal status on conditions such as learning English, it would amount to amnesty for people who were in America illegally. Both candidates voted in favor of 700 miles of new fencing along the Mexican border. But McCain insists on the need to secure the borders before any other reforms can be carried out. He plans to have illegal immigrants register with the government. After paying back taxes and fines and learning English, immigrants would be put on a "path to legal status".
Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama has an interest in broaching the subject. This topic is very sensitive; if they can’t give a good explanation, they could lose the votes possessed by immigrant families.
So it is just easier for both candidates to avoid the issue altogether, besides now that the election is almost over, what matters is what happens next-under president Obama or President McCain, and it is there that we are likely to get very different outcomes.
The immigration issue has existed as long as the country itself. Nearly 12 million people live in the US illegally, most of them work in low-paid jobs in agriculture, construction, domestic help or food sectors. They came to the US in order to take the jobs that the US people didn’t want. Immigration permeates almost every domestic problem that the country has today, such as health care, education, jobs and even environment.
The reasons that the candidates don’t want to talk about this issue are multiple. We have noticed that when the economy is going well, immigrants can get nice pay. The only time that a president made an amnesty program was in 1986, when the economy of the US was thriving and prosperous, President Ronald Reagan put in place a general amnesty program, and nearly 2.7 million illegal aliens got legal status.
The USA is now heading for a period of reduced trade and business activity, American citizens are losing their jobs, the unemployment rate is up so immigrants would be the “blacksheep” of the economic crises -and it is not a good moment to talk about this issue.
What’s more, for several years immigrants tried to defend their interests, but there was not always a clear response of the government. So even immigrants themselves are tired of asking for their proper rights.
Indeed, immigration is now what keeps America growing, Obama "realises the need to increase the number of people we allow into the country legally”. Obama would increase the number of legal immigrants in order to do the jobs that Americans do not want. He wants to establish a program under which illegal immigrants register with the government, learn English and get the chance to earn citizenship. He supports immigration reform which boosts border controls while legalising under certain conditions the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.
In the past, both candidates have opposed draconian measures and supported moderate immigration initiatives. In 2006, McCain sponsored a bill which offered undocumented immigrants legal status on conditions such as learning English, it would amount to amnesty for people who were in America illegally. Both candidates voted in favor of 700 miles of new fencing along the Mexican border. But McCain insists on the need to secure the borders before any other reforms can be carried out. He plans to have illegal immigrants register with the government. After paying back taxes and fines and learning English, immigrants would be put on a "path to legal status".
Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama has an interest in broaching the subject. This topic is very sensitive; if they can’t give a good explanation, they could lose the votes possessed by immigrant families.
So it is just easier for both candidates to avoid the issue altogether, besides now that the election is almost over, what matters is what happens next-under president Obama or President McCain, and it is there that we are likely to get very different outcomes.
