1) No one in either party will propose any program to "legalize" people who are here without papers; and,
2) Pres BO will definitely promise (again and again and again) that he will do something about immigration reform. Watch out for another "5 de Mayo" speech where he calls on everyone else but himself to put a proposal on the table.
In 2008, millions of "hispanos" voted for candidate BO because of his promise and immigration reform "soundbites". Wonder how many Hispanics will fall for the same nonsense this time around?
Here is the truth: There isn't going to be an immigration reform, or some program that will legalize millions of people who are here.
It won't happen and it should not happen!
It won't happen because the two parties do not have enough votes to pass anything that can get a majority in the House or 60 votes in the Senate.
It should not happen because we must encourage people to come legally to the US! What message are we sending to the thousands who are waiting in line around the world to come "legally" to the US?
Nevertheless, here is the question: What do you do with 10-12 million people in the US?
First, some will have to go back, specially as the economy continues to deteriorate in the construction industry.
Second, pass the ball to the states.
Let the states offer them some kind of temporary "work status". Let state legislatures determine their respective needs for workers and issue "work permits" so that they can cross the border and work legally.
Let the states legalize some, or most of them, through their current jobs. (Of course, we don't know how many employers will hire them once that they know that they are legal and subject to the regulations that the rest of us work under)
Third, allow young adults, and kids, to stay in the US. Many of these individuals came here as kids and have grown up in our cities. They have nothing in Mexico to go home to! It's hard to punish them because their parents brought them here.
Let me repeat: There won't be any immigration reform, specially if that means that millions will be legalized as proposed by the McCain-Kennedy bill in 2007.
It won't happen. It should not happen!
Let's go to Plan B, or letting states deal with people directly.
PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
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