When it comes to the divisive subject of immigration, on one point the competing camps, surprisingly, agree. The body politic is inflamed and afflicted. The carbuncle that is illegal immigration must be lanced. The fester must be allowed to drain and the wound to heal. Americans must discover a way to get back on our collective feet if we are to stand any chance of competing successfully in the flattened and increasingly borderless global economy.

Many pundits have addressed the hot-button issues. This blog and writers of similar sentiment have tried to debunk the immigration apocrypha that masquerade as news in the print, cable and broadcast media. This posting will take a different tack, and examine the fine points of recent reform proposals. Like so much vaporware, immigration-fix proposals have been floated for years, but little has been offered in the way of proposed legislation; still fewer of the bills have had any realistic chance of enactment. (more…)

Guest Column By Peter Schey
President, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law
pschey@centerforhumanrights.org

Whether made out of an abysmal ignorance or reckless disregard of fairly well-known facts regarding immigration policy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger’s recent comments on this subject are hopelessly misguided, profoundly embarrassing to California, and virtually guarantee that the State with the most at stake on migration issues in this country will have no voice at the negotiating table when it comes to immigration policy.

Gov. Schwarzenneger, who has never answered questions regarding the legality of his own employment when he arrived here as an immigrant in 1971, or authorized the release of his immigration files for public scrutiny, has now launched a xenophobic and senseless crusade against the migrant community living in California while at the same time claiming to be “the champion of immigrants.” If he is their champion, then immigrants in California feel they have been hit and seriously wounded by friendly fire. (more…)