Finding the Center on Immigration
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2007/08/plea-to-feds-do.html
Illegal Mexican immigrant Elvira Arellano, who has been in refuge in a church for nearly a year to avoid deportation, plans to leave her sanctuary next month to go to Washington to go advocate for immigration reform. See link to Chicago Tribune story above.
Immigration is an area where the opinions of average middle class American’s seem to be unheard. Ironically, it is a topic where the fringe (or extreme) interests of the two major parties converge. The Democratic party has historically supported the interests of immigrants in pursuing a better life in America and some conservatives recognize a need for a ready labor supply. (Although some argue that there is no job that an American citizen will not perform if it pays well enough. Thus, illegal immigration simply drives down wages for working citizens.)
While both positions are legitimate, both sides tend to sidestep the fact that the US has laws and procedures in place to facilitate legitimate immigration. Noone seems to be advocating for an end to legal immigration. And everyone recognizes the historical signifigance of immigration in America and the contributions of immigrants. While I cannot presently report relevant statistics, my sense is that most Americans simply want the prodecures for enacting and implementing formal immigration policy to have meaning. When persons immigrate illegally, they effectively ignore the quotas and limits established through the legislative process and force American taxpayers to assume responsibility for more and more dependent citizens further burdening our healthcare and welfare systems. The US cannot focus on improving the plight of all to citizens, including those who have immigrated legally, while also continually addressing the needs of the masses of people who disregard our boders and enter the country illegally. Both parties should move to the center on this issue - ignore the extreme or fringe interests - and establish a policy that reflects the opinions of average Americans.
If anyone has statistics or data from polls or surveys on this topic. I’d be interested in where to find them.
