Some good news out of the White House on the topic of comprehensive immigration reform. Over the past few months, many immigration advocates had begun to lose faith in the Obama administration's commitment to reforming our current immigration system. I, myself, had become concerned with the direction that the administration was moving in after reading a New York Times article on current policies being asserted by the Department of Homeland Security. However, a recent meeting between White House officials and key interest groups concerned with the country's immigration system has re-affirmed the administration's commitment to immigration reform.
There are a few key points from the meeting that I feel are worth mentioning. The first, and perhaps most important piece of news, is that Obama aide Nick Shapiro actually came out and stated that immigration reform will be pursued this year. Recently, it had been widely speculated and acknowledged that immigration reform would be postponed until next year, taking a back seat to the current health care debate. I firmly believe that it would be unwise to delay attacking the currently flawed immigration system, as it has been documented that immigration reform could potentially help kickstart the nation's struggling economy.
Another aspect of the meeting that is noteworthy is the diverse set of groups that were in attendance. The interests that were represented at the meeting can be divided into 5 groups: law enforcement officials, labor representatives, business leaders, immigration advocates and the faith-based community. While much can be made of the measures that should be included in immigration reform legislation, the most important issue is that the legislation drafted must have a chance at passing through Congress. The only way that immigration reform legislation will have a shot at passing is if input is sought from all groups that have an interest in new policies. Providing an opportunity for groups like law enforcement and business leaders to reconcile differences with the immigration advocacy community is the best way to achieve consensus and compromise, and to put forth a bill that Congress will pass.
News of this meeting is an encouraging sign for those who had been disheartened by current DHS policies.
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