Janet Napolitano Predicts Immigration Reform in 2010
By Khalil Abdullah, New America Media
Timing is everything in the arts of war or politics, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s Nov. 13 speech on the need for immigration reform.
“Now, while everyone may agree that the status quo isn’t working, what everyone may not be aware of is how much the immigration landscape has changed since comprehensive immigration reform efforts failed in 2007,” Napolitano said. “I’ve been dealing hands-on with immigration issues since 1993, so trust me. I know a major shift when I see one, and what I have seen makes reform far more attainable this time around.”
Napolitano’s speech at the Center for American Progress (CAP), rather than a rhetorical tour de force, was a finely calibrated recitation of the Obama administration’s wish list and rationale for the ingredients of a comprehensive immigration reform package it hopes will move through Congress in 2010. In its broadest and simplest terms, she described a “‘three-legged stool’ that includes a commitment to serious and effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers, and a firm but fair way to deal with those already here.”
To the latter point, how to resolve the legal status and residency issues for an estimated 12 million people living in the United States illegally, Napolitano never mentioned the word “amnesty” in her speech or during the brief question and answer period for a standing-room-only audience.
In his introduction, CAP President John Podesta cited then-Arizona Gov. Napolitano’s comment in 2005 decrying the proposed construction of an additional 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border —“If you build a 50-foot high wall, somebody will find a 51-foor ladder.”— as evidence of her pragmatism.
Yet her comments touted America’s accomplishments of what some critics term a continuing militarization of the border to reduce immigration flows from Mexico. “The security of the Southwest border has been transformed from where it was in 2007,” Napolitano said. “The federal government has dedicated unprecedented resources to the Mexican border in terms of manpower, technology and infrastructure — and it has made a real difference.”
In fact, by her own statement, DHS is only 100 miles short of 700 miles of fencing that prompted her comment in 2005. “Fast-forward to today, and many of the benchmarks these members of Congress set in 2007 have already been met. For example, the Border Patrol has increased its forces to more than 20,000 officers, and DHS has built more than 600miles of border fencing,” Napolitano said.
The emphasis was in keeping with Napolitano’s responsibilities as “the nation’s top cop,” as CAP’s vice president Angela Kelly, the moderator, termed the Homeland Security Secretary. Thus, there was no discussion by Napolitano of whether the immigration flow from Mexico to the United States could be better addressed by bi-lateral macro economic policies or by a restructuring of multi-lateral trade and finance policies that often devastate small farmers and low-wage earners in developing economies. Napolitano stayed on message.
“The immigration debate of 2007 happened during a period of historically high levels of illegal entry to the United States,” she said. “Two years later, because of better enforcement and the current economic circumstances, those numbers have fallen sharply. The flow has reduced significantly – by more than half from the busiest years, proving that we are in a much different environment than we were before.”
That a reduction in the number of immigrants to the United States due to a downturn in the country’s job market was as a key strategic factor in the administration’s new push for reform was inferred by Napolitano in her answer to a reporter’s question. She said one of her concerns is that “when the economy rebounds, we’ll see another wave of illegal immigration.” While Napolitano cited DHS successes in drug interdiction and identifying “dangerous criminal aliens,” she also framed the immigration debate as a moral imperative at the core of Americans’ sense of fairness. Family reunification, like amnesty, was another term that never surfaced during the discussion, but the Secretary made references to the often-lengthy waits that some immigrants encounter when trying to bring loved ones to the United States.
On the demand-side of illegal immigration — employers hiring workers without knowing their status or turning a blind eye to unlawful entrants — Napolitano boasted of DHS efforts in strengthening the E-Verify system, an Internet database. “More than 167,000 employers at 639,000 work sites use E-Verify. In the past month, the program has grown at the rate of nearly 2,000 employers a week,” she said.
In addition, Napolitano said, “We are auditing the books of thousands of employers suspected of relying on illegal labor to achieve an unfair advantage in the marketplace. As part of this effort, Immigration and Customs Enforcement audited more employers suspected of hiring illegal labor in a single day in July than had been audited in all of 2008.” No data was provided, however, on the fines and penalties levied as a result of the audit.
Despite the administration’s simultaneous tackling of large issues like health care reform, Napolitano said she had confident in the Obama team’s capacity to multi-task. She said the administration’s decision to press for Congressional action on comprehensive immigration reform in 2010 had been made months ago, adding and that she came “to lay out for you what the administration is seeking. It is best to take up the whole problem, the whole system,” Napolitano concluded.
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November 19, 2009 Copyright © 2009 Eastern Group Publications, Inc.
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10 Responses to “Janet Napolitano Predicts Immigration Reform in 2010”
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This is the law in this country, maybe when this law is enforced and Americans are back tyo work you can discuss amnesty. 20% of us can not find full time employment and this is unaceptable.
It is unlawful to knowingly hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an alien who is not authorized to work in the United States, and it is unlawful to hire any individual without verifying the employment authorization of that individual, either through the I?9 process alone or combined with the Employment Eligibility Verification (EEV) program (formerly called the Basic Pilot). §274A?
Fix Ameriica First !!
I really agree immigration has been decreasing and with e-verify illegals wont be able to get jobs. We need and IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW!!!!!!! Legalize the 12 million get a SS# n the ones that slip into the borders wont be able to get a job because those 12 million will be legal residents, and obviously we will be able to tell the difference with e-verify of whos legal and whos not.
What part of NO AMNESTY doesn’t Janet Napolitano understand? We went through this before and made our voices heard! Now ot back again! What do we have to do to make obama and his thugs understand we DO NOT want amnesty for these 20 million illegal aliens. WE WANT THE LAWS ENFORCED! I repeat, WE WANT THE LAWS ENFORCED! Start up the raids again! Fine the employers! Deport every illegal alien you get your hands on!
Illegal aliens are destroying this Country and it has to stop!
For decades this country has been a very large sponge, for anybody who can easily slip by the under funded border fence? Our compassion for the impoverished has turned into a travesty and now we are forced by the IRS to pay government entitlements to those who came here illegally. WE think it’s bad now, but if Sen.Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi Chuck Schumer, Sen. Gutierrez and all the rest of Democratic Liberals get to pass another AMNESTY. The volume of indigent humanity waiting in every tin shack across the Southern border, the visa overstays from Europe and any other destitute society will rush for America, once the–BLANKET AMNESTY–bell tolls. We think we have a problem now, with hundreds of thousands of homeless? The government will have to build acres of tent cities to hold the newcomers.
If the border cannot restrain those who come here now, the US border Patrol or even the National Guard will not stop the onslaught. Not only will the materialize on our soil, from every corner of Central and South America, but will start arriving from Canada as well. With billions of dollars being spent on the families of Anchor Babies, shouldn’t all of us be–COMMITTED AND PLACED IN THERAPY–to think the illegal immigration will just stop? Why hasn’t the Birthright citizenship law reached the Supreme court yet? Why did California’s Proposition 187 suddenly vanish? That’s what the last three White House Administrations led us believe, when all the time they were supporting–CORPORATE WELFARE. The majority of policy makers up their in Washington, are out to fill their coffers with campaign contributions and other undisclosed remuneration. It’s about keeping their careers and getting their copious pensions, when they retire. Neither party can be forgiven for the indifference shown to every American worker. The two parties have been instrumental in the free trade facade, that has cost jobs, the NAFTA controversy, the subliminal merger between Canada, USA and Mexico. We are awash with debt like nothing before? And President Obama wants to–FORCE–on this bleeding nation yet another monstrous AMNESTY?
It’s about the special interest lobbyists that corrupts the whole environment in the Capitol. Illegal immigration is by far the largest expenditures to the this nation? The costs will stagger the prudent mind, because the dollar figure is off the scale. This is not just in federal dollars, but state, county and city dollars? If they cannot be honest and telling us the illegal population in this sovereign nation, they certainly will not inform the crippling financial price to support them. GOOGLE–NUMBERSUSA for enforcement grading of your politicians in federal or state government? Read about corruption and sanctuary city policies at JUDICIAL WATCH. CAPWEB, ALIPAC, CAPSWEB, AMERICAN PATROL & THE DARK SIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. Hunt down you politician either over the phone at 202-224-3121, or go their in person. Tell them that they are–OUT–if they vote for any kind of AMNESTY. Tell them E-Verify must be made permanent, to start the “ATTRITION” enforcement procedure for every illegal worker in America? What can you do for AMERICA? We cannot afford overpopulation growth, nor corrupt politicians pandering to illegal immigrant open border fanatics?
Immigration Reform = REDUCING immigration, ENFORCING our laws, and DEPORTING those here illegally. That is real reform.
Everything you need to know about immigration and what to do about it humorously told.
(Roy Beck and NumbersUSA are the “gumball” heroes)
What is the argument here? every single alien “BROKE THE LAW!” Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 30 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution.
This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!
Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!
The question of illegal immigration goes much deeper than just being a question of economics, law or justice. Illegal immigration masks more important questions: are we to be one people derived from many peoples, are we to be one people living in one nation or are we to be many peoples continuously separated from each other, many peoples living in the same land. The melting pot metaphor which served us so well in integrating immigrants into the American society is being challenged by the mosaic or vegetable soup metaphor that threatens to balkanize us. Moreover, those who advocate for the illegals, of which 75%+ are from hispanic culture nations, do not offer any way to prevent future illegal immigration. The CHC is the only Congressional caucus that represents a constituency that is not comprised of only American citizens but includes large numbers of non-citizens. These non-citizens did not vote for the CHC members, but seem to be more important to the CMC members than the non-hispanic citizens of their own constituencies. Furthermore, the CHC members do not limit their representation to just their districts but have become national at large members in regard to representing illegals no matter where they are located. Again, It appears that to the CHC members, being hispanic is more important than being American.
If amnesty is given to illegals, there certainly should be a trade off to satisfy those of us who oppose such an amnesty. All illegals and visa overstayers should have to register and receive a bio-id card. The amnesty should be limited to married couples who have been here at least five years. The issue of multiple legal infractions such as identity theft, illegal use of government documents, driving offenses and felonies, should be addressed. There should not be a family reunification section in the amnesty bill. The anchor baby question should be addressed such that we do not have to face fractured families in the future. Being in the USA illegally should be made a felony.
Those illegals who do not qualify for the amnesty program or who have failed to register and do not have a registration card should be required to leave voluntarily and if that fails, should be arrested, fined and deported. Those who have applied for legal residence, who are already in the pipeline and who are not here illegally should also be considered for immediate legal residency.
We need to redefine the meaning of citizenship which has been diluted by those who support illegals and push for them to receive all of the benefits which American citizens receive. Remember that illegals are foreign nationals whose allegiance is to another nation.
The CHC should be more concerned with the welfare of their legal constituents, both those who are Hispanic Americans and those of other cultural backgrounds and less concerned with the welfare of the citizens of Latin America who have little allegiance to the USA. The CHC should be more concerned with the welfare of their legal constituents, both those who are Hispanic Americans and those of other cultural backgrounds and less concerned with the welfare of the citizens of Latin America who have little allegiance to the USA. One is left to wonder if illegal immigration from Latin America ended but illegal immigration from Africa, Europe and Asia greatly increased, how supportive would the CHC be of these illegal immigrants. I guess the CBC, the CEC, and the CAC
would advocate for them.
The landscape has changed drastically since Immigration Reform failed in 2007.
Fact: In January 2010 we can All Celebrate the two year aniversary of the start of the E-verify Law, the I.C.E. Deportation Program, the start of this the Worst Re-cession in U.S. History, followed by the Global Re-cession, and a resurgance of Racism worse than that of the 1960’s!
More Facts: Phoenix Az. now has approx: 30% less TAX BASE than what the U.S. Census Bureau counted all along for nearly thirty years as CITIZEN’s, using this count to base the size of our Government Services on.
Phoenix now must fire approx: 30% of all Government Employees to match their new streamlined TAX BASE!
The State can’t figure out why they have a (2) Billion dollar TAX SHORTFALL? (approx: 30%!)
More Facts: The new 30% Excess of vacated Dwellings ,besides Crashing the Banking System, and putting a massive hole in the “Real Estate Bubble”, this excess of dwellings has also completely halted Construction/Growth, causing Arizona to hsve the highest loss of Construction related jobs in the Country!
That said:
To: Liberty and Good/Brotherhood from Sea to Shining Sea!
To those of you calling Human Beings Peons, carrying signs and yelling “NO AMNESTY” You do not Represent any TRUE AMERICAN VALUES, you can twist any way you want , if there are Bad People you don’t Judge millions of good because their skin is the same color!
I hope your maker Judges you Hateful People more fairly than you are now Judging your fellow Mankind!
Hopefully you get a little AMNESTY!
To: The Greatest Country on Earth.
There is no logical reason to argue against immigration reform. Immigration Reform will legalize 12+ million people who have had to live in the shadows of our society. I believe that, in general, any society that denys the rights of one group of people creates social and politcal anarchy. To deny civil liberties of immigrants; liberties given to us by God, our creator, is pantamount to the downfall of this great nation as a guiding light for the rest of the world. Whenever you take away the rights of one person you diminish the rights of everyone.
We are one nation under God! That was what our founding Fathers wanted. All the arguements made thus far to deny immigrants the chance to pay a fine and stay here are all based on false paranoid dillusions by racists.
What kind of nation do we live in where I.C.E. officers can legally come into your home and tell you how for the next 10 years you will be separated from your spouse or children for “breaking a law” . You cannot take your children with you because they are American Citizens. Your children will go into state foster care to be raised by strangers. They will grow up to despies America for what happened to their parents. It might create more terrorists.
I am an American that will stand up and fight for the rights of illegal immigrants. And I know that most of our society will support comprehensive immigration reform. Please write to your Senators and ask them to support comprehensive immigration reform taht allows everyone living in the United States to stay here, to be united once again.