Again, Let the Immigration Debates Commence

By Arturo P. Garcia

People’s CORE

Immigrant Rights and Social Justice Project

Los Angeles -- Now that the Immigration Overhaul /Reform Bill or S.B. 1639 is being debated in the Senate, much emotions had been invested in the debate and a lot of sparks have flew and have lighted the dark night of the long wait.

The LA Times today, June 26 hit the issue on the head: “ Conservatives continue to brand the legalization plan as amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants they say should be forced to go home. Religious groups have decried the weakened emphasis on family immigration. Immigrant-rights groups complain that temporary workers can never become citizens.

And businesses are upset about a point system, which could end their ability to bring in specific employees with the needed skills. Lawmakers pushing for a comprehensive bill hope that some of these complaints can be addressed by the two dozen amendments senators are scheduled to consider over the next several days.

But some of the same amendments designed to assuage one group of lawmakers risk driving another group away from the bill.”

The AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Coalition has made their stand against the S.B. 1639. The Methodist Church of the USA had made their position against it because it will tear away families. The Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Church supports the immigration bill. Views and standpoints were as many and as varied as the groups that are involved in the debates.

“All Or Nothing” Stand

But like the Filipino community debates on the Filipino World War II veterans equity bill, many ultra leftist are riding high on their “all or nothing” stand. They believe that because of the mass upsurge 2006 and the outpouring of immigrant and the community sentiments and the democratic party victory last election, we are on a “ revolutionary crisis” and the immigrant rights and the U.S. revolutionary movement must not accept any compromise.

Many of the immigrant groups and others non-profit organizations have called any bill that will not grant citizenship and pass a guest worker program is a “betrayal of principles.” Others oppose even the continuation of the debates in the U.S Senate and the lower house.

But for the Coalition in Defense of Immigrant Rights (CDIR), we believe that we must accept the compromises no matter how painful it is. We must remember, the struggle for immigrant rights is a struggle for democratic rights. Accepting compromises like what the U.S. Congress will impose on the immigrant population is not a betrayal of principles.

As Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy, a very prominent immigrant rights advocate. in an interview over ABC News last Sunday expressed his pragmatic approach: “Must legalize the majority of the immigrants. Must start from something and not go for nothing. The all or nothing stand will lead us nowhere.”

Keeping the People Out of the Debates

We have successfully sent our signal to the U.S Congress by marching and conducting numerous mass actions. We have conducted several militant and forceful demonstrations in Los Angeles which is fast becoming the epicenter of the immigrant rights movement in the United States since 2006.

The Democrat and Republicans have decided to keep the people out of the debates in U.S. Congress and met behind close doors and hammered out a “grand bargain.” But their schemes fell through because they are not supported by the people. Their compromises were even rejected by the far right.

One glaring truth that many of the analyst readily forget to tell the people is that the 2006 upsurge defeated the anti-immigrant HR 4437 and spurred the emotional debates now in the U.S Congress.

People are now attuned to the questions, is immigration reform overhaul, amnesty or not. What is the Guest Workers Program? Is the Guest Workers Program temporary or permanent? Is the road for citizenship an obstacle course against citizenship. Is the United States welcoming immigrants or do they just wanted skilled workers and intellectuals and will dump the Family Reunification.

These questions will be answered by the U.S Congress and he repercussions will be strong and will be felt for decades to come.

Anti Immigrant Attacks Blunted

As the U.S Congress debates the immigrant reform overhaul bill, the fascist right wing groups have succeeded in forming 250 anti-immigrant racist groups of which 150 are armed and are considered threats against the minority groups. One particular group that has been active lately is the Minutemen led by Ted Hayes in California.

The Minutemen group have been active hounding the immigrant right protests in Los Angeles and other cities and have been taunting and provoking mainstream immigrant rights groups and their advocates.

Meanwhile, immigrant scape goating and anti immigrant tirades at the CNN with Lou Dobbs leading the charge and other media outlets went on a crescendo as the debates went on in the US Congress.

Another group Number America who claimed 400, 000 membership is conducting intensive lobbying in the U.S Congress against the immigration bill. All said and done, the immigrant rights movement is now becoming, another civil rights movement for the 12. 5 million marginalized population of America.

But on the eve of the 15,000 immigrant rights march-rally in Hollywood, last Saturday, June 23, African American residents around Leimert Park stood shoulder to shoulder with the pro-immigrant and anti-racist groups and prevented the Minutemen racist in suing Leimert Park.

Thus, on June 24--despite bombs threats, delayed permit, shortened time for outreach, oppressive heat, ICE raids in Orange county and in Los Angeles itself, more than 15,000 immigrants and their advocates marched in Hollywood extending into more than six blocks from Sunset to Highland-Hollywood intersections and made their strong voices heard.

It was quite an afternoon of cultural program spiced by Mexican and Latino music, poems and songs that would make the racist republicans and democrats alike blushed and say; “ Is this still America?” We answer back- Yes of course, the multi-ethnic and color blind American, “ crowned by brotherhood” not racism!

We likened the immigrant rights movement to the civil rights movements of the 1960’s. It is shaping to be one most especially when no bill will be passed for immigrant rights this year.

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