Farmworker Justice Immigration Update 10/3/2014
Obama Promises Administrative Action on Immigration by the End of the Year
President Obama’s delay in announcing administrative relief for undocumented immigrants has resulted in anger and protests against him by some individuals and groups. Last night, seeking to reassure the frustrated constituency, President Obama spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Conference Institute’s (CHCI) annual gala. Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), introduced by the President, telling him “We look to you Mr. President for big, bold, unapologetic administrative relief for millions. During his keynote speech, President Obama promised that he would announce his plans for executive action by the end of the year, noting that "it's not a question of if, but when" he will take executive action on immigration reform. Administration officials and Vice President Biden have also indicated the President will take action by the end of the year. Some immigration advocates, frustrated by the delays and the continued deportations, protested President Obama at the gala.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) declared his desire to enact immigration reform and his belief that he can convince Republicans to do it. Boehner has repeatedly said that he supports an immigration overhaul, but he reportedly told President Obama this summer that the House would not pass immigration reform this year. The Speaker has been unwilling to bring any bills to the floor other than bills to defund or end DACA. There is no indication that House Republicans have any more interest in passing immigration reform now than they did throughout 2014. If anything, the opposite is true. With the Republican Presidential primary beginning in 2015, there is little chance that House Republicans will be willing to compromise on immigration reform. As Dara Lind writes, Boehner already asked the President to hold off on executive action last spring to give the House time to act, and the House did nothing. And again, in discussing his interest in immigration legislation, Boehner has said that if Obama acts administratively it could “poison the well.” Boehner’s repeated promises, lack of action and attempts to link legislation with the lack of any administrative relief call into his question his real motives for raising the issue of immigration legislation again at this time.
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said that if President Obama takes executive action on immigration, then Congress should sue him. Goodlatte said that Obama should work with Congress to make any changes to current policy. Goodlatte himself made no effort to reach across the aisle and come up with compromise legislation on immigration. Instead he sponsored offensive one-sided bills, such as HR 1773, “the Agricultural Guestworker Act” which would allow for growers to bring in massive numbers of agricultural guestworkers with fewer legal protections than existed in the notoriously abusive Bracero Program and no path to immigration status for the current experienced workforce.
A poll shows that the President’s approval rating by Latinos has dropped 15% since April. Some Latino groups are encouraging Latinos not to vote for the Democratic Senators who voted for the recent attempt to end DACA. Other groups and individuals stress the need for Latinos to come out and vote to show their strength. In speaking at the CHCI conference, Maria Teresa, president of Voto Latino said, “Until we try to actually recognize that our number one initiative is to organize each other . . . we’re always going to be left behind.”
Farmworker Justice believes that voting is an opportunity for people to express their opinion on many issues, including immigration and labor rights. While only the federal government can grant immigration status with a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, state and local elections are important too. Some states have been passing laws that benefit farmworkers and others, such as drivers’ licenses for undocumented immigrants and increases in the state minimum wage. As another example, California recently passed several laws benefitting farmworkers and others.
Thank you for your support for farmworkers.
Obama Promises Administrative Action on Immigration by the End of the Year
President Obama’s delay in announcing administrative relief for undocumented immigrants has resulted in anger and protests against him by some individuals and groups. Last night, seeking to reassure the frustrated constituency, President Obama spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Conference Institute’s (CHCI) annual gala. Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), introduced by the President, telling him “We look to you Mr. President for big, bold, unapologetic administrative relief for millions. During his keynote speech, President Obama promised that he would announce his plans for executive action by the end of the year, noting that "it's not a question of if, but when" he will take executive action on immigration reform. Administration officials and Vice President Biden have also indicated the President will take action by the end of the year. Some immigration advocates, frustrated by the delays and the continued deportations, protested President Obama at the gala.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) declared his desire to enact immigration reform and his belief that he can convince Republicans to do it. Boehner has repeatedly said that he supports an immigration overhaul, but he reportedly told President Obama this summer that the House would not pass immigration reform this year. The Speaker has been unwilling to bring any bills to the floor other than bills to defund or end DACA. There is no indication that House Republicans have any more interest in passing immigration reform now than they did throughout 2014. If anything, the opposite is true. With the Republican Presidential primary beginning in 2015, there is little chance that House Republicans will be willing to compromise on immigration reform. As Dara Lind writes, Boehner already asked the President to hold off on executive action last spring to give the House time to act, and the House did nothing. And again, in discussing his interest in immigration legislation, Boehner has said that if Obama acts administratively it could “poison the well.” Boehner’s repeated promises, lack of action and attempts to link legislation with the lack of any administrative relief call into his question his real motives for raising the issue of immigration legislation again at this time.
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said that if President Obama takes executive action on immigration, then Congress should sue him. Goodlatte said that Obama should work with Congress to make any changes to current policy. Goodlatte himself made no effort to reach across the aisle and come up with compromise legislation on immigration. Instead he sponsored offensive one-sided bills, such as HR 1773, “the Agricultural Guestworker Act” which would allow for growers to bring in massive numbers of agricultural guestworkers with fewer legal protections than existed in the notoriously abusive Bracero Program and no path to immigration status for the current experienced workforce.
A poll shows that the President’s approval rating by Latinos has dropped 15% since April. Some Latino groups are encouraging Latinos not to vote for the Democratic Senators who voted for the recent attempt to end DACA. Other groups and individuals stress the need for Latinos to come out and vote to show their strength. In speaking at the CHCI conference, Maria Teresa, president of Voto Latino said, “Until we try to actually recognize that our number one initiative is to organize each other . . . we’re always going to be left behind.”
Farmworker Justice believes that voting is an opportunity for people to express their opinion on many issues, including immigration and labor rights. While only the federal government can grant immigration status with a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, state and local elections are important too. Some states have been passing laws that benefit farmworkers and others, such as drivers’ licenses for undocumented immigrants and increases in the state minimum wage. As another example, California recently passed several laws benefitting farmworkers and others.
Thank you for your support for farmworkers.