I haven't paid enough attention to the fierce debate over immigration that's currently brewing in the Senate, the streets, and even the schools. Since I don't think I have any original thoughts to add at this time, let me say that I endorse the ideas expressed by David Neiwert and Kevin Drum that the way to approach this problem is to aim for policy that makes citizenship the goal. We want, or at least we should want, immigrants who want to assimilate, who value the idea of becoming Americans, and who will take positive steps towards that ideal. Constructing a framework that helps immigrants achieve these goals is a necessary first step.
Some things to read as you ponder all this:
Stace reports from various marches, and gets feedback on the student walkout at Eisenhower High School.
Vince reflects on Cesar Chavez Day and HR4437.
Matt expands on HR4437 and explains that Rep. Lamar Smith is on the wrong side (no surprise to anyone who knows anything about Smith's record).
Rico Politico on A Day Without Mexicans.
South Texas Chisme writes about "business" interests in immigration.
Got a link I've missed? Leave a comment. Thanks!
Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 27, 2006 to National news | TrackBackSeveral member institutions of The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) will host a Civic Academy on "Immigration Reform: How to fix our broken immigration system in a way that makes moral and economic sense" on Tues Apr 4 at 7:00 pm at St. Anne's Catholic Church on Westheimer at Shepherd. The goal of this and other civic academies is to get us ordinary voters up to speed quickly on a policy issue faced by the Texas Legislature or U.S. Congress.
TMO institutions support immigration policy that includes a guest worker program that recognizes our economy's demand for labor, a pathway to earned citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented workers, and a return to border security and the rule of law.
TMO is a coalition of schools, churches, synagogues, civic clubs, and other institutions working together to tackle social justice issues across the Houston area.
Posted by: Robin Holzer on March 27, 2006 11:30 PM