I confess that I only glanced at this op-ed by local immigration attorney Charles Foster about how the Republican Party can lead the way on immigration reform, but thankfully Greg was there to do a little deconstruction. I just want to add that if anyone is going to wait for this to happen, I’d advise bringing some reading material and snacks, and finding a comfy place to sit because it could take awhile. In a matter of fortuitous timing, Jim Henson reminds us what Republicans actually think about the issue:
Support for Immigration Policy Proposals by Party Identification with a Tea Party Option (University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, May 2011)
Passing a law that would allow illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to gain legal resident status if they join the military. Rep Dem Tea DK Total Strongly support 15% 41% 18% 19% 25% Somewhat support 37% 34% 38% 31% 35% Somewhat oppose 17% 6% 13% 13% 11% Strongly oppose 31% 15% 31% 27% 25% Don’t know 1% 4% 1% 11% 5%
Passing a law that would allow illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to gain legal resident status if they go to college. Rep Dem Tea DK Total Strongly support 6% 37% 3% 10% 17% Somewhat support 16% 26% 16% 18% 20% Somewhat oppose 12% 10% 11% 18% 13% Strongly oppose 64% 21% 68% 44% 46% Don’t know 2% 7% 2% 10% 6%
Passing a comprehensive immigration overhaul at the federal level that would provide a pathway to citizenship for most illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. Rep Dem Tea DK Total Strongly support 5% 39% 7% 13% 19% Somewhat support 21% 27% 8% 16% 18% Somewhat oppose 14% 12% 11% 19% 14% Strongly oppose 58% 16% 72% 44% 44% Don’t know 2% 6% 3% 9% 5%
So, the DREAM Act? Not gonna happen on their watch. (Remember, if we lived in Dan Patrick’s preferred world of majority rules, we’d already have the DREAM Act, which had 55 votes for passage in 2009, 52 of which were Democratic votes.) Comprehensive reform that is more than “kick ’em all out and bar the door behind them”? Good luck with that. Some day, when the Republican Party regains some measure of the sanity it has gleefully thrown aside in the name of all things anti-Obama, we can talk. Until then, if you want to see something positive get done on this issue, you’d best vote Democratic.