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January 6, 2009
Students of Immigration Anxiously Await the Obama Administration
Just a few weeks from now, Senator Barack Obama will be sworn in as President of the United States of America. There is much on the plate of the new President, with the economy, Gaza, and two American wars at the forefront. At some point, the administration will address immigration.
In September 2007, ImmigrationProf blog conducted an exclusive interview with senator Obama focusing on immigration law and policy. We are posting a link to the interview with the idea that all of us will keep an eye on how immigration policy in the Obama administration compares to the policies outlined in the interview. I, for one, remain optimistic and hopeful.
KJ
January 6, 2009 | Permalink
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Comments
Obama is a fraud. He has never published any legal articles. He has not released his medical or academic records. He talks the talk on public education, but sends his own children to an exclusive private school. He talked about change, but is appointing a Clintonian cabinet. He was against the war in Iraq, but is going to keep President Bush's defense secretary. He is planning to escalate the war in Afghanistan. He is silent on Israel's Gaza offensive. He was elected with the almost total support of the LGBT community, yet invites Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural prayer. Why does anybody think that Obama will deliver on immigration?
Posted by: Thomas Wheeler | Jan 6, 2009 1:53:40 PM
I, too remain optimistic. In re-reading this interview, I was struck by how pragmatic, just, and reasonable Obama’s statements were. In particular, the following positions resonate with me as being fundamental toward obtaining swift passage through the Congress:
1) That he will push for CIR in his first year in office, on “a solution rooted in pragmatism, the rule of law, and our history as a nation of immigrants.”
2) That border fencing alone is not the answer to our immigration challenge, but that restoring order in the border region must be done as one package as a comprehensive solution for both practical and political reasons.
3) He fully supports efforts to better integrate immigrants into the larger community, and reminds us that he and Rep. Gutierrez wrote and introduced the Citizenship Promotion Act, which provided new funds for community based organizations to provide English and civics training for immigrants.
I would also caution Restrictionists that oppose CIR that they would be best off taking the first deal on the table. If they choose to try to muscle a deal that slants too heavily towards enforcement, they could wind up getting less of what they want in a CIR package, because at the end of the day, the Democrats have the votes to structure this deal however they see fit, and they could, in all likelihood, pass CIR with or without integrating all that much input from the opposition.
Posted by: Robert Gittelson | Jan 6, 2009 1:53:41 PM
AND, he has yet to make his birth certificate publicly-available. The U.S. Supreme Court has a conference on his eligibility for the presidency on January 9th and 16th:
http://origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/08-570.htm
Posted by: Jimmy | Jan 6, 2009 5:02:11 PM
If Obama is perceived as pandering to any group based soully on race his Presidency will amount to 4 years and out he will go. If he ignores the will of the mass majority of citizens that believe in borders, language and culture, he will ruin any chance of a racial minority gaining the Presidency for many more years to come. He made his promises to gain votes and it worked, but now he will realize that he can not give mass amnesty to over 20 million illegal aliens in this country and not expect a massive backlash from American citizens that believe in the rule of law. Obama is no fool and realizes he must walk a very thin line and that he is being judged as the first Black President moreso than any other President in history. So, don't hold your breath for any dramatic changes from his administration or any of his promises to be fulfilled.
Posted by: EYES OF TEXAS | Jan 6, 2009 5:02:11 PM
An member of Obama's transition team visited Morgan Fabrics (Los Angeles) last week and gave assured all of the mostly undocumented Latino garment workers there that immigration reform WILL be a priority for the new administration.
Posted by: Gerson Smith | Jan 6, 2009 9:52:45 PM
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself, Eyes of Texas. The American People wanted Change, and President Elect Obama will deliver Change.
Posted by: Dream Act Knight | Jan 7, 2009 6:58:08 AM
