vi·sa /ˈvizə/ noun, 1. an endorsement made by an authorized representative of one country permitting the passport holder entry into or transit through the country making the endorsement. vi·sion /ˈvɪʒən/ –noun 1. the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be."
Archive for the ‘Elections’ Category
Raids don't fix anything.
Last night marked President Obama’s first Presidential Address which echoed his (inspiring) campaign promises of change, a brighter future, accountablilty and responsibility, and the capacity for every ordinary person to become extraordinary through actions and choice.
Ironically, the first worksite raid under the Obama administration also took place last night which painted an entirely different picture reminding me of the enormity of the challenge to reform immigration. In Bellingham, Washington, 126 workers including US Citizens were questioned and temporarily detained, while 28 primarily Mexican workers were chained and transported to a detention facility (three were released for humanitarian reasons) marking another enforecement-only action by ICE as the solution to unauthorized employment.
These enforcement only measures reflect a continuation of the same policies carried out under the Bush administration, and undermine Obama’s campaign promise as well as his demands for change presented during his presidential address. Addressing the issue of unauthorized workers through raids does not resolve the root of the issue. Immigration reform is ripe for review, and the enforcement-only solution is not an acceptable answer.
Tags: ICE Raids, worksite enforcement
My Mom is right. Obama is like Moses. I hope this change in leadership brings a new era of unity, justice acceptance, compassion, and true commitment to peace.
And I am beyond grateful to have hope.
SENATOR MCCAIN: its not just a significant election for african americans. Its an unbelievably significant moment for every american. Barack obama is so much more than the first black man to win a presidential election.
But yes, now is the time for America to unite under Barack Obama’s leadership. This was the first decent speech that I’ve heard from McCain during the entire campaign.
Obama 207, McCain 135.
I haven’t been able to keep up with my thoughts, never mind keep up with my posting. I am so excited, nervous, and hopeful about this election. I wanted to document what I am thinking right now, even though it has to do with much more than immigration (which is the primary focus of this blog), because I know that the world will be a different place in a few hours and I simply cannot ignore it.
I am amazed at the hope that Obama has given to his supporters. I was a Hillary supporter, but I don’t think she could have inspired people the way Obama has. And although at first I thought she would be a better leader, I believe that if he wins, Obama is poised to unite our country in a way that transcends color, gender, wealth, or education. He is undeniably inspiring, and I hope and pray that he has the opportunity to inject our country with democratic values, and reestablish Americas position in the world as the preeminent destination for opportunity for immigrants and citizens alike.
And thank G-d McCain picked Palin. I think that added a lot of strength to Obama’s campaign.
Since I started paying attention, I’ve seen the twin towers fall, Afghanistan and Iraq invaded, Louisiana ignored after catastrophic Katrina, and the financial markets fall apart. I’ve never seen anything like this, but its about time!
- Auntie Zeytuni: Cross section of the REAL American family!
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, immigration has been virtually ignored by both Obama and McCain in the 2008 presidential campaigns. Obama’s moving commercial did make one mention of immigration, stating that every American is either an immigrant, or decendant of immigrants. Thanks for remembering and mentioning it Senator Obama!!!
Yesterday’s celebrity gossip scoop was about Obama’s “illegal” aunt. Although Republicans might view this revelation as a golden opportunity to denigrate Obama’s reputation even further, I think it is really a golden opportunity for the immigration cause to finally errupt.
1. It may force Obama, and of course McCain, to discuss immigration and state their positions (finally!). If McCain thinks that Obama’s “illegal aunt” is an Obamination, he could isolate the Hispanic vote which, although traditionally vote republican, may be swayed to cast their ballots for a candidate more sympathetic to the immigrant cause. Obama’s response that legal action should be taken against his Kenyan aunt is not exactly going to win votes of those whose lives are touched by undocumented immigrants. However, it may force him to publicly recognize that the immigration issue MUST be addressed in this campaign, and eventually by the next president. I fear that instead of actually addressing the issue, both candidates will continue to tiptoe around it and dodge the bullet.
2. Much like the 12 million undocumented immigrants working in the kitchens, farms, factories, and other low-skilled positions unseen by American citizens but vital to our economy and industries, the issue of immigration has been a shadow in this election. Spanish media stations have been airing commercials about immigration, but it hasn’t hit mainstream America.
More on this later…
Tags: Elections, illegal immigrants
An article I wrote on the role of immigration in the 2008 elections was published. I was so excited to come home tonight to discover that it was the feature article in the Sept/October issue of AILA’s Immigration Law Today. I’ll scan it and post it under “Publications.”
Ehrens, L. Batya Schwartz, Mobilize Now! How Your Vote Impacts the Future of Immigration, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Immigration Law Today, September/October 2008
Bloomberg raises important election issues
In Bloomberg’s Advice to the Next President published by Newsweek, he tackles some of the issues I wish the candidates would have addressed throughout their campaign. On immigration, Bloomberg warns:
1. the most brilliant minds are being shut out of America because of our stringent immigration laws
2. outsourcing and xenophobia have caused fewer jobs for americans and less tax revenues
3. Immigration reform is crucial to our sick economy! Bloomberg proposes a bi-lateral plan: tighten border security, create a worker ID card to allow employers to verify work authorization and ID’s for job applicants, and provide a legal pathway to citizenship.
Easier said than done Mr. Bloomberg! He does, however, identify one root of the immigration virus, and its vaccine: immunity to Congresspeople from threats to re-election despite supporting sound immigration solutions.
Bloomberg writes, “You will never convince the demagogues, but most members of Congress will be willing to support this kind of common-sense approach if they believe it will not threaten their re-election campaigns. Tell them—including members of the opposite party—that they will have your support in their re-election campaigns. That simple act may do more to shake up the Washington establishment than anything that has occurred there in decades.”
Immigrant’s List, an organization founded by a group of prominent immigration attorneys to pursue that goal, raises funds to support candidates, regardless of party affiliation, enforcing the point that candidates don’t have to sacrifice economic and political support by casting their votes to resolve the immigration crisis. While advocacy may pull at the heartstrings, money talks.
Tags: Advocacy, Elections
Awoken from Slumber!
I was listening to NPR this morning, and out of the blue they played Woodie Guthrie’s “Deportee.” Pretty cool. Now they’re playing “Living in a City of Immigrants” which I’ve never heard before.
It still shocks me how important this next election is to me and to the future of America. Once a model around the world of justice, hope, and true democracy, our recent leadership and domestic & foreign policies have destroyed our economy, and distanced us from the respected global position we once held. The country and it’s leadership have become a very scary joke.
Many Americans (myself included) for the first time are energized and actually care who will be elected in the next presidential and congressional elections on Nov. 4, 2008. I already voted for Obama because I think he is a responsible leader, in line with my value system, and the best choice for the country. He’s the inspiring rolemodel of sensitive strong leadership, intention, and intelligence that I feel America needs. I don’t fear irrational decisions that contradict my sense of global and national responsibilty (which I definitely fear with the McCain Palin ticket).
But I have been quite disappointed with both candidates’ failure to address all the pressing issues. I wonder how this election would have been different had the mega economic crisis not occured earlier this month. I wonder what will be the fate of all the poor, homeless and unemployed people from New Orleans. How will our immigration system change to attract more foreign talent, and maintain our country’s tradition of welcoming the stranger? What about healthcare? And what about our education system which in most areas of the country doesn’t prepare young Americans to be the next leaders in technology, ecology, and diplomacy? I’ve read the one liners both parties have as their stated policies on these issues, but I still do not understand why these issues were not more thoroughly explored and debated throughout the campaigning.
I never cared about politics before, and honestly never really understood our political system fully. But in the last few years, I’ve found new purpose and meaning as an immigration attorney working with large corporations, small businesses, artists, teachers, engineers, and many others to ensure compliance with the immigration laws and to secure visas and green cards. I’ve devoted almost all my free time to advocating and lobbying for immigrants and refugees, and in that process I realized that I’ve learned a lot, I do care, and that my beliefs and values do translate into the issues that are debated by Congress and our national leadership. I studied abroad in China and Japan when I was in college which was another transforming experience and period in my life. China has been compared to a sleeping dragon, lying dormant with a storehouse of strength and fire. I sometimes feel that armed with with all my newly discovered political passion, I’m a little baby dragon who just woke up from her slumber.
Tags: Elections
Obama and McCain: Was it a Face-off?
Thanks to Obama v. McCain 2008, I finally got a TV so I could be a part of all the debate excitment. I rushed home to meet my parents for a night of family fun watching the final presidential debate. I was excited and nervous to see how things would play out, and was almost satisfied.
I knew that the economy would be the centerpiece of the debate, but I still expected just a tiny honorable mention of the seemingly unsovleable topic that ignites so much bigotry, passion, and controversy whie affecting nearly all domestic policies including education, big and small businesses, healthcare, and national security: immigration.
I waited patiently through every 9 minute segment, but soon realized that Joe the plumber (who turned out to be unlicensed, making around 40k per year, and delinquent on paying back taxes) was taking center stage as McCain tried to frame Obama’s tax plan as one that rapes Americans of their American dream, (or at least 39% of all imaginary future dreamy income above $250k).
In retrospect, I shouldn’t have had any expectations. Obama is riding on a precarious wave of positive poll estimates, not a time to start discussing really controversial stuff. McCain is more focused on denigrating Obama using his miniature pitbull tactics, and showing that Obama has really missed the mark by promoting socialism. And to be honest, their positions on immigration aren’t THAT different. But was anyone else surprised that the moderator (who chooses the questions anyway?) stayed in such a safe and predictable zone?
Hillary Mentions Immigration in DNC 2008 Speech!
I don’t have a television, and suspect that I have a weird allergy to newsprint (but thankfully no other allergies), so that sometimes leaves me a little out of the loop when it comes to news. I rarely notice, because I can usually catch up on the internet when I have a few extra minutes, or by looking over people’s shoulders as they read their newspapers on the subway, etc., but I definitely felt like I completely missed out this year during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and now feel that same cultural isolation as the Democratic National Convention airs on TV. I also felt a twang of sadness realizing how cut-off from the “world” I have become when my mom mentioned to me that the kids on Jon and Kate plus 8 have really grown up so much.
So thanks again to YouTube, which is my dependable source for anything noteworthy that airs on TV these days, I watched Michelle Obama, Chelsea Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and Hillary Clinton’s speeches over the past two days, hungry to know what clues, if any, each would give regarding the importance of any immigration related issues. I missed most of the Debates earlier this year, so I am making a concerted effort to stay on top of politics through the November elections.
I listened carefully to Hillary’s 22 minute 55 second speech, knowing that every word she uttered was purposefully selected to respond to the hopes, visions, goals, promises, and complaints of all the voters listening, and to reassure them that the Democratic party knows their fears, and will respond over the next 4 years. Twice she mentioned immigration:
1. 10:15 We want “…To make america, once again, a nation of immigrants and of laws…“
2. 17:05 “We dont need 4 more years of the last 8 years…more jobs getting shipped overseas and fewer jobs created here at home…“
And in those first 12 words, I believe that Hillary was declaring to America that the Democrats want ours to be a nation that supports immigrants, as well as one that supports upholding rational laws which help immigrants become part of our country legally.
Perhaps her 12 words about the need to keep jobs in the US reflect an understanding that we should be attracting talent here by increasing the H-1b cap and fixing our Employment Based green card system. Is it too dreamy to suggests that she was specifically referring to eliminating the H-1B cap and revising the Labor Certification/PERM Green Card system?
I don’t know if we should read that deeply into her words, but I do think that mentioning immigration in her address at the DNC reflects that this is an important issue, and one which the party realizes needs to be addressed and remedied if Obama gets to the White House. I think it will be interesting to see what McCain has to say during the Republican convention.
Tags: Elections, Hillary