Immigration - Change.org: Pelosi Puts a Wall Up on Path to Citizenship

Pelosi Puts a Wall Up on Path to Citizenship

Published October 22, 2008 @ 09:10PM PT

Nancy Pelosi gave migrant rights advocates something to chew on today in a discussion about plans for immigration reform:

Any solution would have to be bipartisan, she said, so it may require sacrificing some of Democrats' past priorities, such as giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

"Maybe there never is a path to citizenship if you came here illegally," Pelosi said. "I would hope that there could be, but maybe there isn't."

For Duke at the Sanctuary, one blog wasn't enough for the enormity of this mistep. Turn the channel and he's at Migra Matters, not happy, and he doesn't mince words:

This leads one to speculate as to exactly what kind of status Ms. Pelosi has in mind for these 12 million souls.

If they are in fact not to be put on a path to citizenship, yet not sent home, it's safe to assume Ms Pelosi intends that they stay here in with some sort of "other" status. That of perhaps guest workers who never need return home, yet never become full members of society.

There are words for that class of person ...a permanent under class, Braceros, indentured servants.

Is this really the road the Democrats want to go down? I doubt that Democratic voters want to see this. If Pelosi and other Democratic leaders don't understand this, they are in for a rude awakening.

More thoughts of mine here.

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I appreciated this story by Mr. Bennion. I was really let down that so little was said about immigration reform during the primaries and generals. I understand that the economy, the wars, and health care are important, but immigration and the hatred that people in this country have for immigrants (especially brown ones...sorry, but it's true) is serious, real, and in dire need of attention.
As for Nancy Pelosi: as a student of immigration history and comparative race theory, I know that politicians say what their constituents want to hear. Pelosi is Congresswoman from California. Californians are deeply divided on Latin American immigration, but the majority are supportive of punitive measures against "illegal" immigrants. Pelosi needs votes to stay in power. She'll go where the wind blows on the immigration debate if that means she gets her California vote....that is, if immigration reform is ever even considered a serious debate to have. It's saddens me that Pelosi is outspoken on so many issues, and rightly so, however, when it comes to an issue that could potentially jeopardize her being re-elected in California, she backs down.
As a student of history, using the immigration debate as a political tool (and especially on the West coast where immigration from the Far East had become a political make-or-break right of passage between the 1860s through the 1960s) is nothing new. It is my hope that this next administration will take up a national immigration reform package very, very soon. This is an issue that deals with real people, with families, and with individuals who deserve the right to be treated as equals in this country which means they play by the rules because the rules are created in a fair and humane way by politicians who aren't simply out to get re-elected.

Posted by Sarah Griffith on 11/18/2008 @ 10:12AM PT
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I appreciated this story by Mr. Bennion. I was really let down that so little was said about immigration reform during the primaries and generals. I understand that the economy, the wars, and health care are important, but immigration and the hatred that people in this country have for immigrants (especially brown ones...sorry, but it's true) is serious, real, and in dire need of attention.
As for Nancy Pelosi: as a student of immigration history and comparative race theory, I know that politicians say what their constituents want to hear. Pelosi is Congresswoman from California. Californians are deeply divided on Latin American immigration, but the majority are supportive of punitive measures against "illegal" immigrants. Pelosi needs votes to stay in power. She'll go where the wind blows on the immigration debate if that means she gets her California vote....that is, if immigration reform is ever even considered a serious debate to have. It's saddens me that Pelosi is outspoken on so many issues, and rightly so, however, when it comes to an issue that could potentially jeopardize her being re-elected in California, she backs down.
As a student of history, using the immigration debate as a political tool (and especially on the West coast where immigration from the Far East had become a political make-or-break right of passage between the 1860s through the 1960s) is nothing new. It is my hope that this next administration will take up a national immigration reform package very, very soon. This is an issue that deals with real people, with families, and with individuals who deserve the right to be treated as equals in this country which means they play by the rules because the rules are created in a fair and humane way by politicians who aren't simply out to get re-elected.

Posted by Sarah Griffith on 11/18/2008 @ 10:20AM PT
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Thanks for your comment, Sarah. I am hoping Pelosi sees the light when she realizes that Latin@s and other immigrant-friendly communities vote, too, and in increasing numbers.

Posted by Dave Bennion on 11/18/2008 @ 09:42PM PT
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Dave Bennion: Philadelphia, PA; David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.