Restrictionism Loses Elections

Published November 06, 2008 @ 08:43PM PT

Kevin Johnson at ImmigrationProf Blog points out that, as in the 2006 mid-term elections and this year's primaries (with Chris Cannon the notable exception in winger-tastic Utah County, where I went to high school), anti-migrant candidates did not fare well this election cycle.

Goodbye to Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina who started her campaign this time with a television ad with local sheriffs enforcing immigration laws. Her storied political career may have come to an end.

Lou Barletta, the mayor of Hazleton, PA who was known for his support for a tough anti-immigrant ordinance, lost in his race for Congress in Pennsylvania. This may have been the high point of his political career.

Joe Arpaio won reelection in Arizona, but by a slimmer margin than in years past. His freedom to operate may be more restricted depending on other appointments in the state, and the changing political climate in the state and the nation. After all, McCain nearly lost his own state!

While Obama's appointment of Rahm "Third Rail" Emanuel is unnerving to migrant advocates, this election showed once again that running on restrictionism is not the way to electoral victory.

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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.