Obama on the right track on immigration

US President Barack Obama’s recent pronouncement that he will use the power of the presidency to issue an executive order for immigration reform, which up to this point Congress has been delaying or putting on the back burner, is a very important step and could be a landmark decision in his presidency. Now is the time he is going to have to take a stand because the Republican party has once again grabbed the majority of the Senate and is dragging its feet when it comes to finding an alternative immigration solution.

I have to agree with Obama when I say that this issue has to go beyond party politics. I am fully supportive of President Obama’s stand here where the issue of citizenship is by jus soli (by birth) and not by jus sanguinis (by blood). I believe that the President is right on this issue. After all, we have to remember that the US is not consisting of one nationality only. It’s a veritable tapestry of races with so many immigrants coming in from various homelands to seek greener pastures in America, not just now but throughout history.

After all, if you really think about it, everyone in America is an immigrant at his or her roots. The only real Americans are the Native Americans who lived there before Christopher Columbus discovered America. If they can live with foreigners on their lands for all these years, why can’t Americans now be just as flexible? The US is truly one of the most diverse culture populations in the world and that is not a bad thing.

Of course though, Obama’s bold move is not without its detractors. The Republicans in particular are outraged by what they describe as an “unconstitutional power grab” by the President and warned him that there would be repercussions for his actions. Some even went so far as to say he has only continued on his journey to “lawlessness.” I think they are just upset because the President made a call on an issue that has remained at a standstill. The Republicans can’t even unite to come up with a solution that they think is better. They are upset with the President and can unite in that aspect, but remain divided when it comes to what to do about it.

The President, for his part, accepts the detractors’ statements and warnings with steady calm, challenging them to: “Pass a bill” if they question his authority to make the immigration system work. The Democratically controlled Senate passed a new immigration law last year, but since the Republicans took control after the recent elections they blocked the bill without being able to give an alternative proposal.

Personally I think the President’s new immigration orders are fair and will give the US back the time and resources to focus its efforts on more important criminal cases instead of spending so much time and energy tracking down those who have “crossed the border” so-to-speak or the TNT (tago ng tago) as Filipinos call it. After all, if you look at it what is more important – catching and incarcerating the serial rapist or catching and deporting the honest hardworking immigrant who is trying to make a living for his family?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t feel that immigrants should get off scot free for essentially breaking the existing law and living in the country illegally. And this new immigration order does not believe that either. As Obama said, it’s not about amnesty. It is about giving hardworking individuals a chance to fix their papers and get the necessary permits to live and work in the United States, especially for those with children who are American citizens.

Under Obama’s immigration order those who stand to benefit are those living in the US for more than five to 10 years, or have American citizen children, are of good credit standing, have committed no crimes, and are living honest hardworking lives. They are invited to “come out of the shadows” and get right with the law. In many instances these people don’t want to be living illegally but are afraid that they have no other choice. Under this new proposal they have a chance to come out and fix their paperwork without the fear of immediate deportation.

This is a landmark step in immigration reform in the United States and it’s important to support this fully. There are so many individuals who truly deserve a chance at making an honest living and to stop hiding and living in fear. I know this bill will affect so many Filipinos living in America. It’s a chance for them to finally get their papers in order, get work permits, and maybe even become American citizens should that be their eventual goal.

I understand that those who are against this bill are fearful of giving immigrants living in the US illegally the same rights as “hardworking American citizens,” but that is just discrimination to me. The fact that someone is not a legal US citizen should not take away from the fact that they have contributed to society and the economy and maybe even have had children who are legal American citizens. It’s been such a taboo topic for so long, but maybe now, with this new orders, plans, and actions on the table perhaps immigration can be something everyone can have serious discussions about without fear of repercussions.