The right thing for the right reason

Few things offend me more than the argument that 9/11 is a reason to crack down on immigration from Latin America. What's the rationale? Is it that "only Arabs are terrorists" and "all brown people look alike," so we have to keep out the Latin Americans because we can't be sure they're not Arabs? Or, as seems more likely to me, this is just the racist fringe playing on a generalized post-9/11 distrust of foreigners to get the policy they want?

So I am glad to see that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says that national security actually requires that we provide some legal status to currently undocumented persons in this country. He's right, of course; if you believe national security requires the government to keep tabs on everyone inside the borders, then having a system that encourages millions of residents to exist completely outside of the system is totally counterproductive.

Of course the timing of this announcement will be viewed as suspicious. The media (and not just conservative outlets) have a knee jerk tendency to view any discussion of a humane immigration policy as "pandering" to Latino voters. And I don't doubt that Karl Rove, who is one of the main architects of the GOP's strategy of targeting Latino voters, has something to do with this.

But I don't care. The appalling suffering that the post-9/11 crackdown on immigration in the southwest has caused must stop. And having the Homeland Security Secretary point out that cracking down harms, not helps, national security is a good thing.

Comments

[Latinopundit]

If strings are being pulled it is only for as you hinted toward a means to an end. I am sometimes amazed, and sometimes aghastly amazed how issues would sit on the bench only to be brought down for someone's convienece. However, this is personal speculation.

But good. It seems the powers that be are in grips with reality of the current immigration issue.

[Jake]

I bet Tom Tancredo will completely flip out about this.

[more votes for w]

of course the mexicanos deserve to be treated as human beings.
i find this action offensive by the rove/bush wurlitzer.
the response from Mexico is rather guarded, to the effect that for this to go forward the Mexican government will have to be in agreement. good.

its hard to say, in some instances there are not enough green cards beings issued, the wait can be from 6-8 years, by coming clean they expose themselves to deportation. best to stay put. so implies a statement from a La Raza organization.

it makes me angry that they are just considered cheap labor and free votes for the chimp. i would take what i could get from the gringo and vote democrat anyway. but takes a considerable amount of educating the recent arrival.