Dear Editor,
Immigrants, Guyanese included, are interested in immigration issues in the current US Presidential campaign. They would like to see the legalization of undocumented aliens as well as the continuation of the policy that promotes reunification of families (otherwise known as family sponsorship). But the Presi-dential candidates have been shifting their position depending on how the political wind blows on the issue.
Virtually all of the candidates have changed their position on illegal immigrants. A few of them have been embroiled in controversies of hiring illegal immigrants or having work done on their property by companies that use labour of illegals. Of all the candidates, only Repub-lican John McCain seems to be firm on his position although recently he has been using tough language against illegals.
The candidates are dancing to the tunes of views obtained from opinion polls on immigration.
Prior to the campaign, almost all of the candidates were in favour of a bill (called by different names) that in essence would have granted a limited amnesty to illegal immigrants that would have allowed them to pay a fine and qualify for legalized status. In 2007, the President and the leadership of Congress from both parties, tried to pass the bill but stiff opposition from Conservative Republicans derailed the bill. With polls showing opposition to amnesty for illegals mid last year, some of the candidates began to reverse their position on illegal immigrants. Rudy Giuliani who used to praise the immigrants’ work ethic and who favoured granting amnesty to illegal immigrants, began to change his position calling for tough measures against illegals although he still support some kind of amnesty. The same is true for Mitt Romney when he was Governor of Massachusetts and Mike Huckabee when he was Governor of Arkansas. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have also toughened up their position on illegal immigrants although they still support some kind of amnesty. John McCain still supports a limited amnesty but now wants to expand the construction of a fence to keep out Mexicans and other Latinos.
Most Americans are not anti-immigrant. In fact, a recent poll found that 52% Americans are in favour of granting some kind of amnesty to illegals. And studies have shown that immigrants contribute more to the American economy than the benefits they receive. So immigrants are not a burden to America.
Exit polls from recent primary elections and caucuses show that Americans are not so concerned about immigration as polls showed last year when Conservatives made it their defining issue to win this year’s Presidential and Congressional elections. Immigration is now number four in importance among voters. Presidential contenders who were hoping to ride the anti-immigration bandwagon have pulled out of the contest. And in recent days, Giuliani and Romney have been softening their position on illegals. Without cheap (perhaps illegal) immigrant labour, the economy will go into decline. Not many Americans are rushing for jobs to pick farm produce or work in restaurants or as domestic servants.
Thankfully, immigration is not a front burner issue in the campaign. It is hoped that after the election, the new President would follow up on Bush’s proposal to grant a limited amnesty to illegals.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram