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Candidates avoid immigration issue |
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Written by Sonia Morgan & Dr. Garth A. Rose
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Sunday, 04 May 2008 |
While the presidential candidates skate around the issue of immigration, a large number supporters of the May 1 (May Day) immigration rallies across the country, took to the streets in an effort to revive the stagnant immigration debate, hoping to make it an issue for the November presidential election.
Immigration remains a hot button issue which all the candidates seem to avoid because of its potential repercussions. While all three candidates support a comprehensive immigration reform, none have so far broached the topic in any detailed way on the campaign trail.
Rich Stolz, a coordinator with the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, said most people [in the rallies] are focused on the November election as it pertains to immigration. "We've been calling on the candidates to prioritize immigration," the coordinator said.
Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, whose bill to offer a pathway to citizenship died in the U.S. House and Senate, now seems to be shying away from the topic, because it would be out of favor with fellow Republican Congressmen and Senators and could cause him the support of his base. Now McCain seems to be moving away from his original plan, as her courts Republicans.
The Democrats, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supported McCain’s bill, but with the potential of being a wedge issue, they too seem to be steering clear of the topic, especially as they duel in the Democratic Primary. However, this could be a deciding factor in the race for the White House, if Democrats intend to win over Republicans and any of the Red States.
Despite the lackluster treatment of the issue, activists in hundreds of events from Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida are still demanding comprehensive immigration legislation, including pathways to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. and to end work site raids and deportations.
Instead of protests, according to organizers, this year's efforts are focused more on voter registration and setting an immigration agenda for the next president, and are aimed at encouraging people to be a part of the process come November.
However, organizers admit that this year their efforts are a formidable task as during the presidential primaries immigration has not been as important an issue, as the economy.
In 2006 over a million people marched nationwide in the name of immigrant rights, encouraged by pro-immigration coverage in churches and Spanish language media. Immigrants were united in opposing a proposed bill making it a felony for illegal immigrants to live in the United States. Marchers demanded an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, respect for the undocumented and worker unity, among other matters. ICE has stepped up its efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants in the workplace and there have been reports of massive deportation of people stopped and held by border patrol.
As was suspected, fear of raids and mistrust of authorities accounted for the drop in the number of participants this time around, although in Miami marchers demonstrated through the city.
Immigration reform may become a campaign topic, especially if the presidential candidates are courting the Hispanic vote. All three candidates are in favor of erecting a fence along the Mexico border.
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