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Beverly Hills, California, United States
Eli Kantor is a labor, employment and immigration law attorney. He has been practicing labor, employment and immigration law for more than 36 years. He has been featured in articles about labor, employment and immigration law in the L.A. Times, Business Week.com and Daily Variety. He is a regular columnist for the Daily Journal. Telephone (310)274-8216; eli@elikantorlaw.com. For more information, visit beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com and and beverlyhillsemploymentlaw.com

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Urgency of Immigration Reform, on the Backburner Again

Examiner
September 9, 2014

A question that just begs to be asked, in regard to immigration policy, is that if it is such a boon to the nation and so necessary as to circumvent Congress then why is it being delayed until after the mid-term elections? That is essentially the question being asked by various pro-immigration groups over the weekend and Republicans on Monday. It is a question the White House has failed to overcome, even as pressure against this unilateral Executive action takes place.

At the heart of the current immigration impasse is the June announcement by the Obama Administration that it will be issuing, via Executive Branch powers alone, new immigration standards for the nation. Executive action that was immediately rejected by Republicans and Conservatives for its overreach of power. It was also opposed by Democrats fighting to win elections, as they did not wish to have to defend amnesty at this critical time. The actual announcement was expected to be made at the end of summer.

The latest update, as of September 9, 2014, on this unilateral immigration action is that President Obama has decided to wait until November, after the mid-term elections, to move forward. President Obama has blamed the attention given to the border crisis, where there was the massive influx of unattended illegal alien minors, for changing the political atmosphere and requiring a delay. The response from immigration groups has been a voicing of frustration, while Democrats running for office are somewhat relieved.

In an odd pairing, Republicans have equally joined in the denouncement of the delay. Though the reasoning is not for an advancement of legislation (or Executive actions) to grant various forms of amnesty to illegal aliens. Republicans are claiming that the actions of the President are a deception being enacted on the American public.

Ultimately the core question remains unanswered. Advocates of amnesty for illegal aliens are hard pressed to define the urgency of the matter that has sat unacted upon since the promises of the 2008 Obama campaign. Those supporting H1B visas (HR 2131 - SKILLS Visa Act), that will give American jobs to foreigners at a time when forecasts predict slow job growth while worker benefits will be cut, have equally joined in blaming politics, while trying to take advantage of the political strategy being employed.

The resulting message out of the White House has served to enrage the far Left and Conservatives at the same time. It has resulted in all sides feeling that they are being betrayed. That President Obama is playing politics on an issue that has passionate followers on both sides. Debra J. Saunders of SFGate.com summed it well

The summation is that everyone might just lose in the end. Without the political courage, and a public message to match, to stand by the call for unilateral change to immigration law the impression of urgency is evaporated. At the same time the justification of opposing what could be an impeachable overreach of Executive action becomes more credible. The gridlock of partisanship on the issue becomes far more entrenched, making compromise untenable for all involved. Lastly, if in fact the President takes action after mid-term elections, there is sure to be a backlash from the public in a loss of credibility in the Executive Branch and trust in Government.

Thus the answer to the question appears to be that there is no more urgency than in 2009 for immigration reform. Bi-partisan action is less desired than political one-upmanship. The needs of the Democrat Party supersede the purported benefit to the nation. All of this wrapped so thinly in political smoke and mirrors as to be the only real justification of the promise for a transparent Obama Administration.


For more information, go to:  www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com

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