The Hill (Op-Ed)
By Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
September 28, 2015
On
Thursday, Pope Francis humbly exhorted a Joint Session of the U.S.
Congress to view immigrants “as persons, seeing their faces and
listening to their stories, trying
to respond … in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal.” He
challenged the Congress to apply Christ’s Golden Rule, to address the
situation of refugees and other immigrants “with the same passion and
compassion with which we want to be treated.”
Sitting
behind him, visibly moved at various points, was Speaker of the House
John Boehner (R-Ohio), a man shaped by his own Catholic faith, who has
spoken repeatedly
of his own convictions that a dysfunctional immigration system needed
to be reformed, but who has not been able to achieve significant
changes. As Boehner met with the pontiff just before his address, I
wonder if Pope Francis pastorally but specifically challenged
the Speaker to demonstrate courageous leadership in addressing
immigration policy. I wonder if the Speaker confessed to the global
leader of his Church what the rest of the nation learned this morning:
that he will resign as Speaker of the House in just over
a month.
As
an evangelical Christian, I both share many essential biblical beliefs
with Pope Francis and have some important theological differences. As a
conservative, my views
often align with those of Speaker Boehner, but I’ve also occasionally
been frustrated by his leadership.
One
significant frustration with Boehner’s tenure has been the failure to
move forward on immigration reform. In 2013, the Senate came together on
a bipartisan basis to
pass a broad immigration reform. The bill combined dramatic
improvements to border security and interior enforcement with
adjustments to a business-stifling visa system and an earned
legalization process for those undocumented immigrants willing to come
forward,
pay a fine, and fully comply with a stringent set of requirements over a
decade-long probationary period. Both sides made compromises, and no
one was completely happy with the legislation, but it would have been an
enormous improvement to the status quo.
Both
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a politically diverse
coalition of evangelical leaders praised the effort, which we affirmed
aligned with biblical values
of respect for the rule of law, family unity, and compassion. Leaders
from various other faith traditions voiced support as well, as did both
the largest labor unions in the country and the business interests
represented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A
Quinnipiac University poll at the time showed that, by a two-to-one
margin, Americans supported the bipartisan Senate bill, including
majorities of Republicans and Democrats, Catholics and evangelicals, and
all ethnic groups surveyed.
After
the Senate bill passed, the nation waited. At various points over the
next year, we heard that the House would act—maybe on the Senate bill,
maybe on their own version
of reform, with the various elements broken into separate bills. We
prayed and pleaded for something, especially those of us who know
personally the harm done by a long-neglected immigration system that is
dividing families, stifling our economy, and eroding
the rule of law.
Behind
the scenes, I and others who met with legislators found that a bill or
bills similar to the Senate’s proposal had the support of almost all
Democrats and of a larger
than publicly reported minority of Republicans in the House. If
legislators were telling us the truth behind the scenes—not necessarily a
great presumption from politicians—there were almost certainly enough
votes to pass legislation along the lines of the
bipartisan Senate proposal in the House, had Boehner called a vote. He
did not—likely, I presume, because he lacked the support of a majority
of House Republicans, and if they were sufficiently upset by such a
move, they could have threatened his speakership.
Having
announced his resignation, I now wonder: what does the Speaker have to
lose? Before you resign, Mr. Speaker, I hope and pray that you’ll call a
vote on a bill (or,
if you prefer, bills) that would address each of the major elements
needed to reform our immigration system, consistent with the Senate’s
approach. In a nod to Pope Francis and in light of the greatest refugee
crisis our world has witnessed since World War
II, I might add in some additional support to increase resettlement of
refugees to our great nation, which still represents a beacon of hope
for these divine-image-bearers yearning for freedom and safety.
Even
if broad immigration reform is, at this moment, a bridge too far,
Republicans have an incredible opportunity to choose a conservative
leader who understands that
a better immigration process carries great potential for our nation and
leads on immigration reform.
In
a time when the rhetoric around immigration has become mean-spirited
and vitriolic under the influence of the GOP’s current presidential
frontrunner, we need a new
conversation on immigrants and immigration in Washington: one that
changes the tone and unites us, no matter where you were born.
Pope
Francis’ visit has startled the status quo in Washington. Speaker
Boehner’s announced resignation has upset the normal political currents.
Now is a time for political
courage for just and moral ends. May it be so.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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