The more we hear, the less we understand what is really happening with CIR. It’s like a game of Russian roulette.
There is still no firm word on when comprehensive immigration reform will be dealt with, if ever. It seems that lately there has been a merry-go-round of talks, finger pointing and interesting combinations of promises being made or not being made as the case may be. If that has you confused, join the millions of other Americans who are in the same boat and wondering what on earth is really going on.
It seems that what may be going on behind the scenes is that comprehensive immigration reform is once again, and likely always was in the first place, a political football. This observation comes from remarks made by the senator from Arizona who had engaged the president in a conversation about the pressing necessity to secure the border.
Evidently the conversation was one-on-one with Obama who indicated to Senator Kyl that if their border was secure then there would be no reason for Arizona to support comprehensive immigration reform. Now that bears repeating for its impact alone: if their border was secure then there would be no reason for Arizona to support CIR. If you’re sitting there in stunned silence pondering that remark, you’re in good company.
What that comment reveals is that the administration is quietly and not so subtly holding CIR hostage, meaning there likely won’t be a move to secure the border unless it happens to be combined with the comprehensive immigration reform package. This is just a little like being held hostage.
Will the administration admit this kind of exchange took place? Likely not. Why would they, as it certainly puts them in a bad light. What will happen next? Well, since there seems to be a situation going on where one thing (the secure border) is apparently tied to whether or not comprehensive immigration reform will be passed, one might rightfully expect to see everything put on “stall.” At that point, one has to start asking some tough questions.
For instance, will immigration reform “ever” get passed? Why does it need to be tied to border security? Whatever happened to the freedom to express an opinion and have that respected? Why is the administration playing politics with something so very vital to the very fabric of this nation? Whatever happened to legislation being passed for the good of the “people” and not the good of the politicians? And finally, who can we believe anymore about anything? Dismal state of affairs, isn’t it?
Sally Odell – Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, PA is an immigration lawyer in Miami with immigration law offices in Orlando and Miami Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.rifkinandfoxisicoff.com.
