Democrats' win spurs hope of immigration revamp
Tim Gaynor
Reuters
Nov 9, 2006
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Sweeping wins for Democrats in U.S. congressional elections have rekindled hopes among Latino activists of achieving a comprehensive overhaul of immigration policy that was blocked by Republicans in Congress.
Democrats swept Republicans from power in the U.S. House of Representatives in Tuesday's elections, and appeared to have taken control of the Senate, in a clear repudiation of President George W. Bush's handling of Iraq.
Pro-immigrant think tanks said the shift in power created an opening to achieve a comprehensive overhaul of immigration policy, broadly supported by Bush and the Senate in recent months, although blocked by the Republican-dominated House.
"I would say our chances in the next Congress are better than they have ever been," said Frank Sharry, the executive director of the Washington-based National Immigration Forum.
"The public is still frustrated and upset about the issue, and wants its leaders to lead," he said in a telephone interview.
Some backers of the Senate's comprehensive bill had hoped lawmakers would tackle the complex issue in a post-election session that is to start next week. But that seems unlikely given the change in control to Democrats when the new Congress is seated in January.
Some lawmakers see the issue as a way for Bush and congressional Democrats to demonstrate a new spirit of bipartisanship.
"With a new Congress, we have an opportunity to pass a tough but fair plan," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), a Massachusetts Democrat.
Public opinion is divided in the United States over what to do with an estimated 10 million to 12 million illegal immigrants living and working on the margins of U.S. society.
Bush and the Senate favored measures that increased security on the porous Mexican border and created a guest-worker program, while the House voted to build 700 miles
of wall along stretches of the U.S. Southwest.
SECURITY UPPERMOST
Immigrant-rights advocates in Phoenix said they believe Democratic gains had likely tipped the balance on Capitol Hill in favor of pushing through comprehensive legislation on immigration.
"It's early ...., but there are real grounds for optimism," said Elias Bermudez, the founder and executive director of Phoenix-based advocacy group Immigrants Without Borders.
Arizona voters overwhelmingly backed four anti-illegal immigrant ballot measures calling for tighter border security and making English the state's official language.
Analysts caution that many of the newly elected Democrats in Congress also campaigned on get-tough enforcement measures, which could temper their support for a comprehensive immigration overhaul when they reach Capitol Hill in January.
"A lot of the new Democratic intake got elected in marginal Republican districts where support for enforcement is strong," said Steven Camarota of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies think tank in Washington.
"It seems unlikely that the first thing they will do is vote for amnesty for 10 million illegal immigrants," he added.
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