Time to Fix the Broken Immigration System

Arizona’s stringent new immigration law has fanned the flames of controversy across the country. The extreme response from all sides demonstrates the need for a long term immigration solution. Sustainable immigration reform needs to address granting undocumented people the opportunity to obtain legal status; lawful jobs for immigrants; allowing families to remain together; adequate visas to meet the needs of American families, businesses and communities; and preserve due process and equal protection while maintaining national security.

Ignoring our immigration crisis is missing an opportunity to rebuild the U.S. economy. A January 2010 study by Dr. Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda, conducted for the Immigration Policy Center, estimates that legalizing undocumented immigrants and creating more flexibility for legal immigration in the future would add at least $1.5 trillion in cumulative U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over 10 years. For the first 3 years higher personal income would increase consumer spending, supporting an additional 750,000 to 900,000 jobs in the United States. The increase in jobs would increase tax revenues of $4.5 to $5.4 billion.

Mark McKinnon, senior advisor to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and former President George W. Bush stated,” Immigration is the most explosive issue I’ve seen in my political career.” McKinnon supports giving undocumented people an opportunity to obtain legal status.

Democratic majority leader, Senator Harry Reid, has vowed to bring an immigration bill to the Senate floor this year. There is considerable division on immigration reform and little hope of anything passing before midterm elections. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that he would not support acting on immigration this year.

Mexico has issued a warning to its citizens living or visiting in Arizona that they could be harassed and questioned without cause due to the new immigration law and should contact the Mexican consulate if detained. Some supporters of immigration reform are calling for a complete boycott of the state of Arizona until this is resolved.

Can we afford to wait to fix our broken immigration system? If data proves that the U.S. can use immigration to boost the economy, why is it taking so long to implement? In addition to partisan politics, what else stands in the way of a meaningful debate on immigration reform? How can we maintain national security while respecting individual human rights for all?