The Hour of the Immigrant

The death of Osama bin Laden has given sudden momentum to the president of the United States, and Barack Obama is beginning to make use of this unexpected increase in his political capital. Eventually, there will be elections in 2012, and it is good to rally his support. Among the most important will be the Latino vote, as it was in the campaign that brought him to the presidency in 2008. It is calculated that, at the time, two of every three Hispanics supported the Democratic candidate.

It is not unusual, then, that his first big public event since the death of al-Qaida’s founder would be held in El Chamizal Park in El Paso (Texas), a key point on the border separating Mexico and the U.S. From there, surrounded by people of mestizo appearance, Obama defended immigration, remembered that his country has been a crucible of peoples and cultures, and exhorted Congress to approve an integral reform of current immigration standards. One of the fundamental parts of the new law consists of granting documentation to some 11 million immigrants currently without it.

He also plans to end the massive deportations that, although reserved for criminals, can be applied to law-abiding residents as well. According to official figures, half of the deported lack a criminal record or have committed only minor offenses.

His words were addressed to various audiences. He praised Latinos and said, “The overwhelming majority of these folks are just trying to earn a living and provide for their families.” He spoke to Americans’ wallets by suggesting that amnesty for illegal immigration would permit the Treasury to raise some $66 billion, brought out from the immigrants’ underground economy. He also directed himself to the Republicans with messages not devoid of sarcasm: “We have done all that the Republicans asked to change their support in the reform, including building a fence on the border.” He added, “Maybe they’ll ask now for a moat with alligators.”*

One of the critical points in the immigration problem is Law SB 1070, better known as the Arizona Law, by means of which this state promulgated a xenophobic policing system that, for example, permits agents to demand documentation based on the mere physical appearance of a person and to penalize them, including with deportation, if they don’t carry it.

The governor of that state signed the initiative into law in April 2010, but three months later a judge in Phoenix suspended its most controversial provisions before they could enter into force. The Court of Appeals, by petition of the [federal] government, confirmed the judge’s decision.

Although Obama criticized it from the beginning, the law managed to hurt his popularity among Latinos, which fell from 69 percent to 57 percent. Immigrants, in general, and Hispanics, in particular, oppose the law. But 60 percent of Americans support it.

This is the moment in which Obama is striving to replace the current patchwork with a coherent, generous, and extensive immigration law. It will not be easy for him to achieve, because the Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives. But the administration has two allies. On the one hand, there’s the sudden injection of popularity provided by the operation against bin Laden. And on the other, the fact that, according to the Pew Research Center, seven of every 10 citizens support a system that permits the undocumented to be regularized and incorporated into normal, everyday life.

Translator's Note: El Tiempo’s translation is a loose paraphrase of President Obama’s remarks.