STEP OUT Migration

Will the immigration issue solve itself? If so, will it be before or after we run out of cliches to talk about the issue?

Calvin Coolidge famously stated that "if you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will fall into the ditch before they reach you."  With the immigration bill down for the count, Robert Dunn raises the intriguing possibility that our current set of problems are likely to fade with Mexico's declining birth rate.  See here.  Of course, demographic change in Mexico could raise an entirely new set of problems -- with every rose a thorn, you know -- or is it, better the enemy you know than the enemy you don't know -- or perhaps be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.  Time will tell.       

the fate of immigration reform

Senator Reid pulled the immigration bill from the Senate floor after a second cloture vote failed (cloture is a procedural motion that limits the number of additional hours of debate on a bill before it comes to a vote).  The vote need 60 supporters, but only 45 Senators voted for the motion.  Here's what Senator Reid has to say about it.  While there was lots of blaming on both sides of the aisle, both sides suggested that it might be possible to craft a deal to return the issue to the Senate floor in coming weeks.

Meanwhile on the House side, Democratic leadership is expected to meet today to discuss their next steps on immigration.  They have consistently said that the Senate needed to move first, but probably expected a Senate vote on the issue rather than a stalemate.

I know from my days working on immigration reform legislation on the Hill (I worked as the legal director of Human Rights First when the 1996 immigration legislation was in Congress), these are harrowing times for all involved; countless people have been spending long hours in an effort to improve our immigration system.  But all the effort proved fruitless in developing a consensus.  Is it possible that, as Adam Smith said of 18th century England's Corn Laws, that "though not the best in itself, [our current law] is the best which the interests, prejudices, and temper of the times admit of"?  (Thanks to Jack for the Adam Smith quote).

sunsetting the guest worker program

All eyes are on the Senate as it debates the immigration bill . . .  Just before midnight last night an amendment to sunset the guest worker program after 5 years passed the Senate by one vote.  The vote could jeopardize the immigration bill going forward.  FYI, Clinton and Obama voted for the amendment; McCain and Brownback voted against it.