Immigration Overhaul Happening Anytime Soon?

Now that the issue of health care reform has somewhat subsided, more proposals on the government agenda are gaining attention; one of them is the topic of immigration. The Obama administration has recently decided to push for measures giving legal status to illegal immigrants in the United States early next year. Advocates plan to push for legislation that will revise and make adjustments to the immigration system as stated by Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary. This is the administration’s answer to criticism about the detainment of immigration violators, and its hopes to create a “truly civil detention system.”

In order to do so, Napolitano says that the administration will argue for a plan “enacting tougher enforcement laws against illegal immigrants and the people who hire them, and streamlining the system for legal immigration.” However, the question rises as to whether or not Obama can keep his promise of immigration reform while focusing on other proposals that crowd the agenda; there is also the difficulty of passing legislation through the House and Senate. Based on the countless committees in the House, as well as other “checkpoints” in the Senate, advocates fear that there may not be enough time for the Obama administration to undertake immigration policy reform; policy windows may open, but they only remain open for a short period of time.

Despite these doubts, Napolitano assures that Congress should be ready for the immigration overhaul, and adds, “We will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows.” She and other advocacy groups hope that gathering enough support from other interest groups will be enough for Congress to concentrate on immigration reform.