Photo illustration for June Noise article on SB 1070.

theoutswithellenjo.blogspot.com/2010/05/being-mexican-is-...

I used Graela's fine photo of Ms Liberty's face. Thanks for the Creative Commons license.

Some scenes that inspired me , Put together as a celebration of the equinox. Some are scenes and some, testimony to the human spirit.

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Media:

* "Stephen Miller Is an Immigration Hypocrite. I Know Because I’m His Uncle," by David S. Glosser, Politico Magazine, August 13, 2018

* Stephen Miller's uncle: Family were refugees," CNN, August 14, 2018

* "Trump Administration Angel of Darkness Stephen Miller Allegedly Wanted to Bomb Migrant Boats: Report," by Bess Levin, Vanity Fair, June 27, 2023

Stable Diffusion

NOTE: Before commenting, please read most or all of the existing comments & articles - the quality of discussion here is high, & more of the same is welcome, as are anyone's remarks about how this post supported or changed his or her feelings & opinions.

NOTE: Comments from right-wing ignoramuses, berserkers & Ann Coulter impersonators will be deleted without being read by me, so no sane visitor needs to waste time trying to address slobbering drivel. Moreover, berserkers will be blocked.

---------------

INTRODUCTION: On this date in 2003 the temperature was 120˚ F., windspeed 35MPH, & the humidity zero. In other words, it was - & often is - a blast furnace in which desperately poor people seeking the lowest wage jobs in America die.

Some good pictures of this desert may be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/cmrowell/tags/anzaborrego/

Opponents of President Trump's immigration and refugee policies demonstrate outside an ICE Processing Center in Aurora Colorado.

This man in a Captain America costume was among the crowd at World Refugee Day In Denver.

Families being split up was a concern for many who attended a Boulder, Co rally to support DACA (Deferred Action On Childhood Arrivals).

A cartoon version of President Trump is portrayed on this sign held by this man at a Denver demonstration on immigration policy.

"MI Casa Es Su Casa" reads a sign held by this man at a Denver protest against President Trump's immigration policies.

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Is it the number 45 or is it a swastika on this sign held by this man at a Denver protest against President Trump's immigration policies?

there's a connection.... see here.

otherwise, the sign is old news.

Opponents of President Trump's immigration policies listen to speakers at a rally in Denver.

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Donia Hanaei, an Iranian-American college student with Colorado Stands With Immigrants, speaks at a protest against the immigration policies of President Trump.

On 21 June 2015, a crowd of 5,000 people marched onto the German parliament in Berlin, protesting European immigration policy. Inspired by the Centre for Political Beauty's art project “The Dead Are Coming”, attendants brought flowers and self made wooden crosses and turned the lawn in front of the Reichstag into a symbolic graveyard. In the end, more than a hundred hand dug graves served to commemorate the thousands of anonymous refugees who die each year trying to cross the border into Europe.

The epitaph reads “borders kill” / “kill borders”.

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

Steve Case, Engine Advocacy, Fwd.US, Partnership for a New American Economy, and the Austin Technology Council welcome Becky Tallent to discuss technology and immigration.

Steve Case - www.revolution.com/

Becky Tallent - bipartisanpolicy.org/news/press-releases/2013/12/bipartis...

Mike McGeary - engine.is/

Jeremy Robbins - www.renewoureconomy.org/

Austin Technology Council - austintechnologycouncil.org/

Fwd.Us - www.fwd.us/

FreeFlow Research - www.freeflowresearch.org/

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

(110824RREI2775) Miguel Ramirez, 10, of Arlington. About 250 community, labor and religious activists rallied in Northern Virginia outside the george Mason University Law School building where the ICE Secure Communities board was meeting. The protesters denounced the effects of "secure communities" in their communities, making them less safe, not more. They then entered the hearing to testify before they walked out of that hearing in protest. Arlington VA Aug. 24, 2011 © Rick Reinhard 2011

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered a silent protest inside the main hall at Grand Central Station on December 19, 2019 holding CLOSE THE CAMPS/ABOLISH ICE banners, photographs of the children who have died in ICE custody, and photographs of the detention camps to object to Border Patrol and ICE treatment of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on July 8, 2021 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

(110824RREI2773) (l-r) Miguel Ramirez, 10, and his siter Diana, 18. About 250 community, labor and religious activists rallied in Northern Virginia outside the george Mason University Law School building where the ICE Secure Communities board was meeting. The protesters denounced the effects of "secure communities" in their communities, making them less safe, not more. They then entered the hearing to testify before they walked out of that hearing in protest. Arlington VA Aug. 24, 2011 © Rick Reinhard 2011

A Discussion on Immigration Policy with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

Full Video:

www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/11/Napolitano.html

The pressing need for immigration reform cannot be met by “a single initiative or regulation,” said Center for American Progress CEO and President John Podesta at an event today headlined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The need for a comprehensive reform of current immigration policies is one that is apparent to law enforcement officials, business and labor leaders, and lawmakers at every level. It is a need Napolitano emphasized as being critical, but also attainable.

The United States’ current national immigration policy is “an affront to every law-abiding citizen and every company that plays by the rules,” said Napolitano. Yet the very laws that are supposed to regulate immigration policy are part of the reason law enforcement agencies are struggling to control immigration. There is a dearth of effectual laws, and there are practical technological problems that are undermining our ability to solve the problem of uncontrolled migration across our borders. In response to the oft-utilized criticism that the government simply does not want to enforce immigration laws, Napolitano stressed that, “DHS needs reform to do our job of enforcing the law.”

Now is the time for such reform. The flow of undocumented persons into the United States has declined by half since the failed initiative of 2007. This is largely a response to recent economic conditions, but it is also due to the efforts of agencies such as DHS that are not waiting idly for reform. The federal government has strengthened security on the southwest border and committed more resources to the area in the wake of increasing violence related to drug cartels and human-smuggling outfits. Napolitano cited these facts as the most powerful impetus for reform. “We have replaced all policies which merely looked tough with those that are effective,” she said.

Advances in enforcement measures are needed, but such advances on their own will never be enough to correct immigration practices. Any effort made toward citizenship status for those aliens already living in the United States will have to require those people to come out of the shadows and enter a law-abiding society. The Obama administration’s stance has consistently held that holding U. S. citizenship carries as many responsibilities as it does rights. Napolitano’s view is that those without status will have to come forward to register, pay a fine, pay taxes, submit to a criminal background check, and begin learning English.

True reform will also have to address the strain placed on families with partial citizenship status. Napolitano said “No one should have to wait in line for years” to reunite with their families. This especially true for those members of the U.S. Armed Services who have taken their oath of enlistment before their oath of citizenship.

The backdrop to immigration reform—and possibly the largest obstacle—is the need for congressional action. Napolitano believes that every member of Congress recognizes the need for immigration reform, but some are skeptical about the chances of legitimate reform occurring at a time when Congress is consumed with health care reform, upcoming environmental legislation, and continuing joblessness.

Napolitano reiterated that immigration reform simply cannot occur in piecemeal fashion. A comprehensive reassessment of worksite enforcement laws and criminal laws is the only viable prospect for solving immigration in the long term. “If you really want to deal with immigration,” she said, “it is best to take up the whole problem.” She also believes that just as the administration is confronting multiple problems at once, it is not beyond Congress’s capacity to multitask, that “[Congress] too can focus on many issues simultaneously.”

The DHS and other law enforcement agencies are doing all they can to tackle illegal immigration. Yet enforcement alone, however, will not end the problem. There are critical measures that must be passed by Congress in order to solve the present immigration problem and secure the long-term security and solvency of American civil society. Undaunted, Napolitano concluded simply by saying, “We can fix this.”

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on February 25, 2021 to resume their Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on January 26, 2023 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. The vigil also highlighted Rep. Malliotakis' anti-immigration policies, which adversely affect many people who live in her district. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise And Resist gathered a silent protest inside The Oculus at the World Trade Center, on January 6, 2020 holding protest signs, a banner reading "U.S. Immigration Policy Is A Crime", photographs of the children who have died in ICE custody, and photographs of the detention camps to object to Border Patrol and ICE treatment of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, calling on the Trump administration to immediately process all asylum seekers. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on February 25, 2021 to resume their Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on February 25, 2021 to resume their Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on January 26, 2023 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 8, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on July 8, 2021 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on January 26, 2023 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Pangea World Theater

Immigration advocates and allies gathered at Battery Park on October 26, 2019 to launch an 18-day march to Washington, D.C. as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and allies begun a 230 miles walk to continue building national support and awareness. The walk is scheduled to arrive the day the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Trump’s unlawful termination of the DACA policy. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered on July 8, 2021 at the main hall in Grand Central Station for a protest demanding the Biden administration to permanently end using Title 42 exclusions to detain and deport refugees, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on February 25, 2021 to resume their Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)

Members of the activist group Rise and Resist gathered at the plaza outside the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on April 22, 2021 to continue their weekly Immigration Vigils demanding that the Biden administration permanently stop detaining and deporting immigrants, to dismantle CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and to create a path to citizenship for all. (Photo by Erik McGregor)