Immigration from a (Genuninely) American Perspective

E.J. Dionne is more explicit in his pessimism for near-term immigration reform and, I worry, closer to the truth of the matter than Antonio Rosas-Landa:

On April 9, a front-page headline in the New York Times read: "Obama to Push Immigration Bill as One Priority." The story spoke of the president's plans "to begin addressing the country's immigration system this year." It was the sign Latino leaders badly wanted to see.

But note that word "begin." That's different from legislating anytime soon, as Obama made clear at his news conference last week. He said all the right things about the urgency of change. "We can't continue with a broken immigration system," he argued. "It's not good for anybody."

Yet his answer lacked fierce urgency. "We want to move this process," he said, and he spoke of the importance of "building confidence." And then he kicked responsibility over to Congress. "Ultimately," he said, "I don't have control of the legislative calendar."

There is much fascination with the role of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in crafting the administration's response. As a Democratic House leader, he was decidedly cautious on immigration reform (to the consternation of Latino organizations), but he has emerged recently as a supporter of action -- eventually.

He then closes with a thought that Rosas-Landa shares:

Moving us in that direction [of immigration reform] is not about doing favors for illegal immigrants. It's about strengthening the American community. Obama needs to use the time he is buying himself to make that case.