It Ain’t Over

Editorial / Periscope - Niall O'Dowd

It Ain’t Over

June 14, 2007

By NiallO’Dowd

THE immigration reform battle is far from over. Despite last week’s setback when the bill failed to clear a cloture motion on the Senate floor, there is still optimism that it can be passed this year. No I’m not whistling past the graveyard or trying to be too optimistic at a trying time. I’m using 25 years of experience of lobbying in Congress to make a point.

Back in the 1980s we lost the Morrison and Donnelly visa battles several times before we succeeded. In the end, both bills were also pulled from the floor several times in quick succession before they passed.

Like this bill, they were pronounced dead on arrival and widely consigned to the dustbin, only to be dramatically revived a few days later.

I had the same experience with the Gerry Adams visa to come to the U.S. in 1994 which transformed the peace process. Again those in the know pronounced that particular bid dead on numerous occasions, including on the front page of major newspapers around the world. Again, it defied conventional logic, but sheer hard work and effort by Irish America ensured that it was eventually passed by the president.

I’m not certain that is what will happen on this occasion, but I know this. I have never seen a more determined and activist Irish American lobby working on its behalf. We can draw great strength from that, as well as another stark reality which is very much in our favor.

That is, that there are enough votes in the House and Senate to pass an immigration bill this year. The major difficulty is finding a way to allow those votes to happen.

That is a lot better than trying to find votes to begin with. In other words, the majority of legislators will vote for an immigration reform package if they are allowed to get to that vote.

What has happened so far is that right wingers have introduced road blocks which have stalled the bill, but not killed it. I write this on Monday of this week. By Friday I am hopeful we may be seeing a very different scenario.

Perhaps because I have seen the political system get it right in the case of Adams and of immigration reform before, I remain very strong in my conviction that it will happen again this time.

What does not kill us makes us strong, and the fact that the immigration bill has survived severe buffeting before should indicate how resilient the notion of reform actually is.

Still, it is disheartening to say the least to see so many legislators opt for the easy out and just assail the bill to score cheap points rather than try and act constructively and reach agreement on it.

I also believe that it is has been framed poorly by much of the media. It is not an amnesty bill as much as it is a homeland protection bill.

I defy anyone to prove that it is safer for America not to know who the 12 million undocumented are, as is currently the case.

It seems a no brainer to believe that if a bill passes, and the undocumented can come out of the shadows, then the country’s security is immensely strengthened by knowing who is here within our borders.

Currently, if there is no bill, there are no plans to upgrade security at the border either by adding thousands of agents. Again, the opponents of the bill would rather score cheap points than seek a compromise that all sides can live with.

I am encouraged by the fact that President Bush has come out swinging against the bill’s opponents. And that Senators Edward Kennedy and John McCain in particular have been so steadfast in supporting it.

In the end, though, my thoughts are with the undocumented Irish who took such a heavy blow last week when the bill stalled. I don’t know a country in the world who would not be overjoyed to have such determined, hardworking and passionate people live among them.

They have faced incredible adversity in the last while, yet every time have bounced back. This time I believe will be no different — mark my words.

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