Immigration issues are at the heart at the white nationalist Bannon agenda. Have the changes helped the country or hurt?
1) There is now a partial ban in place. I don't see that this hurts us much.
2) Illegal immigration across the Mexican border is down by 78%.
3) Deportations are way down.
4) There are continuing backlogs in the immigration courts, and continuing errors in individual cases. This hasn't changed.
5) DACA is still in place.
6) ICE is not the problem with regard to law enforcement. Courts are dealing with Justice when they overstep. The largest problem is when local law enforcement oversteps in concert with Justice.
7) Gangs are being defeated. Obviously, the methods are putting fear into some communities. Justice wants states and cities to violate state and local laws. That is for the courts to decide and judge, as has always been the case. However, we should judge the effect, prosecution of gangs.
8) Drugs are not really being dealt with. This is not really an immigration issue. Folks are taking pills, often imported from China. Local and state governments are trying to act. The federal government has done little so far other than declare an emergency. Congress is now upon to bat to pass legislation. Of course, the attitudes of Sessions towards drug users doesn't help at all.
9) Immigration legislation as proposed is a non-starter. Everyone knows that. Congress can decide whether to pass much smaller efforts which are needed. Congress needs to decide whether we want needed workers or not. Changing to a point system is a long-term project. The effort to start a discussion on possible legislation cannot be seen as a negative. Choosing to have many fewer legal immigrants is a non-starter. Either nothing will happen, or some minor improvements will happen.
ONE BOTTOM LINE
Democrats need to be very careful with regard to this issue. It was a winner for Trump in 2016. Nothing has happened to hurt the Republican position. Democrats need to accept/praise the positive changes and campaign on changes that could be supported by the majority of the Senate and people.
1) There is now a partial ban in place. I don't see that this hurts us much.
2) Illegal immigration across the Mexican border is down by 78%.
3) Deportations are way down.
4) There are continuing backlogs in the immigration courts, and continuing errors in individual cases. This hasn't changed.
5) DACA is still in place.
6) ICE is not the problem with regard to law enforcement. Courts are dealing with Justice when they overstep. The largest problem is when local law enforcement oversteps in concert with Justice.
7) Gangs are being defeated. Obviously, the methods are putting fear into some communities. Justice wants states and cities to violate state and local laws. That is for the courts to decide and judge, as has always been the case. However, we should judge the effect, prosecution of gangs.
8) Drugs are not really being dealt with. This is not really an immigration issue. Folks are taking pills, often imported from China. Local and state governments are trying to act. The federal government has done little so far other than declare an emergency. Congress is now upon to bat to pass legislation. Of course, the attitudes of Sessions towards drug users doesn't help at all.
9) Immigration legislation as proposed is a non-starter. Everyone knows that. Congress can decide whether to pass much smaller efforts which are needed. Congress needs to decide whether we want needed workers or not. Changing to a point system is a long-term project. The effort to start a discussion on possible legislation cannot be seen as a negative. Choosing to have many fewer legal immigrants is a non-starter. Either nothing will happen, or some minor improvements will happen.
ONE BOTTOM LINE
Democrats need to be very careful with regard to this issue. It was a winner for Trump in 2016. Nothing has happened to hurt the Republican position. Democrats need to accept/praise the positive changes and campaign on changes that could be supported by the majority of the Senate and people.
