May 01, 2008

Barack Obama statement supports illegal immigration marches

Barack Obama has released a statement supporting the May Day illegal immigration marches [1]. He misleads by failing to note that the marches are designed to benefit those who are here illegally rather than legal immigrants. He's also apparently proud of having spoken at the May 1, 2006 event in Chicago; the main organizers of that event have links to the Mexican government with one even being an official with a foreign political party. That same official is a "key organizer" of this year's Chicago march [2].

Two years ago, I came home to Chicago to witness the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of citizens and immigrants united in an effort to fix our immigration system. I spoke to the marchers that day, and Senator Kennedy spoke to those marching in Washington. They said to us, "today we march and tomorrow we vote." Two years later, our immigration problems remain unresolved, and those who want change will have to vote for change in November. So today, I encourage the thousands of people who are marching and calling for change to work hard registering voters in the months to come. Your vote is your voice.

Many of those marching were citizens or legal immigrants, but many were also illegal aliens. And, all were marching to give rights to illegal aliens that they aren't entitled to.

Four-hundred thousand marchers were in Chicago that day and hundreds of thousands of others came out and stood up around the country. They were marching to put a human face on the idea of America as a country of immigrants: the notion that people can come here and pursue a better life for themselves and, most importantly, for their children, if they work hard and apply themselves.

How they come here should matter to a U.S. Senator, but Barack Obama is obviously a different kind of Senator.

Two years later, politicians remain polarized and the challenge is unresolved. On the anniversary of those marches, I again express my commitment to comprehensive immigration reform and will do everything I can to bring order and compassion to a system that is broken today. It is in our interest and true to our tradition to come together and solve this problem. And as President, I intend to lead us in that effort.

BHO could bring "order and compassion" to the system by supporting the enforcement of our current laws; his plan would lead to more illegal immigration and more problems and is the opposite of "compassionate".

[1] lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2008/05/obama-statement.html
[2] From this: "We have to put pressure on the politicians," said Jorge Mujica, a key organizer of this year's march and the original 2006 May Day march. "If everyone starts talking about immigration again after May Day, that's a success for us." Mujica is an official with Mexico's PRD Party.

Posted to Immigration2008a at May 1, 2008 12:03 PM