Well, it’s the first full week of February, and members of Congress are returning to The Hill from their week off, with the threat of yet another government shutdown looming, following the decision to pass a short-term funding extension called a “Continuing Resolution” just three weeks ago.
Republicans are arriving back from a trip to The Greenbrier Resort is White Sulphur Springs, WV in which they spent the better part of a week determining their legislative priorities for the year. As a native-born West Virginian, I can tell you that this retreat perfectly encapsulates the disconnect of Republicans’ “Joe-Everyman” rural-base image, and the ludicrous amount of wealth possessed by most of their members. If you’ve never been to see The Greenbrier Resort, I am not lying when I say that guests are required to done “black-tie” level attire to visit the dining hall for lunch.
Regardless, Congressional members on both sides of the isle, some attempting to work bi-partisanly, are staring down the barrel of yet another end-passe showdown over two key issues. Republicans desire stipulations to immigration (such as the end to the Visa “lottery” and chain migration of family members) as well as increased funding for the catch-all of “border-security” to the tune of about $25 Billion. Depending on whom you ask, some of these plans include funding appropriations for President Trump’s pipe-dream of a border wall (for which Mexico is, as expected, NOT going to pay).
Democrats have, on the other hand, decided to draw their line in the sand at protections for some 800,000 immigrants who reside in this country illegally after having been brought to the States sometime in their childhood, aka “Dreamers”. Under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, these young people are granted a type of temporary visa status in exchange for their registration within a Federal monitoring system and a clean criminal record.
While these individuals are certainly deserving of sympathy, bearing very little blame for their presence in the US having been brought here while they were still young; it remains a no-less wasted opportunity by Democrats to exercise what little leverage they do have.
Most of the country’s residents (some polls are estimated at as high as 87%) are in favor of protections for DACA recipients. This means that Republicans, as the controllers of all three branches of government, could have still borne the brunt of blame for the lack of action on this program, while Democrats could have argued for concessions on issues that their voting constituents care about: universal healthcare, wealth inequality, rising student-loan debt, etc.
Nonetheless, this is the issue upon which Democrats have chosen to make their stand. And for the life of me, I cannot understand why. Again, while these young adults garner sympathy, there are a portion of them that are somewhat disingenuous in their claims that they are as American as actual citizens. One such “Dreamer” being interviewed recently on a major news network explained that she was brought to the US by her parents when she was nearly 14. … 14! For those keeping track, you would have been ready to start high-school by this point. Would you still claim that you would know nothing of the place and culture in which you spent the first 14 years of your life? I found the woman’s argument altogether unconvincing. It is, indeed, understandable that you have made a life for yourself in America, that you have been law-abiding, and you dream (no pun intended) of living out your days under a Star-Spangled Banner.
This desire, however, does not change the fact that the rules were not followed. The blame for this should not be placed, as it currently appears, on the United States’ government. The rules and pathways for immigration and citizenship status have long been established. If anyone is to blame, it is the parents of the Dreamers who, assuredly knowing the illegality of their actions, chose to break the law, the price of which is currently being paid by their children. As someone with a spouse from another country, I can attest to the intricacies and red-tape of the immigration process. But this experience is all the more reason that Democrats should heed these words: there are more deserving topics with which to assert your fledgling, minority-controlling leverage.
Representing a group of individuals that cannot vote, however noble, is a wasted effort that plays right into Republican’s hands. Democrats can now be (and are being) painted as obstructionists who chose to halt payments to military families to protect a group of illegal immigrants (despite Dem’s effort to introduce a separate bill that would do exactly that). Why not argue instead for increased family leave, a fix to our broken health-care system, or even the much needed infrastructure spending on America’s dilapidated roads and bridges (the last of which can at least be celebrated as having some bi-partisan support)?
Instead, Democrats are going to the mats over an issue that very well could have been resolved without too much argument on their parts, as President Trump has already publicly waded into the waters of commenting how he “loves the Dreamers” and protecting them should be a legislation borne of “love”.
Nevertheless, Americans are left to look on as we begin the final days of the three weeks of time (bought by a group who saw fit to give themselves 1/3 of that time off for vacation), before we see the gears of government, once again, grind to a halt. In return for the often seen (but no less soul-crushing to watch) spineless caving of Democrats, Mitch McConnell has promised a “floor-debate” on the Senate regarding immigration. A promise on which he “intends to keep his word”, despite the fact that Republicans simply saying “no” to all of the Democrat’s demands could technically be called a debate (I have no doubt this will be similar to the actual occurrence this Thursday).
Regardless of the concessions Democrats may receive for their acquiescence on throwing even more money at our immigration enforcement, it will remain, the wrong focus. Dreamers should be protected, yes, but not at the cost of the rest of America’s actual citizenry.
jaycockblog 