Striking a Balance
In our last Homeland Vignette with immigration attorney Courtney Manus, she mentions a word that in many ways encapsulates the immigration debate: balance.
A struggle to find balance pops up in nearly every area of the immigration discussion. At the border, it’s a question of balancing security with civil rights. When looking at enforcement, local authorities in recent years have increasingly been asked to choose between community policing efforts and assisting federal agencies with immigration enforcement.
Politicians also struggle to find balance when addressing immigration issues that have polarized the nation. Words like “amnesty” have become political lightning rods and a particular stance on what immigration reform should look like can often make politicians a target for criticism, even among members of their own party.
Rep. Jeff Flake (R – AZ) recently provided an example of this when he made headlines for his changing stance on immigration. A one-time supporter of reform that would secure the border while also providing a path to legal status, Flake now points to “political realities” that say such reform is not possible. He says border security alone must now be the primary concern. The change of heart comes as Flake prepares to run for a Senate seat in 2012.
Getting back to our conversation with Courtney Manus, her opinion is that the U.S. is doing a much better job lately of balancing national security with the desires of immigrants hoping to gain entry to the country:
Another area where balanced immigration policy is important is the economy. Workers from all over the world come to the U.S. looking for employment, but visas are in limited supply. Adding to the challenge is the fact that immigrants come with a variety of skills. Some are highly-trained with advanced degrees, while others are unskilled day laborers and the challenge comes in writing legislation that addresses both groups.
Next week in the Homeland Vignette series we’ll take a look a couple immigrants from the highly-skilled group that are struggling to make the most of their abilities. One is an engineer from Iraq now working as a hotel clerk and another is a Taiwanese woman hoping to continue her research in AIDS treatment unless she is unable to renew her visa. Check back for their stories next week.
Video edited by Dustin Karrer. Footage shot for the Homeland documentary series.
Category: Enforcement
