Immigration Reform is Possible the Farm Bill Shows How – Common Dreams
It seems that the anticipated humanitarian crisis of thousands of migrants streaming across the border, which many predicted with the end of the Title 42 program, has been avoided.
Still, something like 12 million undocumented people currently live in the United States, and we are probably just one migrant caravan away from having scores of families forced to live in squalor in border cities and perhaps being subject to violence at the hands of border agents.
Making matters worse, no recently proposed legislation concerning immigration has much chance of becoming law.
It's the design of the Farm Bill that we should focus on. Its form, not its content.
For instance, the 2021 US Citizenship Act, which Biden championed early in his term and that would have created a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, ran aground quickly last term due to GOP opposition. Now, Republicans have their own version of revamping our immigration system with the Secure the Border Act. This bill, which calls for hiring more border agents, as well as championing some Trump-era initiatives like building a physical border wall, has no path out of the Democrat-controlled Senate.
So, is there any hope of getting beyond our seemingly never-ending policy quagmire that is immigration reform?
The Farm Bill is where our leaders should turn.
The point is not to add some provision about immigration to this omnibus piece of legislation that governs most facets of our agricultural system.
Instead, it's the design of the Farm Bill that we should focus on. Its form, not its content.
By form, what's key is that the Farm Bill comes up for debate every five years. The expiration date is even written into the law.
The legislations design poses quite the task, as the Farm Bill sets the terms for most of the critical elements of the U.S. food system, from commodity prices and conservation policy to international trade and farm credit.
But that's the bill's geniuswith such serious issues to debate, it makes sense to revisit them every now and again. And here's the best partif one party misses something, then they can try again next time.
That much was behind the bill's creation. Before becoming law in 1933, for most of the 1920s, politicians fought over how to address the economic crisis ravaging farmers. While farmers did well during World War I, they struggled once the conflict was over. In response, some legislators wanted protectionist policies, others believed promoting exports was the answer. They couldn't find middle ground and our nations food producers suffered for years.
So, what happened? When FDR became president, farmer groups and politicians created an omnibus billthat contained sections dealing with the issues that were the subject of debate years before and that required periodic renewal. The bill itself has come to include new sections from time to time, such as rural development and food assistance in the 1970s.
Agriculture aside, doesn't such a way of addressing complicated policy matters, such as migration, make sense?
Think about itwho could have foretold when early in Biden's term, when he sent Vice President Kamala Harris to Central America to search out ways to keep people from fleeing poverty, that Cubans and Venezuelans would eventually join the exodus of people? Or that Russia would invade Ukraine, sending millions seeking safe haven abroad?
Furthermore, historically, we see that migrants come to the U.S. in waves. Such moments are related to all kinds of unexpected events, including wars, famines, and natural disasters.
Comprehensive immigration reform has evaded our lawmakers for decades. So, it would make sense to take some of the pressure off of them and at least create a framework that they can work with.
There is no crystal ball that we can peer into and see where in the works some disaster will take place. The best we can do as a country is to craft a bill that provides parameters within which our legislators can debate every five years or so. Furthermore, all the major issues currently raging now could be foundborder security, temporary protected status for people who are temporarily displaced, visas for students and workers, and so on.
A majority of Americans agree that something has to be done about immigration. Our parties also agreethis much is seen in how regularly their policy proposals come up in the news.
So, why not give them a space to hash out their differences, not as a one-shot game, but something they can come back to every now and again?
Let's also not forget the migrants in this discussion. Now we are talking about Title 42 and Venezuelans, but in a year or two, it will be some other policy and another group of people. What is certain is that for quite some time, people will want to come to the US to work and live.
Comprehensive immigration reform has evaded our lawmakers for decades. So, it would make sense to take some of the pressure off of them and at least create a framework that they can work with. Both parties could also take credit for promoting it. And who knows, maybe they will compromise once in a while. They do so already with Farm Bill. Maybe the same could happen with immigration.
Go here to read the rest:
Immigration Reform is Possible the Farm Bill Shows How - Common Dreams
- Valuing workers more, 'screaming about immigration reform' are ways to address senior living labor challenges - McKnight's Senior Living - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- Immigration reform increasingly urgent to addressing LTC workforce crisis: experts - McKnight's Long-Term Care News - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- Rep. Veronica Escobar Approaches Immigration Reform With Hope, Promise, and Unity - AOL - March 28th, 2024 [March 28th, 2024]
- WILLIAMS: Secure Our Borders First Before Immigration Reform - NH Journal - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- Hollywood actress Diane Guerrero advocates for immigration reform - The Daily Titan - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- Immigration Parole: The Executive Branch's Shadow Immigration System | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- FAIR: While Congress Dithers, February Border Encounter Numbers Soar | FAIRUS.org - Federation for American Immigration Reform - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- Laken Riley's father asks Senate to take action, pass immigration reform - Online Athens - March 26th, 2024 [March 26th, 2024]
- BuildForce Canada report gives associations a 'leg to stand on' for immigration reform - Daily Commercial News - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- Our view: Immigration reform don't bet on it - East Oregonian - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- How does immigration impact the U.S. economy? - The Fulcrum - March 16th, 2024 [March 16th, 2024]
- Caravans aiming to bring attention to immigration reform arrive in Sacramento - CBS News - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- Fiasco of Linking Immigration Reform and Foreign Aid Signals Need for Leadership in the Congress - The New York Sun - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- Letters to the Editor: Immigration reform is hard, but we have to keep working at it - The Daily Telegram - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- Is there a way forward on immigration reform? Editorial Board Roundtable - cleveland.com - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- After leading trip to southern border, Central Washington's Dan Newhouse says immigration reform can't wait - The Spokesman Review - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- Immigration reform for Dreamers: The roulette game with DACA needs to end - The Ledger - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- For Biden and Democrats, immigration reform is a wicked policy problem - Berkshire Eagle - February 23rd, 2024 [February 23rd, 2024]
- When It Comes to Immigration Reform, Don't Forget Black Voters - Newsweek - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Nine US Governors Call for Action on Immigration Reform - Voice of America - VOA News - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Video: Opinion | Things Fall Apart: How the Middle Ground on Immigration Collapsed - The New York Times - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Johnson: Now is not the time for comprehensive immigration reform - The Hill - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform keeps millions of mixed-status families together - FWD.us - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Sherrill Pushes for Improved Border Security and Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Urges House Speaker to Take ... - Mikie Sherrill - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Freind: Tear down wall between parties and pass immigration reform - The Delaware County Daily Times - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Denver's mayor in Washington, DC to push for immigration reform - CBS Colardo - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- U.S. Supreme Court says Texas can't block federal agents from the border - The Texas Tribune - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Opponents of France's immigration reform protest law that 'disfigures the Republic' - RFI English - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Immigration reform strikes out with House Republicans - The Week - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Opinion | Making Changes to U.S. Immigration Policy - The New York Times - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Growing Michigan Together's report highlights licensing and immigration reform - Mackinac Center for Public Policy - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- House Republicans talk up "the border," but ignore immigration reform. - Palm Beach Post - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Johnston, Bennet and Hickenlooper urge immigration reform | Colorado In DC - coloradopolitics.com - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Public Safety Committee Hearing Reviews Immigration Reform Bill - iHeart - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Polis, 8 other Dem governors call on Biden, Congress to act on immigration - RealVail - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Vocal advocate for immigration reform Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Houma-Thibodaux dies unexpectedly at 63 - The Dialog - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Senators Tell House Republicans To Take It or Leave It on Immigration Reform and Border Security - The New York Sun - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Congress' fight over immigration reform could last a while - Fox News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Outgoing Silicon Valley lawmaker says big tech needs immigration reform - POLITICO - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Immigration Reform: An Awakening Or Political Reality? - InsiderNJ - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gavin Newsom Wants Fox News Viewers to Hear Him Out - The New York Times - November 28th, 2023 [November 28th, 2023]
- It will take a Republican to solve America's immigration issues ... - Baltimore Sun - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- Why pairing border security in place of aid for Ukraine isn't so easy - KGUN 9 Tucson News - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- To Beat Trump, Nikki Haley Is Trying to Speak to All Sides of a ... - The New York Times - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- Shutdown Averted but Congress Leaves the Border in Chaos ... - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 26th, 2023 [November 26th, 2023]
- ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Immigration Reform Promotes a Healthy ... - Kevin Cramer - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Will Border Security Issues Force Congress To Take Action On ... - AgFax - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- French Senate Toughens Immigration Bill The European Conservative - The European Conservative - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- UPDATE: UC needs more time to study potential hiring of ... - EdSource - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Biden Admin. Admits Its 'Asylum Officer Rule' Will Further Impoverish ... - Immigration Blog - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- FAIR: Congress Prepares to Fund the Border Crisis Into 2024 While ... - PR Newswire - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- OPINION: To solve teacher shortages, lets open pathways for ... - The Hechinger Report - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Hochul says NY will not give state work permits to migrants: 'I'm ... - New York Daily News - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- FBI Director Wray says border gotaways a source of 'great concern' for agency - Yahoo News - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- John Lewis: Courage, Activism, and the Pursuit of Equality - InDepthNH.org - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to vote in favor of stopgap funding bill to ... - The Daily Gazette - November 17th, 2023 [November 17th, 2023]
- Vasquez unveils package of border security and immigration reform ... - Santa Fe New Mexican - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Utah advocacy group rallies for immigration reform - KSL.com - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Israel war, border security are top 2 threats facing the US - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- The History of the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall | TIME - TIME - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Migrant crisis stresses services in South Coast - The New Bedford Light - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Letters editor must have fun | Letters to the Editor | chronicleonline.com - Citrus County Chronicle - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Capito says additional funding on immigration issues needs to focus ... - West Virginia MetroNews - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Sisters of Charity, BVM Celebrates 190 Years From Dublin to ... - Global Sisters Report - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Americans Concerned Mideast Terrorism Could Spill into the United ... - Immigration Blog - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Why right-wingers think a uniparty controls Congress - Vox.com - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Capito: Election of New House Speaker 'Welcome News' - Wheeling Intelligencer - November 1st, 2023 [November 1st, 2023]
- Examining The State of Immigration Reform and the Nation's Asylum ... - InsiderNJ - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Opinion | The Cost of Inaction on Immigration - The New York Times - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Why Can't We Stop Unauthorized Immigration? Because It Works. - The New York Times - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Confessions of a birthright citizen - Wisconsin Examiner - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Schumer, Jeffries are laying low on the migrant crisis. Here's why. - POLITICO - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Op-ed: Biden should give immigrants the dignity of a work permit - Chicago Tribune - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Growing Haitian immigrant community in Springfield faces ... - Dayton Daily News - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Republicans should impeach the migrant crisis, not the president - The Michigan Daily - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- LEE HAMILTON: Why even popular legislation gets hung up in ... - Crow River Media - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Reps. Glenn 'GT' Thompson and Dan Meuser voted to keep ... - Lock Haven Express - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Bermuda's position as financial hub won't be unduly impaired by tax ... - Reinsurance News - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- NYT: Trump, DeSantis Have 'Unrealistic Immigration Proposals' - Immigration Blog - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
- Trial over key Biden immigration policy underway in Texas - Courthouse News Service - August 26th, 2023 [August 26th, 2023]