Immigration: Take a breath

Deseret Morning News editorial
Published: Thursday, June 22, 2006 7:40 p.m. MDT
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Last September, Sen. Robert Bennett told the Deseret Morning News the Senate hoped to put immigration on the agenda by November, but the Thanksgiving recess meant the issue would be pushed back until April 2006. Everyone saw the debate coming down the track. Hispanic leaders saw it and began preparing. Anti-immigration activists knew exactly when the issue would become a public concern.

In other words, all the demonstrations and the heated rhetoric gave the impression the nation was in midcrisis, when the truth was the issue was just another item on the Senate docket.

The heated exchanges were simply part of the calendar year.

Now America's lawmakers say the issue will be tabled until next year. Meanwhile, workers will continue to work. Leaders will continue to lead. Pundits will continue to pun. And 12 million illegal aliens in the United States will continue to live their daily lives.

Yes, Congress did duck the issue. And immigration is a pressing concern. But the union won't come apart if people take time to get things right. Lawmakers are skittish about making hard choices out of fear of offending their more rabid constituents in an election year. Waiting until the ballots are in may take some heat off of them and allow them to do what must be done.

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And from where we sit, the things that must be done include security at the southern border, the deportation of criminals and the granting of work permits for illegal immigrants who contribute to the betterment of America.

Elected officials are aware of all three. And if the posturing and passions of a campaign are getting in the way of doing right by the nation, then a cooling off period seems in order. Calling "time out" is not surrender.

Illegal immigration has been a chronic problem for decades. It has only come to a head this spring because lawmakers decided to take it on. Yes, it must be dealt with — like the ills of education, fossil fuel consumption and Medicaid.

Tackling it after the elections, when people can breathe easier and think more clearly, is not the worst idea.

Getting immigration reform done right now is not the biggest concern. Getting it done right, however, is.

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