A bi-partisan group of Senators announced four pillars they hope
will form the foundation for comprehensive immigration legislation.
The following day the President announced his own vision and
challenged Congress to act quickly. This issue generates
great passion and disagreement among Americans, causing deep
cultural and political divisions that have made progress
impossible. So, while these recent developments are encouraging, we
are a long way from having a bill for the President to sign into
law.
During President George W. Bush's administration, some of my
friends on the right took absolutist positions against citizenship
for those who violated American law. Some insisted
undocumented immigrants would have to return home before being
eligible for any form of legal status. They demanded a secure
border before any talk of "amnesty." This
unwillingness to compromise contributed to the failed efforts by
President Bush on immigration reform.
