Disassembling Mexifornia

Immigration debate and policy is shifting under our noses

Matt Welch | June 25, 2003

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It is hard to imagine that the current climate will produce much more voluntary cooperation with law enforcement. On June 6, immigration officials reported that a whopping 13,000 of 82,000 immigrant Arabs who had voluntarily registered themselves to local authorities are now being kicked out of the country. Immigration violations have become to fighting terrorism what tax evasion and RICO laws were for busting up the mafia.

Is that such a bad thing? Only if you believe that the laws themselves are bad, and ripe for abuse by zealous prosecutors. Given the secrecy and comparative lack of due process in immigration-related proceedings, it's not hard to find reasons to worry. There is no doubt that the INS needed a drastic overhaul, and with a National Security focus, but the consequences of such rapid change are worth tracking.

Meanwhile, state and local legislatures are going in the exact opposite direction of the federal government, passing laws that would make the most pro-immigration lobbyist smile. "In recent months," the L.A. Times reported the other day, "at least 39 states have considered more than 100 bills that affect immigrants' access to driver's licenses. According to the National Immigration Law Center, 18 states have taken up proposals to make it easier for the children of illegal immigrants to pursue college educations."

It is a dynamic moment for immigration policy and politics. California may have a heated gubernatorial election in the fall. Bush, who came to political prominence as a Latino-wooing anti-Pete Wilson, has been largely silent on the issue. He'll soon be plumping for a second term, and the Golden State is shaping up to be a key battleground. Stay tuned.