(That’s “comprehensive immigration reform,” for those of you who haven’t completed reeducation yet.) The president’s radio address this weekend was on immigration again, and the stated goals of “comprehensive immigration reform” seem to keep multiplying. Early in 2001, the goals were refreshingly honest: amnesty and increased immigration. After 9/11, it became amnesty, increased immigration, and more border enforcement. More recently, when even that wasn’t enough for a skeptical public, the goals grew again to include amnesty, increased immigration, more border enforcement, and cracking down on employers. Finally, in this radio address, there are five “clear objectives” — amnesty, increased immigration, more border enforcement, cracking down on employers, and assimilation. Note what all of these stages have in common.
It was encouraging, though, to see that the president was acknowledging the value of the melting pot and noting how Americans are bound together by “la capacidad de hablar y leer el idioma ingles.” Oops, wrong version!