What They're Saying:
Commentary On The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill
"Doing Nothing … Is The Worst Possible Outcome"; This "Issue Can And Will Be Resolved"
"Inaction On Immigration Carries A Brutally High Price"
The Washington Post: "Having derailed immigration reform favored by a clear majority of Americans, the Senate may want to consider the effects of its resolute inaction. Proponents say that they have not given up. But assume, for a moment, that efforts to repair the nation's broken immigration system will not be revived for at least two years. Given current trends, that means 800,000 to 1 million additional immigrants will enter the country illegally or overstay their visas, drawn by the great magnet of the American economy to fill jobs that most Americans won't do." (Editorial, "Getting To No," The Washington Post, 6/10/07)
Los Angeles Times: "Reid's feelings may be hurt, and his skills as a negotiator are now seriously in doubt. But this is about more than face or partisan advantage. The Senate owes it to the millions of people whose futures hang on this legislation to try again. It is those futures – and the nation's – that rest on this bill." (Editorial, "Stuck On Immigration," Los Angeles Times, 6/8/07)
The New York Times: "The country cannot leave an unlawful, chaotic system to fester, with legal immigration channels clogged, families split apart, crops rotting and state and local governments dreaming up ways to punish 12 million people whose identities are unknown to the authorities, and who aren't leaving, no matter what Congress does." (Editorial, "A Failure Of Leadership," The New York Times, 6/9/07)
USA Today: "It's simply not feasible to go back two decades to start over – or to suddenly make it so difficult for illegals to work here that at least 12 million people magically self-deport, leaving restaurants, hotels and millions of small businesses with a crippling labor shortage. The critics should instead focus their efforts on a more legitimate goal: Making sure this reform includes both the means and the funding to keep millions more illegal immigrants from coming." (Editorial, "Amnesty? What Amnesty?" USA Today, 6/8/07)
"Doing Nothing Is Simply Not An Option"
The Albuquerque Journal: "…[F]or all its warts, it's hard to imagine how senators could argue the proposal is worse than the completely broken system we have. … Why should a status quo that encourages breaking the law, exploiting fugitive immigrants and leaving America vulnerable be perpetuated by continued congressional inaction? This legislation should be revived this week." (Editorial, "Revive And Pass Immigration Bill," The Albuquerque [NM] Journal, 6/10/07)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cynthia Tucker: "Though the diehard nativists denounce as 'amnesty' any proposal that offers a path to legalization to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already here, the comprehensive immigration reform bill, now stalled in Congress, had offered a practical approach. It combined tough border enforcement with a path to legalization that included penalties. It was no easy forgiveness. If we don't pass such legislation, what's the alternative?" (Editorial, "Bright Young Immigrants Deserve Break," Atlanta [GA] Journal-Constitution, 6/11/07)
The Baltimore Sun: "That the Senate's so-called grand bargain should have met this swift end is particularly tragic because doing nothing about the nation's broken immigration system is perhaps the worst possible outcome. … Figuring out how to control the borders to effectively and humanely manage the flow of immigrants is an ongoing proposition that will require constant readjustment even after legislation is enacted. First, though, this bit of hard work must get done." (Editorial, "Too Heavy A Lift," The Baltimore Sun, 6/10/07)
Boston Globe: "Twelve million illegal immigrants were living and working inside US borders before Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy presented their bipartisan immigration reform bill last month, and 12 million are here now. How can the 'amnesty' opponents in the Senate who helped derail the bill Thursday possibly call that a victory?" (Editorial, "An Amnesty For Lousy Politics," Boston Globe, 6/9/07)
The Boston Herald: "…[T]o waste this opportunity, to see the human sorrow that results – as we did not long ago in New Bedford – would be tragic. … Surely common sense demands a solution – and the sooner the better." (Editorial, "Let's Not Give Up On Immigration Bill," The Boston Herald, 6/9/07)
The Denver Post: "Lawmakers from both parties must renew their efforts for a compromise. If not, Americans could be stuck with a broken immigration system for several more years, which is unacceptable. We need a law that goes beyond fence-building and acknowledges the economic realities of our growing immigrant workforce." (Editorial, "Renew Immigration Efforts," The Denver [CO] Post, 6/8/07)
The [Greensboro, NC] News & Record: "This bill was far from perfect, but it contained important and necessary improvements in immigration policy. … This issue is worth another try." (Editorial, "Dole Helps Break Deal, But That Solves Nothing," The [Greensboro, NC] News & Record, 6/9/07)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: " …[I]mmigration reform is not a luxury; it is a necessity. To have 12 million illegal immigrants permanently living in the shadows – and who can't all realistically be deported – makes no sense as social policy. … Mr. Reid and the Senate need to go back to work on this and not quit until they are done." (Editorial, "No Quitting," Pittsburgh [PA] Post-Gazette, 6/11/07)
Rochester [NY] Democrat And Chronicle: "If Congress walks away from the bill now, chances for passage in either the short or long term become extremely problematic." (Editorial, "Deal Still Possible," Rochester [NY] Democrat And Chronicle, 6/11/07)
San Antonio Express-News: "The legislation would benefit both immigrants and citizens, giving employers an opportunity to hire much-needed workers without depressing the wages of their U.S. counterparts. 'The bill is on life support, but it is not dead,' Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said, according to the Express-News. We hope not. If it is, the result will be what neither side wants – a problem that continues to grow. And that is unacceptable." (Editorial, "Bickering Threatens Immigration Reform," San Antonio [TX] Express-News, 6/9/07)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: "…[T]here is still hope for a solution to America's illegal immigration problem, if for no other reason than because there remains one thing on which all sides agree: Doing nothing is simply not an option. For Congress to chicken out on fixing this problem would … put off solving a serious problem that is never going to get any easier and may actually get more difficult as time goes on." (Editorial, "All Is Not Lost," The San Diego [CA] Union-Tribune, 6/11/07)
"This Issue Can And Will Be Resolved"
Senate Republican Whip Trent Lott (R-MS): "The Senate has two choices on immigration reform: Do something now to curtail illegal immigration. Or do nothing, accept the status quo and hope it doesn't get worse." (Trent Lott, "Immigration Bill: Can The U.S. Senate Proposal To Curtail Illegal Immigration Be Saved?" [Jackson, MS] Clarion Ledger, 6/10/07)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): "I don't think we should give up. … We have a failing system out there. … Even if it got 25 percent better it would be better than it is today." (Dena Bunis, "Immigration Bill Off The Floor, For Now," The Orange County Register 6/8/07)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "We're inside the 10-yard line, and we've got four downs… Within a matter of weeks, this issue can and will be resolved." (James Rosen, "Graham Unfazed By Immigration Defeat," McClatchy Newspapers, 7/9/07)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ): "Everyone has their own definition [of amnesty] … I think it is a dead-end debate. … We have tried to do as many things as we can to ensure that for those that get to stay, they pay a price, and I don't think it's amnesty. For those who say, 'This bill is amnesty, we shouldn't pass it,' one of my responses is, 'OK, so do you like what we have?'" (Collin Levy, "The 'Amnesty' Canard," The Wall Street Journal, 6/9/07)
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "The status quo is de facto amnesty… So for us to do nothing and celebrate the fact that we stopped this legislation, well then those who have a better idea can give it to us. We can consider it and move forward." (Henry C. Jackson, "McCain: Time Short for Immigration Bill," The Associated Press, 6/9/07)
Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO): "Our Nation badly needs the reform. Failure is not an option." (Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO), Statement On The Vote For Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Press Release, 6/7/07)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): "We're going to get it done. … We have a road map. We know where we're going." (Jerome L. Sherman, "Specter Remains Optimistic About Immigration Overhaul," Pittsburgh [PA] Post-Gazette, 6/9/07
Commentary On The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill
"Doing Nothing … Is The Worst Possible Outcome"; This "Issue Can And Will Be Resolved"
"Inaction On Immigration Carries A Brutally High Price"
The Washington Post: "Having derailed immigration reform favored by a clear majority of Americans, the Senate may want to consider the effects of its resolute inaction. Proponents say that they have not given up. But assume, for a moment, that efforts to repair the nation's broken immigration system will not be revived for at least two years. Given current trends, that means 800,000 to 1 million additional immigrants will enter the country illegally or overstay their visas, drawn by the great magnet of the American economy to fill jobs that most Americans won't do." (Editorial, "Getting To No," The Washington Post, 6/10/07)
Los Angeles Times: "Reid's feelings may be hurt, and his skills as a negotiator are now seriously in doubt. But this is about more than face or partisan advantage. The Senate owes it to the millions of people whose futures hang on this legislation to try again. It is those futures – and the nation's – that rest on this bill." (Editorial, "Stuck On Immigration," Los Angeles Times, 6/8/07)
The New York Times: "The country cannot leave an unlawful, chaotic system to fester, with legal immigration channels clogged, families split apart, crops rotting and state and local governments dreaming up ways to punish 12 million people whose identities are unknown to the authorities, and who aren't leaving, no matter what Congress does." (Editorial, "A Failure Of Leadership," The New York Times, 6/9/07)
USA Today: "It's simply not feasible to go back two decades to start over – or to suddenly make it so difficult for illegals to work here that at least 12 million people magically self-deport, leaving restaurants, hotels and millions of small businesses with a crippling labor shortage. The critics should instead focus their efforts on a more legitimate goal: Making sure this reform includes both the means and the funding to keep millions more illegal immigrants from coming." (Editorial, "Amnesty? What Amnesty?" USA Today, 6/8/07)
"Doing Nothing Is Simply Not An Option"
The Albuquerque Journal: "…[F]or all its warts, it's hard to imagine how senators could argue the proposal is worse than the completely broken system we have. … Why should a status quo that encourages breaking the law, exploiting fugitive immigrants and leaving America vulnerable be perpetuated by continued congressional inaction? This legislation should be revived this week." (Editorial, "Revive And Pass Immigration Bill," The Albuquerque [NM] Journal, 6/10/07)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cynthia Tucker: "Though the diehard nativists denounce as 'amnesty' any proposal that offers a path to legalization to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already here, the comprehensive immigration reform bill, now stalled in Congress, had offered a practical approach. It combined tough border enforcement with a path to legalization that included penalties. It was no easy forgiveness. If we don't pass such legislation, what's the alternative?" (Editorial, "Bright Young Immigrants Deserve Break," Atlanta [GA] Journal-Constitution, 6/11/07)
The Baltimore Sun: "That the Senate's so-called grand bargain should have met this swift end is particularly tragic because doing nothing about the nation's broken immigration system is perhaps the worst possible outcome. … Figuring out how to control the borders to effectively and humanely manage the flow of immigrants is an ongoing proposition that will require constant readjustment even after legislation is enacted. First, though, this bit of hard work must get done." (Editorial, "Too Heavy A Lift," The Baltimore Sun, 6/10/07)
Boston Globe: "Twelve million illegal immigrants were living and working inside US borders before Senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy presented their bipartisan immigration reform bill last month, and 12 million are here now. How can the 'amnesty' opponents in the Senate who helped derail the bill Thursday possibly call that a victory?" (Editorial, "An Amnesty For Lousy Politics," Boston Globe, 6/9/07)
The Boston Herald: "…[T]o waste this opportunity, to see the human sorrow that results – as we did not long ago in New Bedford – would be tragic. … Surely common sense demands a solution – and the sooner the better." (Editorial, "Let's Not Give Up On Immigration Bill," The Boston Herald, 6/9/07)
The Denver Post: "Lawmakers from both parties must renew their efforts for a compromise. If not, Americans could be stuck with a broken immigration system for several more years, which is unacceptable. We need a law that goes beyond fence-building and acknowledges the economic realities of our growing immigrant workforce." (Editorial, "Renew Immigration Efforts," The Denver [CO] Post, 6/8/07)
The [Greensboro, NC] News & Record: "This bill was far from perfect, but it contained important and necessary improvements in immigration policy. … This issue is worth another try." (Editorial, "Dole Helps Break Deal, But That Solves Nothing," The [Greensboro, NC] News & Record, 6/9/07)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: " …[I]mmigration reform is not a luxury; it is a necessity. To have 12 million illegal immigrants permanently living in the shadows – and who can't all realistically be deported – makes no sense as social policy. … Mr. Reid and the Senate need to go back to work on this and not quit until they are done." (Editorial, "No Quitting," Pittsburgh [PA] Post-Gazette, 6/11/07)
Rochester [NY] Democrat And Chronicle: "If Congress walks away from the bill now, chances for passage in either the short or long term become extremely problematic." (Editorial, "Deal Still Possible," Rochester [NY] Democrat And Chronicle, 6/11/07)
San Antonio Express-News: "The legislation would benefit both immigrants and citizens, giving employers an opportunity to hire much-needed workers without depressing the wages of their U.S. counterparts. 'The bill is on life support, but it is not dead,' Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said, according to the Express-News. We hope not. If it is, the result will be what neither side wants – a problem that continues to grow. And that is unacceptable." (Editorial, "Bickering Threatens Immigration Reform," San Antonio [TX] Express-News, 6/9/07)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: "…[T]here is still hope for a solution to America's illegal immigration problem, if for no other reason than because there remains one thing on which all sides agree: Doing nothing is simply not an option. For Congress to chicken out on fixing this problem would … put off solving a serious problem that is never going to get any easier and may actually get more difficult as time goes on." (Editorial, "All Is Not Lost," The San Diego [CA] Union-Tribune, 6/11/07)
"This Issue Can And Will Be Resolved"
Senate Republican Whip Trent Lott (R-MS): "The Senate has two choices on immigration reform: Do something now to curtail illegal immigration. Or do nothing, accept the status quo and hope it doesn't get worse." (Trent Lott, "Immigration Bill: Can The U.S. Senate Proposal To Curtail Illegal Immigration Be Saved?" [Jackson, MS] Clarion Ledger, 6/10/07)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): "I don't think we should give up. … We have a failing system out there. … Even if it got 25 percent better it would be better than it is today." (Dena Bunis, "Immigration Bill Off The Floor, For Now," The Orange County Register 6/8/07)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "We're inside the 10-yard line, and we've got four downs… Within a matter of weeks, this issue can and will be resolved." (James Rosen, "Graham Unfazed By Immigration Defeat," McClatchy Newspapers, 7/9/07)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ): "Everyone has their own definition [of amnesty] … I think it is a dead-end debate. … We have tried to do as many things as we can to ensure that for those that get to stay, they pay a price, and I don't think it's amnesty. For those who say, 'This bill is amnesty, we shouldn't pass it,' one of my responses is, 'OK, so do you like what we have?'" (Collin Levy, "The 'Amnesty' Canard," The Wall Street Journal, 6/9/07)
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "The status quo is de facto amnesty… So for us to do nothing and celebrate the fact that we stopped this legislation, well then those who have a better idea can give it to us. We can consider it and move forward." (Henry C. Jackson, "McCain: Time Short for Immigration Bill," The Associated Press, 6/9/07)
Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO): "Our Nation badly needs the reform. Failure is not an option." (Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO), Statement On The Vote For Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Press Release, 6/7/07)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): "We're going to get it done. … We have a road map. We know where we're going." (Jerome L. Sherman, "Specter Remains Optimistic About Immigration Overhaul," Pittsburgh [PA] Post-Gazette, 6/9/07
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