Presidential Backbone -- Obama Failing To Lead on Immigration Reform

The Obama administration clearly has the right ideas about immigration reform — namely, a comprehensive approach that combines enhanced border enforcement and more effective employer sanctions with a pathway to earned legalization for those illegal immigrants already living in the United States. Granted, we think the White House is committing a colossal error in judgment by deliberately omitting any provision for guest workers rather than anger its benefactors in organized labor. That omission will lose Republican votes.

Still, the administration is on the right track. The real question is whether it has the backbone to bring those ideas to fruition. In light of last week's remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, President Barack Obama's designated point person on immigration reform, to the Center for American Progress the answer seems to be "no."

First, Napolitano said that immigration reform "has been punted from year to year, from Congress to Congress, from administration to administration" and that the status quo is "simply unacceptable" because the laws need to be reformed as well as enforced. She defined the correct approach as a "three-legged stool that includes a commitment to serious and effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers, and a firm but fair way to deal with those who are already here." She also mentioned that, in areas such as Silicon Valley or San Diego's own high-tech industry, there remains a strong need for high-skilled workers that our immigration system is determined to keep out.

But then Napolitano punted, and thus accepted the status quo. Despite persuasively making the case for immigration reform and spelling out what reform should look like, Napolitano ended her remarks in retreat. "When Congress is ready to act," she said, "we will be ready to support them."

Come again? When Congress is ready to act? Congress is never ready to act on difficult issues that make enemies and threaten the comfy jobs of its members. Witness the complete abdication of leadership on one of the most difficult issue of all — fixing Medicare and Social Security. It's true that, as a matter of constitutional law, legislation comes from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue and not the other. But it's also true that the tough issues don't get dealt with without firm leadership from the White House. Can you imagine, in the 1960s, Congress tackling the necessary but radioactive issue of civil rights without a nudge from Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson?

As Napolitano noted in her speech, key members of Congress are moving toward legislation that would fix the immigration system. That's great news. But they could probably use some support from the White House. Obama should be leading on this issue, not following. And that also goes for Napolitano. It's fine to have high ideals and lofty goals. But without the willingness to fight the fight necessary to make them a reality, what good are they? They're just more rhetorical flourishes and empty promises from an administration that has long since used up its allotment.

REPRINTED FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.

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