by Clara Potter · December 11, 2014 4:25 PM
Our greatest achievements have been built by those families who came here to work for better lives — families who have gone on to lead our nation in various capacities. We must ensure that our political representatives at every level, from the executive down, are committed to acting on this chance to demonstrate tolerance and fairness.
President Obama made a historic announcement last month about what is sure to be one of the defining issues of his presidency: Using an executive action, he pledged broad immigration reform, offering legal status to undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria. Adults who have been in the country for five years, have children who are citizens or legal residents, and who can pass a criminal background check will be granted temporary security from deportation. This action will prevent about 5 million immigrants from being deported, enabling families to stay together and for these individuals to “come out of the shadows”’ and work with full legal protections.
This sweeping action was met immediately with both great fanfare and critique. Many argue the president’s action is a common sense, long overdue expansion of his prosecutorial discretion. They claim Obama’s move echoes those taken by many earlier presidents of both parties. His critics insist this broad use of executive power knows no precedent, and it sets a dangerous standard for years to come. They also maintain Congress is the proper domain for such wide-reaching immigration reform, and the president’s action is a flagrant affront to legislative authority. Still others say he did not go far enough, as Obama’s plan offers no clear path to citizenship.
Political debate aside, it is evident this move will provide long-awaited relief to hardworking families who have contributed to the economic and cultural strength of this country for too long without legal recognition. It demonstrates to everybody — young or old, citizen or not — that America is a country of integrity that legally acknowledges those who contribute. By offering security to those most vulnerable populations who have risked so much to provide for their families and add to our country’s prosperity, this action demonstrates our capacity for both justice and compassion.
Furthermore, it will provide stability to children with undocumented parents who deserve to attend school and realize their future ambitions without the constant fear and anxiety of needless family division. It shows these children that, as they invest in building their futures in America, we are also investing in them.
President Obama’s action is also an acknowledgment that the American electorate is rapidly changing, and these issues are increasingly important to a large portion of the population. Many Americans are now personally touched by immigration issues. For instance, some 64 percent of Latino voters have a friend, coworker, or family member who is undocumented. With greater diversity comes greater legal responsibility to actively recognize all people, and not only those who have traditionally maintained power.
However, political leadership comes nowhere near representing the diversity of this nation. This lack of diversity creates a disconnect between elected officials and their electorate, which makes it exceedingly difficult to pass thoughtful legislation on this topic. Although Obama’s action may bypass Congress, it does so to forge a more inclusive democracy and increase civic trust. Civic trust begets greater participation. And as participation expands, our government will hear and be made up of more diverse voices.
This is where LaunchProgress hopes to make a difference. By empowering young people of diverse backgrounds to run for office, we hope to create legislative bodies that have a multitude of perspectives to truly represent and understand the issues of everybody in this country, including immigrants. By getting more people into local office who support these goals, we can begin to fund programs to reform the immigration system from the inside out.
For example, much of the implementation of President Obama’s plan will rely upon local legal and immigration advocates to guide millions of people through the intricate paperwork involved with this process. These advocates are frequently vastly underfunded by local governments. Without adequate resources, they are unable to meet demand. The support of politicians at the municipal and state levels can make all the difference in ensuring that anybody who is eligible can take full advantage of this opportunity. Thus backing progressive candidates who understand the critical need for support of immigration services on the ground is essential. These are the types of local leaders LaunchProgress seeks out.
We are at an important juncture as a country. As demographics shift, so too must our policies. President Obama’s action looks back to our historic strengths as a nation of immigrants, and realizes the tremendous potential that inclusive policies can bring us in the future. Our greatest achievements have been built by those families who came here to work for better lives — families who have gone on to lead our nation in various capacities. We must ensure that our political representatives at every level, from the executive down, are committed to acting on this chance to demonstrate tolerance and fairness. And who knows, we may see some of these young Americans’ names on the ballot in a few years.