Though no expert, I have always thought legal status alone as critically important to thousands (millions?) of families, not just for economic reasons but to living a life free of fear and family separation. For progressives, the perfect is often the enemy of the good: let's take this step and fight over the next set of issues in a different political environment.
I am not a fan of Maria E. Salazar, she’s my representative, so please forgive me, but she’s no hero. She is directly responsible for the misinformation fed to my community to gain support for this administration. No one should blame them for falling for her rhetoric, she’s a trusted local. A Harvard educated, Emmy winning journalist who used to be on TV every night talking to every Abuelo and Abuelita here. Of course they voted for what she told them to, they believed her when she said they were only going after the criminals. She stoked their fears of Castro, Maduro and the rest. She demonized the Dems as socialist. This is the least she can do for her people, but don’t applaud her. It took billboards calling her a traitor. A Cuban, born self-made billionaire to pull his money and his political support of her. He had to call out Rubio, Garcia and Salazar for their complicit silence in various newspapers for their mouths to work again. It’s better than nothing, better late than never, and I truly hope it passes. Although my hopes are high, expectations are low. Miller’s campaign of terror has 170 billion reasons to carry on. This will at least help us gauge their true intentions and force the administration to defend any hesitation at reforming the immigration system. Salazar delivered District 27 like a good little soldier, so pardon me for not failing to my knees in praise.
I’ve been at heart of the immigration debate since 1978, first as a litigator, as founder and president of the National Immigration Forum 1981-90, and as the broker of AGJOBS 1999-2000, and in many other key battles the past 25 years. All kudos to Escobar and Salazar for their efforts. I’m afraid their bill is DOA, as in their past efforts, if only because it is so sprawling and detailed and TRUMP and Miller totally (so far) control the GOP Congress, Jim Jordon and Chip Roy control on immigration ala HR2 and $140 billion from reconciliation and these men and allies in the nativist movement dominate Fox News et al after upwards of $1 billion spent in 2024 on nativist propaganda. A House discharge petition on a smaller, targeted set of longstanding bipartisan reforms on Dreamers farmworkers, Afghans visa backlogs and elements of the Senate deal Trump torpedoed in early 2024 has a better shot, if still very much a long shot. In june/July 2024 at the initial request of Dem Tom Suozzi i tried pro bono to broker such an approach, which got legs til Suozzi double crossed me and others when he imposed on us Trumper R Morgan Luttrell who killed the discharge petition agreement and thus this latch dutch effort when Biden and Schumer still held the reins… There is an extensive written record on this, tho not extensive reporting…. Mr Madrid, if interested i’d be pleased to discuss the past present and future if of value. I’m 75, no clients or other conflicts and not yet out of fight. BTW Speaker Paul Ryan faced a gop moderates driven discharge petition in 2018 that forced him to schedule floor votes on Dreamers etc then…. Carlos Curbelo led that fight. It’s was well reported at the time by Mort Kondracke of Roll Call, and others, and remains instructive. Rick Swartz
Consider writing an op-ed for this Substack. It’s a very interested audience and it’s always good to have input from people who were there- unfortunately this issue always devolves into talking points from people who have little to understanding of the issue. Your perspective would be invaluable
I am glad these two Latinas are at least trying to solve the problem. The United States needs many of these workers and I am concerned that working to stay here and having to pay for that privilege is taking advantage of vulnerable population. Right now because of Trump's policies these workers have their backs against the wall. Many people here already pay taxes and do not get the benefits that that responsibility gives . I think it is a start but no good enough. There should be a path for people that have been here longer than 10 years that have not gotten into trouble and have been paying taxes and not pulling from social services...
Me alegra que estas dos latinas al menos estén intentando resolver el problema. Estados Unidos necesita a muchos de estos trabajadores y me preocupa que trabajar para quedarse aquí y tener que pagar por ese privilegio sea aprovecharse de la población vulnerable. Actualmente, debido a las políticas de Trump, estos trabajadores están entre la espada y la pared. Mucha gente aquí ya paga impuestos y no recibe los beneficios que esa responsabilidad conlleva. Creo que es un comienzo, pero no es suficiente. Debería haber una vía para quienes llevan aquí más de 10 años, no se han metido en problemas, han estado pagando impuestos y no han tenido que recurrir a los servicios sociales...
I would call it the least we could do for us humans by being humane to ourselves by specifically protecting us all humans since we all eat and thus the bringer of foods and caretakers of food is a fundamental necessity that should have never gotten to this level of cruelty!
When neither party is fully happy you know you’ve proposed promising legislation in the right direction. Solidarity among difference. Thanks for the update in the lege, Mike.
Thanks Mike, very interesting. It does seem like the cruelty and sadism being embraced by Trump and Miller and Noem is probably only appealing to the hardcore racist MAGA folks. For Miller, this is the ethnic cleansing project that he so desperately wants, and which apparently he is running. Because common decency and courage is wholly absent from Republican ranks right now, we can only hope that fear of being voted out of office will motivate enough of them to support this.
Could Trump see this as a way to resolve some of the economic fallout of his mass deportation, without jumping in the deep-end of immigration reform -- a mini off-ramp of sorts? If he were to get behind this, then I could see it passing, but that's a big IF!
You would hope, but Trump doesn't do anything that is strategic frankly. He's all knee jerk ego and populist reactions. I think the bigger problem here is what has always haunted immigration reform... it's not either party's biggest concern. Voters aren't immigrants. So there's very little political will power to fix it. It's all risk and little reward. Only a popular president can push the message to the people, promoting a centrist reform like this, and only when they have a strong hold on their party to get over the cynics. Bush 2 tried towards end of his second term and Republicans shut him down hard. Truth is, having a broken immigration system helps the argument of uncontrolled immigration, being overrun, illegals, etc which panders to the nativist xenophobes. And of course the Democrats will look at it purely from the humanist perspective, ignoring legitimate concerns about rewarding illegal immigration and the impact it has on society, painting themselves into a politically isolated corner as well.
It's honestly one of those things I've watched for decades. Like why can't we fix this? It's our heritage. It's arguably our greatest strength for hundreds of years. Why does it have to be a contentious problem? Everything that is wrong with our democracy and our citizens engagement with our democracy is why we don't fix this issue. It's sad.
It doesn't surprise me that it is Latina women working together. You wrote in your book, and have stated in podcasts, just how important Latina females are in guiding families and the respect they receive in their homes.
It's time to let law makers hold hands, jump in with both feet, and make changes on the way to the finish line. We lost a crucial opportunity with the proposed legislation prior to the 2024 election.
Without something like this, I’m concerned we could see slavery happening with contracted labor from people in these concentration camps. Tim Snyder warns of this.
Is there anything in this legislation about the aggressive deportation of anyone who is not covered in this quasi-amnesty? For all future illegal immigration? Maybe something withholding federal funds from any state or local government that declares a sanctuary haven?
Your nonsense about amnesty is intellectually lazy and tired Jon. Maybe you should read the bill to get your questions answered…it’s so much better than waiting until FoxNews tells you what to think
The fact that you label it quasi-amnesty and in the next sentence admit to not reading the bill is what is intellectually lazy. Its the very definition of laziness. I can’t disagree with someone who hasn’t informed themselves on what they’re arguing so I was not name calling here…I was simply stating fact.
Wherever you’re getting your news from labeling this ‘amnesty’ is misinformed. Thats by design and we both know that. If you want to have a real discussion I’d welcome that but I wont discuss any policy topic with the willingly misinformed (or allow them on my page here btw)
Not good enough...while SOMETHING has to be done to protect PEOPLE, this bandaid will be painfully inadequate and puts a stigma on "strangers in our land" that the Lord said are no different than the whitest amongst us and are to be graciously received. The PROBLEM is hatred, not migrants.
Though no expert, I have always thought legal status alone as critically important to thousands (millions?) of families, not just for economic reasons but to living a life free of fear and family separation. For progressives, the perfect is often the enemy of the good: let's take this step and fight over the next set of issues in a different political environment.
2023 version was much better but this is still a very good bill. Hopefully passes, been waiting for change for long enough!
Bracero Program 2.0 also proposed by another STX Latina.
https://www.ktsm.com/news/border-report/bracero-program-2-0-act-proposed-by-south-texas-lawmaker-to-legally-fill-us-farm-worker-jobs/
I am not a fan of Maria E. Salazar, she’s my representative, so please forgive me, but she’s no hero. She is directly responsible for the misinformation fed to my community to gain support for this administration. No one should blame them for falling for her rhetoric, she’s a trusted local. A Harvard educated, Emmy winning journalist who used to be on TV every night talking to every Abuelo and Abuelita here. Of course they voted for what she told them to, they believed her when she said they were only going after the criminals. She stoked their fears of Castro, Maduro and the rest. She demonized the Dems as socialist. This is the least she can do for her people, but don’t applaud her. It took billboards calling her a traitor. A Cuban, born self-made billionaire to pull his money and his political support of her. He had to call out Rubio, Garcia and Salazar for their complicit silence in various newspapers for their mouths to work again. It’s better than nothing, better late than never, and I truly hope it passes. Although my hopes are high, expectations are low. Miller’s campaign of terror has 170 billion reasons to carry on. This will at least help us gauge their true intentions and force the administration to defend any hesitation at reforming the immigration system. Salazar delivered District 27 like a good little soldier, so pardon me for not failing to my knees in praise.
Falling to your knees in praise?
You sound like a telenovela actress.
I’ve been at heart of the immigration debate since 1978, first as a litigator, as founder and president of the National Immigration Forum 1981-90, and as the broker of AGJOBS 1999-2000, and in many other key battles the past 25 years. All kudos to Escobar and Salazar for their efforts. I’m afraid their bill is DOA, as in their past efforts, if only because it is so sprawling and detailed and TRUMP and Miller totally (so far) control the GOP Congress, Jim Jordon and Chip Roy control on immigration ala HR2 and $140 billion from reconciliation and these men and allies in the nativist movement dominate Fox News et al after upwards of $1 billion spent in 2024 on nativist propaganda. A House discharge petition on a smaller, targeted set of longstanding bipartisan reforms on Dreamers farmworkers, Afghans visa backlogs and elements of the Senate deal Trump torpedoed in early 2024 has a better shot, if still very much a long shot. In june/July 2024 at the initial request of Dem Tom Suozzi i tried pro bono to broker such an approach, which got legs til Suozzi double crossed me and others when he imposed on us Trumper R Morgan Luttrell who killed the discharge petition agreement and thus this latch dutch effort when Biden and Schumer still held the reins… There is an extensive written record on this, tho not extensive reporting…. Mr Madrid, if interested i’d be pleased to discuss the past present and future if of value. I’m 75, no clients or other conflicts and not yet out of fight. BTW Speaker Paul Ryan faced a gop moderates driven discharge petition in 2018 that forced him to schedule floor votes on Dreamers etc then…. Carlos Curbelo led that fight. It’s was well reported at the time by Mort Kondracke of Roll Call, and others, and remains instructive. Rick Swartz
Consider writing an op-ed for this Substack. It’s a very interested audience and it’s always good to have input from people who were there- unfortunately this issue always devolves into talking points from people who have little to understanding of the issue. Your perspective would be invaluable
I am glad these two Latinas are at least trying to solve the problem. The United States needs many of these workers and I am concerned that working to stay here and having to pay for that privilege is taking advantage of vulnerable population. Right now because of Trump's policies these workers have their backs against the wall. Many people here already pay taxes and do not get the benefits that that responsibility gives . I think it is a start but no good enough. There should be a path for people that have been here longer than 10 years that have not gotten into trouble and have been paying taxes and not pulling from social services...
Me alegra que estas dos latinas al menos estén intentando resolver el problema. Estados Unidos necesita a muchos de estos trabajadores y me preocupa que trabajar para quedarse aquí y tener que pagar por ese privilegio sea aprovecharse de la población vulnerable. Actualmente, debido a las políticas de Trump, estos trabajadores están entre la espada y la pared. Mucha gente aquí ya paga impuestos y no recibe los beneficios que esa responsabilidad conlleva. Creo que es un comienzo, pero no es suficiente. Debería haber una vía para quienes llevan aquí más de 10 años, no se han metido en problemas, han estado pagando impuestos y no han tenido que recurrir a los servicios sociales...
Que hagan su trabajo! Good Trouble! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I would call it the least we could do for us humans by being humane to ourselves by specifically protecting us all humans since we all eat and thus the bringer of foods and caretakers of food is a fundamental necessity that should have never gotten to this level of cruelty!
When neither party is fully happy you know you’ve proposed promising legislation in the right direction. Solidarity among difference. Thanks for the update in the lege, Mike.
Thanks Mike, very interesting. It does seem like the cruelty and sadism being embraced by Trump and Miller and Noem is probably only appealing to the hardcore racist MAGA folks. For Miller, this is the ethnic cleansing project that he so desperately wants, and which apparently he is running. Because common decency and courage is wholly absent from Republican ranks right now, we can only hope that fear of being voted out of office will motivate enough of them to support this.
Could Trump see this as a way to resolve some of the economic fallout of his mass deportation, without jumping in the deep-end of immigration reform -- a mini off-ramp of sorts? If he were to get behind this, then I could see it passing, but that's a big IF!
You would hope, but Trump doesn't do anything that is strategic frankly. He's all knee jerk ego and populist reactions. I think the bigger problem here is what has always haunted immigration reform... it's not either party's biggest concern. Voters aren't immigrants. So there's very little political will power to fix it. It's all risk and little reward. Only a popular president can push the message to the people, promoting a centrist reform like this, and only when they have a strong hold on their party to get over the cynics. Bush 2 tried towards end of his second term and Republicans shut him down hard. Truth is, having a broken immigration system helps the argument of uncontrolled immigration, being overrun, illegals, etc which panders to the nativist xenophobes. And of course the Democrats will look at it purely from the humanist perspective, ignoring legitimate concerns about rewarding illegal immigration and the impact it has on society, painting themselves into a politically isolated corner as well.
It's honestly one of those things I've watched for decades. Like why can't we fix this? It's our heritage. It's arguably our greatest strength for hundreds of years. Why does it have to be a contentious problem? Everything that is wrong with our democracy and our citizens engagement with our democracy is why we don't fix this issue. It's sad.
Every time he attempts a side step to benefit his corporate donors, Miller curb stomps him with the base.
Not today maybe in 2027
It doesn't surprise me that it is Latina women working together. You wrote in your book, and have stated in podcasts, just how important Latina females are in guiding families and the respect they receive in their homes.
It's time to let law makers hold hands, jump in with both feet, and make changes on the way to the finish line. We lost a crucial opportunity with the proposed legislation prior to the 2024 election.
Without something like this, I’m concerned we could see slavery happening with contracted labor from people in these concentration camps. Tim Snyder warns of this.
Is there anything in this legislation about the aggressive deportation of anyone who is not covered in this quasi-amnesty? For all future illegal immigration? Maybe something withholding federal funds from any state or local government that declares a sanctuary haven?
Your nonsense about amnesty is intellectually lazy and tired Jon. Maybe you should read the bill to get your questions answered…it’s so much better than waiting until FoxNews tells you what to think
So people that disagree with you are intellectually lazy and tired? I will go read the bill. And I don’t watch cable news.
The fact that you label it quasi-amnesty and in the next sentence admit to not reading the bill is what is intellectually lazy. Its the very definition of laziness. I can’t disagree with someone who hasn’t informed themselves on what they’re arguing so I was not name calling here…I was simply stating fact.
Wherever you’re getting your news from labeling this ‘amnesty’ is misinformed. Thats by design and we both know that. If you want to have a real discussion I’d welcome that but I wont discuss any policy topic with the willingly misinformed (or allow them on my page here btw)
Not good enough...while SOMETHING has to be done to protect PEOPLE, this bandaid will be painfully inadequate and puts a stigma on "strangers in our land" that the Lord said are no different than the whitest amongst us and are to be graciously received. The PROBLEM is hatred, not migrants.