White House Deal on Immigration Reform Leaves Globalization and Free Trade Unchallenged

MAY 18 (EIRNS)--A compromise deal on immigration reform was sealed between the White House and some lawmakers, like senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Jon Kyl (R-Az). Although the proposed bill may appear to not be as bad as the one passed earlier by the then Republican majority in the House, the continued failure to address the need to overthrow globalization and free trade and to adopt a program for the economic development of the Great American Desert spanning both the U.S. and Mexico, doom the compromise to failure.

The plan will start being debated on Monday on the Senate floor, but already both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev)and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi indicated that the deal is not sealed. Reid cautioned, "I don't know if the immigration legislation is going to bear fruit and we're going to be able to pass it," as it is now. "I have serious concerns about some aspects of this proposal, including the structure of the program and undue limitations on family immigration," he added.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, echoed Reid's sentiments: "While the bipartisan Senate agreement starts the process, I have serious concerns about some elements of this proposal; the bill must be improved in the Senate," she said.

In fact, the plan, as it stands, would begin not to deal with the about 12 million undocumented alien workers in the U.S., until the included revamping of US-Mexico border is completed; this would take 18 months to increase border patrol personnel by 18,000, the installation of electronic devices and the deployment of unmanned planes to enhance border vigilancy. At the same time, employers will have to adopt high-tech verification systems to avoid hiring illegal aliens.

After that, undocumented workers could apply for a newly created "Z" visa as a temporary worker for four years, that could be renewed three times, leaving the country for one year in between. Then, 15 years later may apply for a green card after paying fees and a fine of $5000.

But the most remarkable feature is that "the deal was intended to move the US immigration system to a merit-based system, rather than prioritizing claims for extended families of immigrants", because "it is intended to reflect the labor needs of the United States in the 21st century, rather than the 19th century," as a senior Republican staff member said on condition of anonymity to AFP.

"Merit-based" means that "specialized" labor, as farm workers, food-processing workers, hotel industry workers, landscapers, and all those lowest paid jobs will have priority, over people requesting a visa on a family-linked basis.

What dooms this plan to failure is the fact that it leaves the free trade policies which have caused unemployment in the USA and increased poverty in Mexico. Only an immigration reform based on Lyndon LaRouche's proposal to green the Great American Desert in both sides of the border, with water, energy and transportation infrastructure, premised on real cooperation among sovereign nations would actually work. Otherwise, any other policy based on globalization will continue to harm all sides.