Immigration Law

A NEW DAY

By Greg Siskind

It was hard not to be stirred by this morning's Inauguration and there will be endless commentary about the meaning of today. But for the pro-immigration community in America, it has been a long, long eight years. I remember September 11, 2001 vividly not just because I was in Manhattan that day, but also because at around 10 am that morning, Congress was set to vote to reenact Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which would have offered crucial relief to millions of immigrants. That vote was, of course, not taken and virtually nothing positive for immigrants has passed in the years since. Hopes were dashed on several occasions despite the fact that President Bush and the majority party in Congress tried. But it is hard not to feel optimistic today. This country has so many problems right now and one is awed by just how difficult the job is facing President Obama. Immigration is just one of many. But the country seems more united than in many years and there is tremendous goodwill in Washington. We hope that the President is able to achieve the goals for immigration he stated as well as the rest of the ambitious agenda he has laid out for the country. Best of luck, Mr. President. 

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on January 20, 2009 (boomark / email).