Immigration Policy and an Obama Administration

As Americans go to the polls today to cast their votes for the next president of the United States much weighs on their minds. Global economic meltdown. Two wars turning to dangerous quagmires. Increasingly unaffordable health care.

Judging by the candidates on the stump and at the debates, one issue that's quietly receded into the background of the electoral landscape is immigration policy. Most Americans seem to agree that other issues trump immigration concerns right now. Even Hispanics, who in the past ranked immigration policy among their primary concerns, are more concerned with the economy and education this year, according to Mark Hugo Lopez of the Pew Hispanic Center.

Now, with an Obama victory and increased Democratic margins in the House and Senate projected by most pollsters, what new policies may be enacted to address the thorny issue of America's broken immigration policy?

Immigration is a peculiar issue for Americans. Liberals and Conservatives both assert that the United States is a land of immigrants. Only extremists suggest that the immigration should be staunched all together. But a series of polls conducted by Gallup between 2001 and 2007 revealed that a majority of whites, blacks, and Hispanics feel that immigration has harmed, or at least failed to help, the country’s economy, job market, and social values. Confusingly, the same polls found that majorities also agreed that immigration is broadly a good thing.

Barack Obama’s record seems to reflect the same ambivalence. The last time the Senate tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform was in early 2007. During the debate of that bill Obama supported a measure cutting back the number of guest worker visas allowed under the new legislation from 400,000 to 200,000, and another measure banning employers from hiring guest workers in areas with high unemployment. He also supported an amendment to the bill that would have added a five year sunset clause. The bill died in June that year.

However, Obama also says he supports an eventual path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already working in the United States. During the primaries he supported then-governor of New York Eliot Spitzer's attempt to grant drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. He also introduced a bill in the Senate aimed at reducing the fees a visa applicant must pay.

If he is elected President Obama says he will reintroduce comprehensive immigration reform during the first year he is in office. According to his platform, Obama supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. He supports a measure that would give priority to reunification of immigrant families.

This jibes with expert opinion on immigration policy direction. In a recent panel discussion at Barnard College titled "Obama and the Immigrant Vote" Political Science Professor Richard Pious said that immigration reform during an Obama administration would most likely focus on reuniting families split by inaccess to visas. His colleague Kimberly Johnson, fellow Barnard Political Science Professor, agreed, suggesting that the single further step a President Obama would take is targeted increases in visas for some skilled professions.

This is in contrast to what might have been under a McCain administration. Both Professors Johnson and Pious were of the opinion that John McCain, if handed the reins, would have introduced policy to allow in more immigrants across the board, particularly highly skilled immigrants. This attitude is born of McCain's strong belief in free trade, the panelists said.

Another difference between the candidates is the way they’ve addressed this issue on the campaign trail, according to Professor Lorraine Minnite, another panelist who spoke at Barnard.

“When Barack Obama meets with Latino voters he does talk some about his plans for immigration reform,” said Minnite. “McCain never does.”

For most American voters, concerns about immigration policy have been usurped by more pressing concerns. A poll on October 2, by YouGov for The Economist saw only 27 percent of respondents placing the issue among their top three concerns. The issue is one that quickly inflames American passions, though, and Obama, if he is the voters' choice today, will need to dance lightly through a minefield if he hopes to please on this issue.