David Axelrod, a senior advisor to President Obama, is quoted as saying that President Obama might not be able to sign comprehensive immigration reform legislation within his first year in office.
Mr. Axelrod’s comments, coupled with comments from numerous others, cast a not-so-rosy picture for immigration reform this year. Advocates from both sides of the issue point to the deteriorating economy, the rising unemployment rate, and an already full plate of legislative issues as reasons why Congress and the President will not address immigration reform this year.
The nation is in an economic crisis and immigration reform might not be at the top of the to-do list. Nevertheless, Congress and the President should not just frame immigration as a problem issue that needs to be reformed. Immigration reform can be a solution and can be a building block for economic recovery and stability. Comprehensive immigration reform, if done right, will fundamentally improve the economic prospects for America.
Let’s hope it is allowed to be a solution.