Pros & Cons of S.1348, Immigration Reform Act of 2007

After hacking through the thicket of rhetoric and facts about S.1348, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, I have to agree with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid when he commented:

"I have serious concerns about some aspects of this proposal, including the structure of the temporary worker program and undue limitations on family immigration."

And yet, I also agree with Sen. Ted Kennedy, who has worked with discipline, diligence and passion to bring an immigration reform bill to fruition, when he told the press in mid-May:

"Politics is the art of the possible and the agreement we just reached us the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders, bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America."

S.1348, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 is a 380-page behemoth of complexities and carefully negotiated compromises created after months of Senate backroom debate and bipartisan cooperation by 12 U.S. senators, including Sen. Kennedy and Sen. John McCain.

S.1348 is sharply controversial for both liberals and conservatives. For both sides of the political aisle, there is much to support, and much to find wholly distasteful. And that, of course, is the gist of democracy...

Quipped a frustrated Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) to the Los Angeles Times:

"It is very easy to sit on the sidelines and say, 'No, I want it my way.' No one gets 100% of what they want if you're going to get something done."

For your quick-reading info, I've written a new article, Pros & Cons of S.1348, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, which covers the following:

Legislative Fears about S.1348
Major provisions of S.1348
Positives of S.1348
Negatives of S.1348

Included in my new article are briefs on S.1348 mandates for a guest worker program, border security, workplace enforcement of immigration laws, future U.S. immigration policies, and legal residency for ilegal immigrants in the U.S. before 2007.

Will it pass? Should it pass?
My personal conclusion is that S.1348 presents some very, very wrong new immigration ideas, and that it may cause more problems than it solves. I'm unsure that this immigration reform bill is a step forward for America.

Fortunately, the Senate has passed a handful of amendments to correct some of the most egregious wrongs. But a few of the major provisons are bitter pills for a progressive to swallow.

Should it pass? Like Sen. Reid, I have strong reservations about the bill. But that's not a definitive NO.

Will it pass? Maybe. Maybe not. It's just too soon to tell.

The only certainty is this: the continuing Congressional debate will be riveting political drama. Stay tuned... I'll keep you posted.

Recommended Reading
Pros & Cons of S.1348, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007
Why the U.S. Allows Illegal Immigration: Profits & Poverty
Immigration Bill Could Spur ID-theft, (Gov Info)