Immigrants out of the shadows?

Here is late-breaking news on immigration reform legislation that the Obama administration will be spearheading soon.

I'm delighted and a bit surprised that he is taking on this battle in the midst of so many other major ones - the economy, health care, the war(s). On the one hand, I'm pleased, as he is recognizing this is a major problem that was left to fester like so many things over the past 8 years. With this annoucement the President also clearly recognizes the political force of the Latino vote that helped put him in office.

On the other hand, immigration is a rallying cry for the right, which has cultivated fear and loathing to a fever pitch. I'm reading a book right now about Japanese immigrants, and it is remarkable to hear exactly the same anti-immigrant rhetoric being used. As if the nativists of yore were being channeled into the Lou Dobbs of today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/us/politics/09immig.html