Elvira Arellano
(November 20, 2013).- Our community has paid a high cost for Obamacare. The effort to pass the legislation in the President’s first year in office was the principal excuse he used for delaying comprehensive immigration reform. Remember that the democrats has supermajorities in both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
We recall the large “immigrant rights” organizations telling the grassroots to be patient. These organizations fought efforts to pressure the President for the first six months – while they received financial support to wage the campaign for Obamacare.
The idea that the Congress could consider two bills at the same time was, we were told, “unrealistic”. To add insult to injury, the President spoke on a mass teleconference call, repeating in our ears the promise that “No illegals will benefit from or be allowed to participate in the nation’s effort to provide universal health care.” His campaign use of the words “undocumented”, when he made promises to our community, suddenly changed to the word “illegal” when he threw us to the curb.
That is the history. Finally the grassroots movement, joined by the valiant voice of Congressman Luis Gutierrez, began the movement to put pressure on the President. Under this pressure we won small concessions including the deferments for the dreamers right before the election.
Obamacare was the rallying cry that swept Republicans into control of the Congress. Now, the preoccupation in Congress with attacking or fixing Obamacare is the reason given why immigration reform will not be considered this year.
Many thought that the President’s Health Care bill missed the target. Some argued for a “single payer” system. Still others suggested that the focus should be on improving the organization of the health care system, especially for low-income working families first instead of expanding health insurance. The bill was negotiated with insurance companies – ot with health care providers or consumers. In fact, the final proposal was based on a former Republican proposal – and yet passed with no Republican votes in the Congress, setting the stage for the political confrontation we see today.
What we see is a President and a Democratic Party – as well as a Tea Party dominated Republican Party – playing politics with our lives. Both the undocumented, their families and children and U.S. citizens are paying a high price for this preoccupation with political advantage. Sadly, too many of our organizations, preoccupied with their funding, are part of the political game.
The conclusion we should draw is clear. Our demand now is to stop the deportations and separation of families: by Act of Congress if possible by Authority of the President if necessary. Those who are refusing to put pressure on the President are selling us out. President Obama has the authority and the moral command to extend the deferments he offered the dreamers to their parents and to the parents of U.S. citizen children and to all others covered in the bill which passed the Senate. He should do this by Christmas. We want our families together on Christmas.
We call on our churches to offer sanctuary to all those facing deportation by December 12, the day we celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe.
For those Latinos who want to play politics, maybe you should start looking at Governor Christie.
