Leaders fail to lead, and we're left with a growing immigration mess

Leaders fail to lead, and we're left with a growing immigration mess - Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, 07/23/07 - Tennessean.com

By JOHN TRUJILLO

Tennessee Voices

Two weeks have passed since the failed attempt of the U.S. Senate to address immigration reform. After reading The Tennessean's recent coverage of the upsetting immigration raids in Columbia, I realize the Senate's irresolution has dealt an injurious blow to our country and is already being felt in Tennessee.

Our country has waited more than two decades for immigration reform, but 53 senators chose to ignore the majority of Americans who support a comprehensive solution and, instead, gave up too soon on the legislative process.

The most alarming aspect is the politics of fear and hate. Here, in Tennessee the immigrant community and those working with them are far too familiar with it. I was shocked when a grocery store owned by Mexican immigrants in Maryville was vandalized with Nazi insignia and when a local radio host announced that the solution for immigration reform is shooting immigrants as they cross the border.

Our country is frustrated and angry with federal inaction on this issue, but these disturbing tactics reflect poorly upon our national character.

Senators—including our own Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker — have avoided showing any real leadership and put narrow political interests above the country's need for reform. Sacrificing policy over politics, unfortunately, is nothing new.

This issue will not go away and will only worsen in the absence of federal action, with state and local governments enacting a patchwork of ineffective laws that cannot solve the problem but, instead, leave an indelible mark on our quality of life.

This year in Tennessee, for example, the Illegal Landlord Act was introduced. This bill would have, in effect, required landlords and real estate agents to check the immigration status of prospective buyers or renters. It is not the job of landlords to enforce immigration laws. Good intentions aside, it could result in racial discrimination against citizens and the many non-citizens who are here legally.

The American people will continue to demand a workable and just solution that restores the rule of law, secures our borders, strengthens our economy and upholds the values of faith, family and hard work that are essential to our great democracy.

The Senate and the House have nothing to show for themselves, and their reluctance to engage in immigration reform is detrimental to our country and ought to cast great doubt on their leadership.