Tuesday Was Immigration Day in Texas

At least that's the image we were given.

First, the Texas House railroaded through the Arizona-like, yet harsher, House Bill 12, which allows local law enforcement to go on the hunt for Hispanic Texans who might be thought of as "illegal." Then, President Obama visited El Paso to announce an all-new effort to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. Soon after the visit, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced that he was going to re-submit the DREAM Act for consideration in a very changed legislative atmosphere in Washington, DC.

There were lots of good speeches throughout the day from those who support immigrant rights and opposed HB12. There were some especially passionate speeches from Hispanic State Representatives who had experienced some form of racial profiling in their lives, the most heart-wrenching being that of State Rep. Ana Hernandez Luna of Houston.

Some say that immigrant children are a drain on our public schools, but I don't consider myself a drain. I graduated at age 16 with honors, earned by bachelors and law degree and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives at age 27. I know there are many other immigrants out there like me waiting to be given the opportunity that I was given and part of me believes that the hurt and turmoil I went through is justified in this fact.

There were also attempts at weakening the blow of HB12 through various amendments, but party-line votes ended any hope of those being passed.

On the anti-Hispanic side, we had...not much of anything in the form of rhetoric. Called the "sanctuary cities bill," those in favor of HB12 could not name one "sanctuary city," but their support of most things anti-immigrant (and in effect, anti-Hispanic) seemed to require them to vote for HB12. With a supermajority in the Texas House, the Republicans were able to pass this bill, as well as curtail debate and limit the number of amendments. Even an attempt by Republican Dan Huberty to amend the bill to ensure those school districts with their own police departments were not included in the immigrant hunting was soundly defeated by his own Party faithful. The Republicans were determined to pass a bill that is bad for Texas families, bad for Texas taxpayers, and bad for public safety.

And that was just the morning.

By 2:30 CST, President Obama was about to hit the stage at El Chamizal in El Paso to deliver another measured, carefully worded speech calling for a comprehensive immigration bill. Although some anticipated a speech that would drive home the need for CIR, the DREAM Act, and some sort of "border security," Texas DREAMers and immigration activists were left wanting more, as was reported by Roberto Lovato at New America Media.

But until the immigration system is changed, Latinos like the Garibay family face a constant threat of possible deportation and separation. If put in a position of having to choose between Republicans militarizing immigration policy and Obama militarizing immigration policy, some Latinos will likely choose neither, and stay home -- not because they don't care, but because they view the choice as an indignity. 

“Many people feel deceived by Obama,” said Garibay. “My mom voted for Obama. So did many of family and friends. But since he hasn’t done anything but make our lives worse, some of them are starting to wonder who the Republican running against Obama is. Most of them are questioning if they even want to vote.”

Yesterday, it was announced that the DREAM Act was going to return, and today, Senate Democrats called for a renewed push to pass the DREAM Act, a bill which would provide a path to residency and possibly citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. Last year, strong opposition by Republicans, as well as the failure to pick up the last five Democratic votes in the Senate to reach the 60-vote requirement stopped passage of the bill. 

On the immigration front in Texas there is plenty of anti-Hispanic policies from which to defend, but given President Obama's renewed call for reform and his call for increased involvement in the process for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, it is time to answer his call:

So I’m asking you to add your voices to this debate.  You can sign up to help at whitehouse.gov.  We need Washington to know that there is a movement for reform that’s gathering strength from coast to coast.  That’s how we’ll get this done.  That’s how we can ensure that in the years ahead we are welcoming the talents of all who can contribute to this country and that we’re living up to the basic American idea that you can make it here if you try.  ~ President Barack Obama

Let us not disappoint him and let's get active. Stay connected to Somos Tejanos as we embark on this journey to bring millions of hard-working people out of the shadows. Ultimately, it is a path to a stronger Texas.

(Photo Credit - Hutch News)