The moment has finally arrived.
After months of debate and negotiation, last Wednesday the bipartisan Gang of Eight senators introduced the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, sparking a flurry of responses and analysis from the immigration blogosphere. I’d especially like to lift up David Leopold’s piece on why Congress will pass immigration reform and Frank Sharry’s analysis of the Senate bill, S.744.
- Michael Tan of the ACLU reports on the landmark ruling in the U.S Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which requires bond hearings for detainees locked up six months or longer fighting deportation cases.
- Frank Sharry of America’s Voice calls S.744 a major breakthrough for immigration reform, noting that there is still much improvement to strive for including eliminating border triggers.
- “The Time Is Now: 5 Reasons Why Congress Will Pass Immigration Reform,” writes David Leopold of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, citing the Latino vote, DREAMer influence, unprecedented border security, business-labor agreement, and high public support.
- David Alexander of Sojourners, in his piece “Loving My Own Life Means Sharing it With Others,” describes his personal spiritual call to welcome others, including immigrants.
- In his post “History Would Repeat Itself If Boston Derailed immigration Reform,” Seth Freed Wessler of Colorlines reminds us of the dangerous xenophobia that often emerges in the wake of tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombing.
Please email me or comment if you have any thoughts about this week’s Top Picks. Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog, and I look forward to bringing you the best online commentary on immigration and refugee issues every Monday here on Redefining Welcome.